Laurens De Backer
Marketing Lead for the BeNeLux region at Alfasigma
Young Leader, Edition 2025
"Real growth begins where comfort ends. It is in the moments of change uncertainty and bold decisions that we discover who we truly are and what we are capable of becoming."
Laurens does not fear discomfort. He welcomes it. Throughout his career he has made conscious decisions to shift direction whether by moving cities pursuing a new degree while working full time or changing professional paths entirely. For him change is not something to survive but something to embrace with curiosity and purpose. It is the only way to keep learning and building a life that aligns with who you want to be.
"Authentic leadership means standing steady in the storm not by shouting louder but by being a calm presence that others can trust and follow."
Leadership for Laurens is not about having all the answers. It is about creating clarity in complexity being emotionally present and helping others move forward even when the way ahead is not obvious. In his role as Marketing Lead for the BeNeLux region at Alfasigma he works to combine strategic thinking with human understanding always putting trust empathy and purpose at the center of how he leads.
"You do not find direction by waiting. You build it by moving one step at a time with intention reflection and the courage to ask for help along the way."
Laurens believes in proactive growth. He breaks down his goals and actively works toward them by reaching out to people asking better questions and creating opportunities for learning. Whether through his studies in political sciences or through projects at work he continues to grow by doing. He knows that movement creates clarity and that people are often more willing to help than we dare to believe.
"Creating positive impact means being willing to move a stone in the river even if you know the current may undo your work someday. You try anyway because effort matters."
His vision goes beyond corporate goals. Laurens deeply cares about systems that serve people better. In his professional life that means improving healthcare so the right therapies reach the right patients faster and more effectively. In his personal mission it means exploring how we can reduce polarization in politics reconnect citizens with institutions and design policies that last beyond election cycles.
