News And the Trophy of the Independent goes to...

And the Trophy goes to...
Sylvia Van Loo from UIT-ZICHT and Marina Libertiaux from NARSAHOME

Sylvia is the deserved winner of the 2024 Trophy of the Independent on the Dutch-speaking side. The professional jury and the public singled her out for how her business UIT-ZICHT has evolved.

Sylvia: "For 20 years, I poured my heart and soul into teaching 16- to 18-year-olds. At the same time, I sensed that many youths needed a more individual approach when it came to tackling learning difficulties, (de)motivation and making study choices. My passion and profound interest in people gradually inspired me to take matters into my own hands. In 2015, I took the plunge and started my own private practice in Bruges, UIT-ZICHT. Leaving the golden cage behind and starting something from scratch was a huge challenge for me, one I was able to take on thanks to career guidance, and to this day I have no regrets."

Marina Libertiaux is the overall winner of the 2024 Trophy of the Independent on the French-speaking side.
The professional jury and the public chose to honour her for her journey with her company, NARSAHOME.

Marina: “The greatest lesson I’ve learned is that holding on doesn’t mean holding on alone. You need to surround yourself with the right people, ask for help, listen, delegate and trust. And above all, stay true to what drives you from the start. For me, it’s the belief that care can be more human, more respectful, more gentle. As long as that compass is still there, you’ll stay on the right track. And that’s what gives meaning and energy to every effort.”

In addition to the Trophy, Sylvia and Marina each win €5,000 as well as subscriptions on telecoms, magazines and digital accounting. Congratulations, ladies!

The other 18 finalists didn’t go home empty-handed either

Because where there are winners,... there are even more winners. The other eighteen finalists also received prizes depending on their ranking. Especially Yolanda Hustings of MIJNTHUISVERPLEGING.TODAY and Steven De Wolf of WOLFWASH on the Flemish side and Cassandra Doupagne of THÉLIXIR and Benoît Sibille of HUMARTPRO on the French-speaking side had revery reason to celebrate. Their prize package was a little more generous than the other finalists’, as they completed the podium.

Here is the full Dutch-speaking top 10:

1. Sylvia Van Loo of UIT-ZICHT
2. Yolanda Hustings of MIJNTHUISVERPLEGING.TODAY
3. Steven De Wolf of WOLFWASH
4. Bart Baert of BUENCAMINO NIEUWPOORT
5. Tinneke Claes of SAMEN STERK
6. Hans Nagy of GOUDSMEDERIJ HANS NAGY
7. An-Sofie Carly of SKIN & HEALTH CLINIC
8. Lisa Baelde of LISKO
9. Katrien Boermans of CHANGE-IT
10. Toon Habraken of T-CREATE

More details about the winners

And here is the full top 10 for the French-speaking entries:

1. Marina Libertiaux of NARSAHOME
2. Cassandra Doupagne of THÉLIXIR
3. Benoît Sibille of HUMARTPRO
4. Michel Pezzin of MICHEL PEZZIN
5. Maria Casolo of BISCUITERIE MAE
6. Carole Van Brakel of LE CAROLO CAT
7. David Beaupain of PROLIPSI
8. Maxime Mouquet of AACE
9. Jenifer Kairet of JK INTERIOR DESIGNER
10. Antoine Forêt of KEEPNEW

More details about the winners

Keep an eye out for De Zondag and SudInfo

Out of the ten finalists, De Zondag also selected one sole trader to receive media exposure. Bart Baert of BUENCAMINO NIEUWPOORT managed to win this unique prize, worth €5,000. We’ll certainly be keeping an eye on De Zondag, Bart.

Marina Libertiaux of NARSAHOME was doubly rewarded, as she not only won the Trophy but also received media exposure worth €5,000 in SudInfo's outlets.

And while every self-employed entrepreneur deserves applause, there are only so many prizes. Those who didn’t win remain shining examples of entrepreneurial spirit and perseverance. Let their stories inspire you.