Niels Thyberghien
CEO and co-founder of VNT Bouw
Young Leader, Edition 2025
"A strong foundation is not just what we build under houses but what we create between people trust openness and shared purpose."
Niels believes that the true strength of any company lies not in what it produces but in how it connects people. For him trust is something you earn over time. Whether building customer relationships or leading his team he starts with listening aligning and carefully building. This foundation allows everything else to grow steadily and securely.
"True leadership is giving others the space to build to fail and to find their own rhythm while always standing behind them with quiet confidence."
He believes leadership is not about having all the answers but about giving trust. Niels leads by creating space. He wants his team to experiment explore and learn with the certainty that he is always there to support them. It is in that freedom that people grow and teams become stronger than the sum of their parts.
"Growth means choosing patience over pressure and people over profit even when the deadlines say otherwise."
In an industry driven by time and budget Niels often chooses the less hurried path. He believes growth happens when people feel valued and when quality is never sacrificed for speed. He measures success not only by what is delivered but also by how it is delivered with purpose integrity and attention to detail.
"I want to create spaces that last and a business that uplifts but above all I want to make a positive impact on every life I cross paths with."
Leadership is not about always having the right answers or appearing invincible. True leaders face moments of uncertainty and self doubt but they accept these feelings with humility. They understand that vulnerability is a strength not a weakness. What makes a leader strong is the support of their team a collective effort where challenges are shared solutions are co created and everyone grows together. This mindset creates trust openness and resilience within the team allowing them to overcome obstacles as one.
