Jonas Derksen

Background

About Jonas Derksen

I am a Leader. I did not realize until around the age of 35 that it is my purpose to lead; but now I can clearly see why. It comes naturally, maybe because I’ve never been much of a follower. I have always gone down the path I chose to, often into the unknown and more often by myself. Many times, it has landed me in a place I regret in the moment, but it is the lessons learned that have steered me to where I am today, which is happy and grateful. Leadership is ever evolving; it requires constant growth, reflection, and it challenges you daily to be your best self. But not just for yourself, more so for others. You mentor, mold, and help others to bring out the best in themselves. Personally, being involved in the growth of those around me is the most rewarding aspect of leadership. It is not the role, department, or industry I am in that matters, its simply leading others. I have seen many angles of leadership. The good, the bad, the ugly, and the wonderful. There has, at times, been a void in leadership throughout my career. I have seen leaders who should not have been. They did not provide, they did not realize, or they did not respect the influence their role played… And I have seen what a negative impact this can have on those in their circle of influence. But I am also very fortunate to have been exposed to great leaders. Many of whom I have known personally but also many that I have learned about through others, through books, and research. My mother was a great leader and perhaps that is what guided me here and why I understand that leading at home is critical in one’s success when leading others, a business, or an industry. Your moral compass and your core values guide you. You must be agile, resilient, and you must push and pull when no one else is. It is hard, it is rewarding, it is thankless, and it is inspiring. This is the reason I am a leader and why I aspire to be great one.