My business partner, Thijs Jasperse, recently retired. Not that he’s planning to take it easy. Many volunteer organizations can count on him, just as he is: full of passion, fully committed, and persistent.
From a shy gardener’s boy on a remote plot on the outskirts of Middelburg, he grew into a prominent leader in horticulture. Thijs embodies the emancipation of the gardener.
Until about 30 years ago, gardeners were mostly submissive to the system. That system was top-down. They would tip their hats to the auction director and tremble when facing the bank director. Over the past 20 years, horticultural entrepreneurs have become confident. They’ve achieved scale, finally have acceptable earning power, and are driving ever larger cars. A new era is dawning: the gardener as a key player and leader in the international horticultural cluster. Besides leading their own companies, they are also expected to lead the way forward for high-tech horticulture: reclaiming societal relevance and ensuring the success of key transitions in areas such as energy, labor, robotics, and water. At the same time, they must expand the immense societal value of horticulture.
Leadership is required. Standing firm when the storms come. And yes, the storms are coming. Being curious. Developing a vision. Inspiring others. Giving space to fellow executives to step into the spotlight. Making decisions and drawing the line. Full of passion, fully committed, and persistent are precisely the qualities of Thijs.
