Our Online MBA empowered entrepreneur Jonas to climb even higher
Jonas Van daele was a trained engineer and project manager when he started working in the petfood industry. Then, in 2021, he and his wife took the helm of La Cantina – a brokerage that’s essential in the supply of raw materials to pet food manufacturers.
Jonas took up his role as Managing Director with his trademark passion and energy. But he felt that he needed to gain a broader knowledge of business to drive maximum performance from the organisation.
He also had an academic reason for returning to studying – he’d previously started a Masters degree but hadn’t completed it.
Online MBA for flexibility
As the Managing Director of a small business, Jonas found himself leading a team, setting up transactions, quality controlling, managing finances – and more.
“I had strengths – including project management and supply chain,” he says. “But when I assumed the responsibilities of Managing Director, I needed to know more.
“I felt that pursuing an MBA would teach me a lot about business, myself – and how to use these insights in day-to-day operations. I also really wanted to get a Masters degree – but this time, in a field I’m passionate about.”
Yet Jonas was out on the road very frequently, cementing relationships and winning business for La Cantina. So Vlerick’s Online MBA was the perfect solution.
He says: “I chose the online format so that I could do it from anywhere, any time and at my own pace.”
Becoming part of a passionate community
Jonas quickly immersed himself in the Online MBA community. Vlerick’s online learning platform – Canvas – has been built for engagement and participation.
He says: “A community was established very quickly – and I built a network through group assignments. We worked together with shared goals and objectives that brought us together. Even in live sessions, you go into break-out rooms with fellow participants so that you can discuss freely and learn from one another. And because the groups are so diverse, you get to hear interesting views and perspectives.
“I used to get annoyed easily when I was working with people who are different than me. However, through the Online MBA, I realised that every person has their own way of doing things. This isn’t good or bad… it’s just different. And you can learn a lot from listening to others.”
A highlight of Jonas’s Online MBA learning journey was his Knowledge-in-Action Project (KIAP). He researched Enterprise Resource Planning systems (ERPs) for micro enterprises – and successfully defended his thesis in front of an expert panel of faculty. He went on to graduate with distinction.
Finding a new direction
Jonas says the Online MBA exceeded all his expectations – and that it fundamentally changed his thinking and ambitions for La Cantina.
“It changed my ambitions,” he says. “When I started the MBA, I was certain that I wanted to just run the business with my wife Sophie. However, when I finished, my goal was to build a business that is no longer dependent on me. It has been quite the switch.
“I now feel that I have the tools and maturity to grow the business and keep growing it myself. On the MBA I learned to work with teams remotely – and that is helping me now. I learned to develop employee value propositions. I became a better leader.
“At one point, I took an accounting exam while I was on holiday in Austria. I was sitting at a window looking out at the mountains. It was the end of one of my last modules – and I reflected that I was near to successfully climbing my MBA hill. However, in business and self-development, there is no summit – just the process of climbing as high as you can.
“It was an intense learning journey. It has highs and lows, late nights, weekends, deadlines and more. Yet with hindsight, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
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Aurelie Van de Meulebroucke
Customer Relationship Manager – Full-Time, (Global) Executive and Online MBA