Putting strategic thinking into action

Lifelong learning is no longer optional—it’s essential for businesses to stay competitive and agile in an ever-evolving world. Both business leaders and employees must continuously upskill to remain future-ready. In this blog, Steven De Haes (Dean of Antwerp Management School) and Luc Luwel (CEO of Voka – Chamber of Commerce Antwerp-Waasland) share their insights on why lifelong learning is the key to long-term success.

Though many may still think of the maritime sector as an oil tanker rather than a speedboat, in reality the industry’s transformation is running at top speed, making full use of innovative digital technologies. And though many may still think of the maritime sector as a man’s world, in reality, well, they have a point … Women in the maritime sector are still highly underrepresented, especially at management level. But not for long, if you ask Céline Mortier and Prof. Christa Sys, two leading ladies of the maritime industry in Belgium.

The term “toxic leadership” is all over the news these days, most recently, e.g., in the articles about Plopsaland. But what is toxic leadership? In the news, it is often associated with “transgressive behavior” or “a strict level of control”. The question is: when do you cross the line? When does something completely legit such as holding an employee accountable for underachieving, suddenly become “transgressive”? And control is a fundamental part of management, so when does it become excessively strict, leading to burn-out?