Entrepreneurship: Can I do it? Why would I want to? - 2023

This session focuses on the personal aspects of entrepreneurship. The programme starts with the testimony of three people who established their own company after finishing their PhD. They will tell you their personal story: Why did they decide to become an entrepreneur? How does this fit into their career? Which obstacles did they encounter? What would they do differently now? Are they still happy with their choices? (Obviously, they will also say something about their own enterprise, but they will not go into technical details or specific research issues.)

• Dr Kim De Nolf obtained a PhD in Chemistry in 2016 at Ghent University, and is the founder and Chief Executive officer of QustomDot.
• Dr Lars Grieten obtained a PhD in Biomedical Sciences at Hasselt University in 2012, and is the CEO of Fibricheck.
• Dr Karolien Notebaert obtained a PhD in Psychology in 2009 at KU Leuven, and is the founder and Managing Director of the Science and Leadership Academy.

Next, we will exchange opinions on specific statements. Both the audience and the panel of speakers will be asked to react and interact. Prof. Pieter Vandekerkhof will provide insights into the competences needed as an entrepreneur, and Dr Steven Van Hoof will tell us what the UHasselt Tech Transfer Office has to offer.

Programme:

14:00-15:00    Testimonials (Dr Kim De Nolf, Dr Lars Grieten, Dr Karolien Notebaert)
15:00-15:20    Panel session
15:20-15:40    Break
15:40-16:05    Lecture on entrepreneurial competences (Prof. Pieter Vandekerkhof)
16:05-16:25    Panel session
16:25-16:40    Information Tech Transfer Office (Dr Steven Van Hoof)
16:40-17:00    Final Q&A

Learning outcomes

After having attended this session, you will ...

• have a better idea which aspects to take into account when considering entrepreneurship as a career choice,
• know which competences are needed as an entrepreneur,
• know how to tackle stereotypes on entrepreneurship.

Competences

An important part of preparing for any further professional step is becoming (more) aware of the competences you have developed and/or want to develop. In the current workshop, the following competences from the UHasselt competency overview are actively dealt with:

• personal effectiveness:
  • entrepreneurship
  • self-development
  • self-confidence
    
    

For whom?

• The specific target group consists of PhD students and postdocs, but everyone who is interested is welcome to attend.

When?

• January 17, 2023 - 14:00-17:00

Where?

• campus Diepenbeek, building D, room B103 (changed location!)

Registration?

• Registration is closed since January 10, 2023.
• There is no maximum of participants, so if registered you are sure to be able to participate.
• Please cancel your registration at least one week in advance in case you cannot make it (cf. cancellation & no-show policy).

Acknowledged as?

• DS BSH: category 'career management & personal development' - workshop on career management
• DS HLS: category 'transferable skills' - half of a course on transferable skills
• DS ST: category 'career & personal development' - course about career development