What should you know about Jordy?
Jordy holds a Master's degree in Applied Economics from the University of Antwerp, along with a Master's in Finance (China). These studies have provided him with a solid foundation in economics, finance, and business strategy, shaping his career in the world of investment and corporate development.
Originally from Antwerp, Jordy began his career with Citi Corporate & Investment Banking in London and Amsterdam, where he gained experience in a broad range of transactions across various industries. He then moved into private equity, working as an investor with Verlinvest, focusing on international B2C and consumer brands, and with Bencis, specializing in small to mid-cap buyouts. His expertise lies in growth strategies and buy-and-build approaches across multiple sectors. He also led the M&A activities at AXI, a Strada portfolio company.
Outside of work, Jordy is passionate about football, enjoys cooking, and loves to travel. He stays active through various sports and values spending time with his family and friends, always seeking to balance his professional life with meaningful personal experiences.
Some key deals prior to joining Strada Partners include:
What should you know about Phaedra?
Phaedra holds degrees in both translation and journalism, which have provided her with a strong foundation in corporate communications. Her academic background has equipped her with valuable skills in language, media, and effective communication—key assets in her professional activities.
She began her career at Allen & Overy’s corporate M&A department, where she sharpened her legal, paralegal, and compliance skills. Phaedra further developed her expertise in these areas at Gimv’s legal department and later supported the investment team at Fortino Capital as both a legal assistant and office manager. She also contributed to Pamica’s legal activities. With over 15 years of experience in various paralegal roles, Phaedra now oversees Strada Partners’ activities, focusing on both compliance and operations.
Outside of work, Phaedra enjoys spending time with her family. She enthusiastically runs her kids around on her beloved cargo bike and looks after her pets. Her free time is all about balancing her professional life with quality moments spent with loved ones.
What should you know about Louis?
Louis is a business engineering graduate from KU Leuven, with additional studies abroad in Canada. He furthered his education with a Master’s in Financial Management from Vlerick Business School, where he gained a deep understanding of business strategy, finance, and management—skills that have proven valuable in his professional career.
Over the past 2.5 years, Louis has worked in the Transaction and Restructuring Services department at Eight Advisory Belgium, supporting a wide range of M&A transactions and carve-outs across sectors including IT, energy, industrials, and healthcare. His interest in private equity was sparked during a 3-month internship at Moonfare in Berlin, where he gained invaluable exposure to the industry. This combination of experience has helped Louis build expertise in corporate finance, strategic restructuring, and managing complex transactions.
Outside of his professional life, Louis is naturally curious and eager to explore new cultures, cuisines, and technological innovations. His passion for learning extends beyond work, motivating him to continuously discover the world around him. In his free time, Louis stays active and enjoys pursuing various hobbies, always seeking new experiences and opportunities for personal growth.
What should you know about Nicholas?
Nicholas holds a business engineering degree from KU Leuven, and has studied abroad in Bangkok and Lisbon. He also successfully completed all three levels of the CFA program, which has given him a strong foundation in corporate finance, valuations, and due diligence.
Nicholas began his career in the Deals Rotation Program at PwC Belgium, where he gained valuable experience in corporate finance. He later joined Cargill and Kraken Digital Currency Exchange, working in their corporate development teams. At Cargill, he was involved in a wide range of M&A transactions and investments across the food and agriculture sectors, while at Kraken, he focused on the blockchain industry.
Outside of work, Nicholas strongly believes in maintaining a balance between professional life and physical activity to keep a healthy mind and body. He is passionate about spicy food and (blockchain) technology.
Some key deals prior to joining Strada Partners include:
What should you know about Kaylee?
Kaylee holds a Business Administration degree from Ghent University and further deepened her knowledge in corporate finance through the Executive Corporate Finance program at Vlerick Business School.
She began her career at Tobania, a Belgian IT consulting firm, where she gained valuable experience in corporate M&A. Kaylee built expertise in corporate finance and transactions, and later became Finance Director. In this role, she is now responsible for overseeing the fund finance function and plays an active role in deal and portfolio work at Strada Partners.
Outside of her professional work, Kaylee is passionate about learning and enjoys dancing in her free time.
Some key deals prior to joining Strada include:
What should you know about Sander?
Sander holds a Master’s Degree in Business Engineering – Finance from Ghent University, which provided a strong foundation for his career in business strategy and finance.
He began his professional journey with internships at Vendis Capital and GP Bullhound, gaining early exposure to the world of investment. Sander then moved on to become an M&A Consultant at PwC Brussels, before joining Bain & Company. At Bain, he advised private equity and corporate clients on acquisitions, growth strategies, and transformational initiatives across various industries, further developing his expertise in business strategy and corporate development.
Outside of work, Sander is passionate about basketball and enjoys playing the sport whenever he can. He also loves dining out and spending quality time with his family and friends, always making time to unwind and enjoy social moments.
What should you know about Aylene?
Aylene has a strong academic background, having studied psychology with a particular focus on well-being in the workplace. She also specialized in youth criminology, driven by her passion for working with young people and understanding their challenges. Her education in psychology and criminology has equipped her with a unique perspective on human behavior and personal development, giving her the tools to make a positive impact in both personal and professional settings.
Professionally, Aylene has built a solid foundation in applied psychology. She has worked in the healthcare sector, where she developed expertise in empathy and communication—skills she now seeks to apply in the business world. By combining her psychological insights with her professional ambitions, Aylene is dedicated to creating a positive influence in the workplace and fostering better organizational cultures.
Outside of work, Aylene is an avid traveler, always eager to explore different cultures and discover new places. Whether it's spending time with friends or staying active through sports, she enjoys socializing and embracing new experiences. Her curiosity and love for learning extend into her personal life, where she continuously seeks opportunities for growth and development.
What should you know about Sigrid?
Sigrid holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology from the University of Ghent and an Executive Master in Change from INSEAD. These studies have provided her with a solid foundation in understanding organizational behavior and managing transformation processes.
Professionally, Sigrid has built extensive expertise in talent management, leadership development, and human capital strategy. Currently at Strada Partners, she coordinates LV8 and leads initiatives to align talent with organizational growth, working with both Strada’s internal team and its portfolio companies. Previously, she served as Chief People Officer at LIVEKINDLY Collective and held senior roles at Gartner, Campbell’s, and Abbott Vascular, where she focused on aligning talent with business strategy and driving organizational effectiveness.
Outside ofwork, Sigrid is passionate about personal development, especially coaching others. She’s an avid reader, loves to travel, and enjoys spending quality time with her family and her lively crew of pets.
What should you know about Matthias?
Matthias holds an MBA from London Business School (UK) and a Master’s degree in Engineering from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium) and ENSIMAG Grenoble (France). He started his career as an engineer at ExxonMobil in Belgium and Italy, before moving into private equity after completing his MBA.
He joined Gimv in 2011, focusing on technology and industrial companies in the European SME space. From 2016 to 2021, Matthias worked at Fortino Capital, where he led the EUR 240M Growth private equity fund, specializing in mature European software and IT services companies. His key strengths are buy & build strategies, software, and the digitalization of traditional businesses.
Matthias is fluent in Dutch, French, English, and Italian, and has a basic knowledge of German.
Outside of work, Matthias is a native of Leuven and has lived in Sicily and London, but he always returns to the great city of Antwerp, where he settled after his studies. He is blessed with three young boys and a wonderful partner, Christine, who works in corporate communications and manages the complexity of family life with grace. Matthias is more comfortable on a bike than on a golf course, and he doesn’t plan to retire until he completes an amazing deal in Italy.
Strada investments
Prior investments*
*Deals represent prior experience at Gimv, Fortino Capital and deals on personal account. Other investment professionals not employed by Strada Partners were involved in the identification, evaluation, negotiation, investment, execution and operations and any sale processes with respect to such companies.
What should you know about Bart?
Bart is an engineer by training and started his career as a strategy consultant at Bain & Company in Brussels. With over 12 years of experience as a private equity investor, he has worked on mid- to large-size investments (EUR 100-500M+ equity checks) across Europe at Bain Capital (London and New York) and Core Equity Holdings (Brussels), where he was a Managing Director.
Bart focuses on growth and consolidation stories in business services and healthcare. His key strengths are buy-and-build strategies, financing, developing teams, and supporting companies in developing and testing growth strategies.
Outside of work, Bart is a gifted table tennis player and a board game fanatic.
Some key deals before setting up Strada include:
He has also invested in and privately supported several scale-ups, including:
*Deals represent prior experience at Bain Capital, Core Equity Holdings and deals on personal account. Other investment professionals not employed by Strada Partners were involved in the identification, evaluation, negotiation, investment, execution and operations and any sale processes with respect to such companies.