[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ text_font=”Anton||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.5em” link_font=”||||on||||” header_2_font=”Anton||||||||” header_2_font_size=”34px” header_2_line_height=”0.2em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||29px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
An interview with founder Tom Baeten.\u00a0<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.5em” link_font=”||||on||||” header_2_font_size=”34px” header_2_line_height=”0.2em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||29px|||” custom_padding=”|||15px|false|false” border_width_left=”5px” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
In his younger years, he wanted to be a professional footballer. Today he’s no longer on the pitch, he’s at the helm of a growing agency. His mission? Helping entrepreneurs perform better. We sat down with Tom Baeten to talk about his journey: a story of moving fast, but also knowing when to pause.<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ link_font=”||||on||||” header_2_font=”Anton||||||||” header_2_font_size=”24px” header_2_line_height=”0.2em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||11px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n ‘I founded Winger Consultancy in October 2017, that was the name back then, because I was mainly doing consultancy work. As demand for LinkedIn\u00ae training<\/a> grew, I shifted my focus in that direction. That’s when the name changed to Winger Academy.’<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/wingeracademy.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/Tom-Baeten-profielfoto.jpeg” title_text=”Tom-Baeten-profielfoto” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_id=”social” _builder_version=”4.22.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”5px||0px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row make_equal=”on” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_margin_tablet=”30px||||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”30px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”off|desktop” custom_padding=”5px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_css_main_element=”align-self:center;” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ link_font=”||||on||||” header_2_font=”Anton||||||||” header_2_font_size=”24px” header_2_line_height=”0.2em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||11px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n (Smiles) ‘I had ambitions of becoming a professional footballer when I was younger. I played as a right winger at a local club, I had a decent dribble and a good cross, and I helped the forwards score. The symbolism of a winger fits me well, and it fits our business too: supporting others so they can be successful.’<\/p>\n ‘These days I’m surrounded by a team that shares that same vision. We call them wingwomen and wingmen, terms borrowed from aviation, where it’s also about strengthening one another.’<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ link_font=”||||on||||” header_2_font=”Anton||||||||” header_2_font_size=”24px” header_2_line_height=”0.2em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”25px||11px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n ‘In the beginning, I didn’t have a concrete plan. I mainly knew I wanted to build something of my own. My biggest goal was to become the happiest version of myself professionally. My direction became clearer over time, thanks to partners like Voka, for whom I was able to deliver LinkedIn\u00ae training sessions.’<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ link_font=”||||on||||” header_2_font=”Anton||||||||” header_2_font_size=”24px” header_2_line_height=”0.2em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”25px||11px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n ‘Our story began in October 2017 with the founding of Winger Consultancy. In June 2018, we rebranded to Winger Academy. In 2019 we launched our first video training courses, and in 2020 we introduced hybrid learning programmes, which turned out to be a masterstroke when COVID hit.’<\/p>\n ‘In 2021 we started developing strategic LinkedIn\u00ae plans<\/a> for business clients, which led to questions about whether we could roll those plans out too. From there, we kept expanding our services for a growing portfolio of agency clients. Alongside LinkedIn\u00ae, we began managing other social media channels, building websites, supporting clients with rebranding and email campaigns, the works.’<\/p>\n ‘Today we’re a full-service digital marketing agency<\/a>, but still deliberately focused on LinkedIn\u00ae, because that remains our passion.’<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ link_font=”||||on||||” header_2_font=”Anton||||||||” header_2_font_size=”24px” header_2_line_height=”0.2em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”25px||11px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n ‘Our strength lies in the combination of three pillars: Strategy<\/a>, Agency and Academy. First, we give our clients direction by defining a strategy. From that strategy, we align on what the client will handle themselves and where our agency can take the load off and add value. Where businesses lack the knowledge, our academy provides the training they need.’<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ link_font=”||||on||||” header_2_font=”Anton||||||||” header_2_font_size=”24px” header_2_line_height=”0.2em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”25px||11px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n ‘Running a business is never plain sailing, that goes without saying. The challenge I find most personally demanding is hiring the right people and building the team. Recruiting someone as a manager in employment is quite different from taking people on for your own business. For that reason, I want to outsource the HR side to a strong partner or dedicated team member.’<\/p>\n ‘That’s been an important lesson for me: let go of the things you’re not good at, or that drain your energy. My administration is now firmly under control. The next steps are to hand HR, sales and operations over to people who genuinely thrive on them.’<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ text_font=”Anton||||||||” text_font_size=”25px” text_line_height=”1.2em” link_font=”||||on||||” ul_line_height=”2em” header_2_font_size=”24px” header_2_line_height=”0.2em” background_color=”#BFDBE3″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”15px||30px||false|false” custom_padding=”30px|20px|30px|20px|true|true” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n “My goal was to become the happiest version of myself professionally.”<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ link_font=”||||on||||” header_2_font=”Anton||||||||” header_2_font_size=”24px” header_2_line_height=”0.2em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”25px||11px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n ‘Build patiently and don’t rush. Invest in quality. Move quickly in a fast-changing market, because standing still today means falling behind. But as an entrepreneur, it’s equally important to pause regularly, because if you’re always sprinting, you lose sight of the bigger picture.’<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ link_font=”||||on||||” header_2_font=”Anton||||||||” header_2_font_size=”24px” header_2_line_height=”0.2em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”25px||11px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n ‘We definitely have growth plans. First and foremost, continuing to expand our agency portfolio and our team in a way where everyone flourishes and feels good about what they do.’<\/p>\n ‘To get there, we’re looking for the right profiles to help professionalise the business further. We’re moving to a new office in Haacht and will soon be bringing on our first sales team member.’<\/p>\n ‘Looking a little further ahead, I dream of building a local ecosystem of businesses that strengthen each other, each with their own area of specialisation.’<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ link_font=”||||on||||” header_2_font=”Anton||||||||” header_2_font_size=”24px” header_2_line_height=”0.2em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”25px||11px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Tom’s journey shows that entrepreneurship is never a straight line. It’s about course-correcting, knowing when to pass the ball, and above all, staying true to what energises you. Or as he puts it himself: “Becoming the happiest version of yourself professionally, that might just be the greatest win of all.”<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ text_font=”Anton||||||||” text_font_size=”25px” text_line_height=”1.2em” link_font=”||||on||||” ul_line_height=”2em” header_2_font_size=”24px” header_2_line_height=”0.2em” background_color=”#BFDBE3″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”15px||30px||false|false” custom_padding=”30px|20px|30px|20px|true|true” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n “We steadily grew into a full-service digital marketing agency, [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”on|on|on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#BFDBE3″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” disabled=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_4_text_align=”left” custom_margin=”||1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Bij Winger Academy<\/strong><\/a> zijn we pas tevreden als jij resultaat boekt. We toveren je LinkedIn\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae bedrijfspagina en profiel om in een gouden visitekaartje en maken LinkedIn\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae-content die echt scoort.<\/p>\n Wil je op de hoogte blijven van de laatste LinkedIn\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae features?<\/p>\n 🔥 Abonneer je dan op mijn\u00a0maandelijkse nieuwsbrief<\/strong><\/a><\/span> op LinkedIn\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae\u00ae<\/p>\n 🔥 Volg onze\u00a0Winger Academy<\/strong><\/a><\/span>\u00a0company page<\/p>\n 🔥 Volg mij of connecteer met mij en klik op de 🔔 in de rechterbovenhoek op\u00a0mijn profiel<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 🔥\u00a0Contacteer ons<\/span><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0als je meer wil weten over onze opleidingen en diensten<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#BFDBE3″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.19.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” header_4_text_align=”center” custom_margin=”||1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n At\u00a0<\/span>Winger Academy<\/span><\/a><\/strong>, we\u2019re not satisfied until you get results. We turn your LinkedIn\u00ae\u00ae company page and profile into a golden business card and create LinkedIn\u00ae\u00ae content that really scores.<\/p>\n Want to stay up to date on the latest LinkedIn\u00ae\u00ae features?<\/p>\n 🔥 Then subscribe to my\u00a0<\/span>monthly newsletter<\/span><\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>on LinkedIn\u00ae\u00ae<\/p>\n 🔥 Follow our\u00a0<\/span>Winger Academy<\/span><\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>company page<\/p>\n 🔥 Follow me or connect with me and click the 🔔 in the upper right corner on\u00a0<\/span>my profile<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nWhen did you start your business?<\/h2>\n
Academy makes sense, but where does “Winger” actually come from?<\/h2>\n
What was the mission that drove you to start as an entrepreneur?<\/h2>\n
What milestones have shaped Winger Academy?<\/h2>\n
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Where does your greatest strength lie?<\/h2>\n
Do you struggle with challenges as an entrepreneur?<\/h2>\n
Those are valuable lessons. What advice would you give to people just starting out?<\/h2>\n
Great insights. Can you give us a sense of your plans for the future?<\/h2>\n
The greatest win<\/h2>\n
but deliberately so, with LinkedIn\u00ae always at the forefront, because that remains our speciality.”<\/p>\nHulp nodig?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Need help?<\/h4>\n