The Vlerick Venture Award 2025 goes to Liesbeth Ceelen

During an award ceremony on Wednesday, 8 October 2025, held at the Wintercircus in Ghent, the winners of the 24th edition of the Vlerick Award were announced in the presence of numerous business leaders and alumni. The Vlerick Award is presented annually by Vlerick Business School as a tribute to two successful Vlerick alumni who lead fast-growing companies as entrepreneurs and business leaders. This year, the Vlerick Enterprising Leader Award was presented to Jos De Vuyst, CEO of stow Group. Liesbeth Ceelen, CEO of BioLizard, received the Vlerick Venture Award.

Jos De Vuyst, CEO of stow Group, said:
“I feel extremely proud and honored to receive the Vlerick Enterprising Leader Award today. This is an exceptionally special moment for me, one I will never forget. My entrepreneurial journey began immediately after the one-year Vlerick program, when I started working at stow. I still remember the many unforgettable moments of that year as if it were yesterday—especially the entrepreneurial spirit that was sparked in each of us. That spirit of entrepreneurship and leadership lives on today within the stow Group, which has grown into a global market leader. Vlerick Business School serves as both a cradle and a home for entrepreneurial talent in Flanders and far beyond, which makes this recognition even more meaningful.

However, I am also convinced that this award is not about one individual. It reflects stow’s entrepreneurial journey over the past 36 years, and more recently that of Movu. The award is also a tribute to the exceptional strength, resilience, and dedication of the people around me—my team, my colleagues, and our partners. They deserve this recognition just as much as I do. We all know that today’s economic environment is highly complex and that entrepreneurs operate in a constantly changing world. Nevertheless, our values and our talented teams give us the strength to continue growing and to keep developing our companies. It is my role to provide a clear vision throughout this growth journey, align everyone behind that vision, and ensure that we continue to innovate and transform where necessary.”

The Vlerick Venture Award highlights a young, entrepreneurial Vlerick alumnus who is the owner or founder of a fast-growing company with a positive impact on the community. This year’s award was presented to Liesbeth Ceelen, CEO of BioLizard and alumna of the Executive MBA (2024).

Other nominees for the Vlerick Business School Venture Award 2025 were:

• Thomas de Groote – Founder and CEO of River Cleanup
  Alumnus of the Master’s in Financial Management (2004)
• Tim Dieryckx – Owner and CEO of Voxdale
  Alumnus of the Executive MBA (2016)

Marion Debruyne, Dean of Vlerick Business School, commented:
“All nominees for the Vlerick Award are outstanding role models for our students thanks to their entrepreneurial spirit and leadership. They also perfectly illustrate the impact of our alumni. On behalf of the professors and staff of Vlerick, I would like to warmly congratulate them on the progress they have achieved. I very much look forward to their future accomplishments.”

About Jos De Vuyst

CEO of stow Group
Alumnus of PUB 1988

Jos De Vuyst joined stow Group 36 years ago and played a key role in building the company into a European market leader in industrial storage solutions. Under his leadership, the company evolved from a family business into a division of a listed company, and since 2013—following a management buyout with private equity—into an independent and innovative player.

He describes the private equity phase as the most challenging and fascinating period of his career. In 2022, stow Group achieved a turnover of €1 billion, with strong profitability and more than 2,200 employees. Jos strongly focuses on international expansion, particularly in the United States. In 2022, he founded stow Robotics (now Movu Robotics), which has grown into a leading player in warehouse automation.

Jos holds a degree in civil engineering from Ghent University and earned an MBA from Ghent University and Vlerick Business School. He is also active on several boards of directors.

About Liesbeth Ceelen

CEO of BioLizard
Alumna of the Executive MBA (2024)

Liesbeth Ceelen has a strong scientific background and an impressive leadership track record. As a dynamic CEO, she is known for the strategic vision with which she helps biotech companies grow to the next level.

After earning a degree in veterinary medicine, she obtained a PhD in animal sciences and began her career as a study director at Johnson & Johnson. There, she further developed her scientific expertise and sharpened her project management skills.

Driven by a passion for innovation and entrepreneurship, Liesbeth then transitioned to the fast-evolving world of startups and scale-ups, contributing to numerous forward-thinking companies in biotechnology and healthcare. In 2024, she further strengthened her entrepreneurial profile by completing an Executive MBA at Vlerick Business School.

Her broad experience spans operational management, quality assurance, project management, scientific business development, sales, and general management.

As CEO of BioLizard, Liesbeth aims to position the company as a leading bioinformatics consultancy in Europe and the United States. Her leadership style emphasizes growth, collaboration, and innovation, inspiring her team to achieve excellence and build sustainable success.

Liesbeth places great importance on empowering others and is actively involved in professional organizations such as the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, Women on Board, and the TOPX Network for Women in Life Sciences. She has been honored with an Inspiring Fifty Award in Belgium, reflecting her influence and impact within the sector.

Beyond her professional achievements, Liesbeth is the proud mother of Lore, Elise, and Lukas. She highly values balance and dedication—principles that are reflected daily in both her professional and personal life.