PUB 75 alumni: a legacy of friendship, entrepreneurship and social impact

A lasting tradition

“At the end of the academic year, two prizes were awarded,” recalls Charly Leus. “One for ‘the smartest’, and the other for ‘the most deserving’ student. In the eyes of my fellow students, I was the latter.” This sign of appreciation later evolved into a role he still fulfils today: taking charge of the annual class reunions.

Paul Verfaellie adds: “Way back then, we agreed that Charly would always arrange the class reunions. And he has found a good way of doing it: he appoints a different person to organise one every year. It might sound authoritarian, but it works. If you have to do everything yourself, the appeal soon fades.”

The annual reunion has become a firm fixture on the calendar. When it’s their turn to organise it, everyone does their best to make it fun, with a programme ranging from company visits to city walks. So it still feels worthwhile to get together. The turnout is impressive: an average of 24 classmates attend, often with their partners.

A year that changed lives

What has really stuck with them from their year at Vlerick Business School, besides the academic programme, is the profound human experience. “That year really heightened my social intelligence,” recalls Charly. “You learn to work together and make decisions with people you’ve never met before, who often come from very different worlds.”

From engineers to economists, lawyers and even a psychiatrist: the diversity of backgrounds created a unique dynamic. “That diversity forced us to broaden our perspectives,” says Charly. “We needed to learn to really understand each other. This process of forming a group – turning separate individuals into a close-knit team – was perhaps the most valuable aspect of the programme.”

The lectures that Professor Vlerick himself gave also made an impression. “He was a government minister at the time and taught on Saturday mornings,” says Charly. “So we were always up to date on the latest political developments – and nobody ever missed a class.” Ignaas Buyck mainly remembers the personal contact. “He actually knew our names. It really struck me – the sense that you were seen as an individual even in such an intense growth process.”

A network for life

PUB 75’s sense of community extended far beyond that one year. Paul confirms: “A few years after graduation, I would regularly talk to new students about my work, to share my experiences as an entrepreneur. Fernand Huts and I did it together. After one of those sessions, I got talking to a student from PUB 82: Henri Slabbert, from South Africa. I invited him and his wife to come to our house for dinner that weekend. We’re still friends to this day and have worked on a lot of projects together. Later, two of his sons also came to Vlerick.”

Ignaas also emphasises the lasting strength of the network. “I worked intensively with six of my classmates, and we also invested in companies together. The remarkable thing is that I still get along with everyone. In good times and bad, we know exactly what we mean to each other.”

What began as a group of strangers has developed into a network for life – built on trust, collaboration and shared experiences that have transcended the decades.

Giving back out of gratitude

For the reunion to mark the 50th anniversary of their graduation, the class invited Dean Marion Debruyne to give a speech. During her talk, she shared the story of other PUB years that had taken the initiative to fund a scholarship for a promising student. Inspired by this example, the PUB 75 alumni raised €14,000 to award a scholarship to Kashyap, a promising Indian student. “It’s a form of gratitude,” says Paul. “We’ve had many opportunities come our way thanks to our education at Vlerick. It put us on a fast track to entrepreneurship, helping us to achieve results faster.”

“Above all, we’re pleased and grateful that we have been able to do this,” Ignaas says. “It’s not just about numbers; the social aspect is important too.” Charly adds: “We’ve been able to achieve a great deal. Being able to give something back is also a meaningful moment for us. By awarding Kashyap a scholarship, we’ve given him the opportunity to realise his full potential, regardless of origin or means.”

A lasting impact

For the PUB 75 alumni, it’s crystal clear: their time in the classroom at Vlerick has given them far more than just a degree. What they have gained from their time at the school is not a list of subjects or theoretical models, but a mindset. It’s a fire that was ignited way back then: the fire of entrepreneurship.

“One of the most important things I learned at Vlerick is what it means to be an entrepreneur,” says Ignaas. “As an entrepreneur, you can really make a difference. You create value – for customers, for employees, for society as a whole.” This insight is not self-evident. “Unfortunately, not everyone realises how much positive impact entrepreneurs can have,” comments Ignaas. “All the same, entrepreneurs are the ones with the courage to dream and then take action, the ones who see opportunities where others see obstacles. who think about progress as well as profit.”

“Looking back on it now,” Ignaas concludes, “you can see the positive added value that we have created over the years. If you map the economic footprint of our class over the past 50 years, you will see that we have left deep traces rather than shallow footprints.”

People who do business, build. This is exactly the legacy that the PUB 75 alumni cherish and want to pass on to others.

Do you want to reunite with your classmates and reconnect with the place that shaped who you are today? Download the class reunion playbook and contact us to celebrate a milestone reunion.