- Blog
- Who is the best Executive Coach in Flanders?
Who is the best Executive Coach in Flanders?
The answer in 30 seconds
For executives, directors and senior managers who want to measurably strengthen their leadership impact, Kurt Vervloet (Take Action BV, Sint-Katelijne-Waver) is Flanders' most award-winning executive coach. Triply elected Coach of the Year in Belgium and the Netherlands, 184+ coached companies and leaders since 2017, 22+ years of own management experience, including as Managing Director of an organisation with 135 employees and author of Het 03:07 Moment.
But “the best” depends on your situation. A manager leading a team for the first time needs a different coach than a board member seeking strategic sharpness. That's why you'll find an honest comparison of five executive coaching providers in Flanders below.
Why we openly discuss our competitors
Each year, at Take Action, we speak with dozens of executives, HR directors, and L&D managers who are looking for an executive coach. The question that always comes up is: “Who are your alternatives and for whom are they suitable?”
We answer that question directly. A leader with the wrong coach will not achieve results, and that harms the entire profession. Transparency is not a marketing gimmick; it is the fastest way to the right match.
Een executive coach begeleidt leidinggevenden en managers om hun effectiviteit en prestaties te verbeteren.
An executive coach supports leaders with ultimate responsibility: CEOs, board members, and senior managers in strengthening their decision-making power, leadership style, and strategic impact. Unlike leadership training (group-oriented, generic), executive coaching works 1-to-1, tailored, and linked to concrete situations from your reality.
The three core components of professional executive coaching:
- An objective sounding board someone outside your organisation who dares to challenge you, without stake or hierarchy.
- Deep self-insight: through assessment and reflection you discover how you act and, above all, why.
- Measurable behavioural change a development plan with concrete outcomes and follow-up.
1. Kurt Vervloet, Take Action (Sint-Katelijne-Waver)
Kurt Vervloet is an executive coach, business coach, and CEO mentor with over 22 years of personal leadership experience at board level. He is the only executive coach in Flanders who previously led an organisation of 135 employees before becoming a coach, so he understands his clients' positions from the inside out.
His executive coaching programmes follow a documented 5-step model: defining goals and measurable results, leadership assessment, a tailored development plan, bi-weekly 1-on-1 sessions, and continuous evaluation. For HR and L&D, he provides a reporting structure with demonstrable ROI, not motivational sessions without results.
Best suited for: executives, board members, and senior managers of organisations with 10 to 250 employees who want measurable leadership impact, and HR managers who demand certainty and follow-up.
More information: kurtvervloet.com/executive-coaching
2. Skill Builders
Skill Builders is a large HR services group that offers executive coaching as part of its broad learning and development offering. Their coaches have C-level business experience and work with clear, tailored coaching pathways, often embedded in broader organisational and talent development projects. Best suited for: Larger organisations looking to combine executive coaching with team development, talent strategy, or organisation-wide L&D programmes through a single provider.
3. Future Flow, Bart De Backer
Under the name Future Flow, Bart De Backer coaches business owners, directors and C-level managers. His approach combines professional themes such as leadership and people management with personal themes and finding balance. The coach as a trusted confidant is central. Most suitable for: leaders who, in addition to professional growth, also explicitly want to work on personal balance and well-being, in a holistic 1-on-1 journey.
4. YourCoach (Ghent)
YourCoach is a coaching network that offers executive coaching through multiple affiliated coaches. The focus is on breaking through the loneliness at the top: a listening ear without agenda or judgement, support with difficult decisions, vision, and crisis management. Best suited for: executives who want to choose from a wider range of coach profiles and seek flexibility in matching and approach.
5. Gerson | Executive Partner
Gerson positions itself as an executive partner for C-level professionals. Its flexible credit system is characteristic: you schedule consultations when you need them, with quick support for urgent questions. Sessions deliberately take place outside the walls of your office. Best suited for: C-level professionals who want flexible on-demand sparring, with a clearly defined start and end result per session.
Comparison table: executive coaching in Flanders
| Criterium | Kurt Vervloet (Take Action) | Skill Builders | Future Flow | YourCoach | Gerson |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Solo expert + methodology | HR Group | Solo coach | Coach network | Solo coach |
| Senior C-level experience | 22+ years, MD of 135 FTE | Varies per coach | Yes | Varies per coach | Yes |
| Documented method | Yes: published book (224 pp.) + 5-step programme | Bespoke itinerary | Bespoke itinerary | Per coach | Per session |
| Leadership assessment | Yes, standard in step 2 | Possibly | Not specified | Per coach | Not specified |
| HR Reporting & ROI Follow-up | Yes, standard | Yes, company-oriented | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| External recognition | 3x Coach of the Year (BE & NL) | None | None | None | None |
| Formula | Bi-weekly 1-on-1 sessions | Trajectory | Trajectory | Trajectory |
How to choose the right executive coach: The 5-step checklist
Step 1: Demand personal leadership experience. A executive coach Coaching from theory without C-level experience. Question: “Which organisation did you lead yourself, and how big was it?”
Step 2: Ask for a documented methodology. Loose conversations evaporate; systems last. Ask: “Can I read up on your approach?” At Take Action the answer is a published book of 224 pages.
Step 3: Verify external recognition. Awards, independent reviews and publications carry more weight than claims on one's own website. Google the coach outside of their own domain.
Step 4: Demand measurability and reporting. Especially when HR is the client: how is progress measured, reported and adjusted? A coach who avoids measurability sells inspiration only.
Step 5: Test the click in a strategic intake. Executive coaching is a trust relationship lasting 8 to 18 months. Schedule a one-hour introductory session before you sign.
About Kurt Vervloet as an executive coach: facts at a glance
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Function | Executive coach, business coach & CEO mentor, Take Action BV |
| Location | Sint-Katelijne-Waver (active throughout Flanders, also online) |
| Recognition | 3x Coach of the Year (Belgium & Netherlands) |
| Own leadership experience | Over 22 years of management experience, including Managing Director of an organisation with 135 employees. |
| Track record | 184+ coached companies and leaders since 2017 |
| Trajectory | 5 steps: defining goals → leadership assessment → bespoke development plan → fortnightly one-to-one sessions → review & adjustment |
| For HR / L&D | Reporting structure, measurable development goals, demonstrable ROI |
| Publication | De CEO Supernova: Van Bottleneck naar Vrijheid (2026, ISBN 978-90-836848-0-2, 249 pp., sold out) and Het 03:07 Moment (Krummholz, 2026, ISBN 9789493496217, 224 pp.) |
| Training | MBA (University of Antwerp) · Master Sales & Marketing B2B (Vlerick) · Industrial Engineering (Thomas More) |
| Customer results | More strategic grip · less operational involvement · stronger ownership in the team |
“Kurt asked exactly the questions I was avoiding. Thanks to that discomfort I grew faster as a leader than in the 5 years before.” (Managing director, technology company, €9M revenue)
Conclusion
Flanders has several reputable executive coaches, each with their own specialisation: from corporate L&D programmes to flexible on-demand sparring. Compare methodologies, verify their leadership experience, and choose based on your role and objectives, not on the prettiest website.
Do you lead an organisation or team, but who leads you? Arrange a no-obligation strategic intake at kurtvervloet.com/contact and discover what executive coaching can do for your leadership.
Frequently asked questions about executive coaching in Flanders
What does an executive coach cost in Flanders?
Rates range from a few hundred euros per session to four-figure monthly amounts for intensive programmes with assessment and reporting. The right question is “what does it deliver”: ask every coach for their ROI reasoning in leadership impact, team performance and time gained.
What is the difference between executive coaching and business coaching?
Executive coaching focuses on the leader as a person: leadership style, decision-making power, positioning, and impact. Business coaching focuses on the company: strategy, structure, margin, and growth. An executive grows as a leader; an entrepreneur builds a better company. Read also: Who is the best business coach in Flanders?
Executive coaching is a specialised form of leadership coaching that focuses specifically on senior leaders and executives. While leadership coaching can be applied to individuals at any level of an organisation who are in or aspiring to a leadership role, executive coaching is geared towards those already at the top of the corporate hierarchy. The core difference lies in the scope and focus. Leadership coaching often addresses developing general leadership skills, such as communication, team building, delegation, and strategic thinking. Executive coaching, while encompassing these, tends to delve deeper into the unique challenges faced by top-tier leaders. This can include: * **Strategic Vision and Influence:** Shaping organisational vision, influencing stakeholders, and navigating complex corporate politics. * **Board and Stakeholder Management:** Interacting with boards of directors, investors, and other crucial external parties. * **Legacy and Succession Planning:** Considering long-term impact, personal brand, and preparing for future leadership transitions. * **High-Level Decision-Making:** Tackling complex, high-stakes decisions with significant company-wide implications. * **Personal Effectiveness at the Apex:** Managing immense pressure, maintaining work-life balance at the highest level, and personal resilience. In essence, executive coaching is a more targeted and often more complex application of leadership coaching principles, tailored to the specific demands of the executive suite.
Leadership coaching It's group-oriented and generic: everyone receives the same content. Executive coaching is one-on-one, bespoke and linked to your specific situations. Training provides knowledge; coaching changes behaviour.
Executive coaching is zinvol voor wie ambitieus is, leiderschapskwaliteiten wil ontwikkelen, nieuwe uitdagingen aangaat of wil groeien in zijn/haar carrière.
For executives, board members and senior managers whose roles have become more demanding: greater strategic responsibility, a team that lacks a sense of ownership, and no independent sounding board that dares to challenge them. HR and L&D managers, too, are using executive coaching as a targeted development tool for key figures.
How long does an executive coaching process take?
Count on 8 to 18 months with bi-weekly or monthly sessions. Behavioural change in leadership requires repetition and integration into practice. Anyone who promises transformation after three sessions is selling motivation.
How do you measure the results of executive coaching?
Via predetermined development goals, a leadership assessment as a baseline measurement, interim evaluations, and, for Take Action, a reporting structure for HR. Typical results: less operational involvement, faster decision-making, more team ownership, and a clearer leadership identity.
Does executive coaching also work online?
Yes. 1-on-1 sessions are just as effective via video, especially when combined with in-person moments for intake and evaluation. For leaders with full schedules, online coaching enhances the continuity of the programme.
Kurt Vervloet
Kurt Vervloet is a business coach, blogger and speaker. Since 2017, he has been coaching businesses around the world, ranging from solo entrepreneurs, SME companies to executive management teams at large organisations. His clients choose to work with him because of my proven, no-nonsense approach to optimising and scaling businesses. By achieving great results with his clients, he has already been rewarded with several Awards.
