For many entrepreneurs, the company is more than a source of income; it is a “baby,” a lifelong project built on a foundation of personal credibility and tireless effort. But for Serge Lejeune, a Walloon business leader in the real estate sector, that foundation was shaken in 2008 when he received a cancer diagnosis. Even as the medical battle was paramount, Lejeune discovered a second, equally daunting challenge: the profound professional isolation and systemic taboo that surround serious illness in the business world.
The intersection of high-stakes leadership and debilitating illness often creates a paradox of compassion and fear. While colleagues and partners may offer personal sympathy, the structural anxiety regarding the company’s survival—the viability of loan repayments, the security of employee positions, and the reliability of client services—can lead to a sudden erosion of trust. Lejeune’s experience revealed a critical gap in the entrepreneurial ecosystem: a lack of confidential spaces where leaders can address health crises without fearing a loss of professional legitimacy.
This realization led to the creation of BforB (Businessmen and Businesswomen for Businessmen and Businesswomen), an association designed to dismantle the stigma of illness among entrepreneurs. By transforming a personal crisis into a public resource, Lejeune is now urging a new generation of leaders to abandon the illusion of invincibility and prioritize the long-term sustainability of their ventures through proactive planning.
The Hidden Cost of the ‘Invincibility’ Myth
Young entrepreneurs often operate under a psychological cloak of immortality, focusing exclusively on growth and scaling while ignoring the fragility of the human element behind the business. Lejeune warns that this mindset is a liability. According to his observations and the mission of BforB, approximately three out of four entrepreneurs will encounter a significant “life accident”—be it a health crisis, the death of a spouse, or a sudden disability—at some point in their professional journey.
The impact of such an event is rarely limited to the individual’s health. It triggers a ripple effect of instability across the organization. Lejeune describes a landscape where the fear of others becomes a primary burden. Banks may question the ability to meet deadlines, and clients may worry about the quality of service. This environment of uncertainty can leave a leader feeling profoundly alone, even while surrounded by a team.
Lejeune’s own journey included a particularly harrowing chapter: conducting a legal battle against his own business partner while undergoing chemotherapy. While he notes that “when you have no choice, you identify the strength,” the experience highlighted the severe mental toll of isolation. This isolation, he argues, is not a byproduct of the disease itself, but of a professional culture that views vulnerability as a weakness rather than a manageable risk.
Building a Human Insurance Policy
To combat this isolation, BforB operates as a form of “collective human insurance,” providing a framework for both prevention and intervention. Rather than viewing succession planning as a morbid exercise, Lejeune frames it as a responsible act of protection for the employees and families who depend on the business.
The association’s approach is divided into two primary strategic pillars:
- Preventative Governance: Helping leaders organize the governance of their company before a crisis hits. This includes establishing clear protocols for who takes over management and ensuring that critical information is accessible to trusted parties if the leader becomes incapacitated.
- Interventional Mentorship: Providing a network of peer support where entrepreneurs who have survived crises—such as serious illness or bereavement—volunteer to accompany others through similar trials. This mentorship serves as a safeguard against the loss of lucidity that often accompanies severe stress.
A critical and often overlooked component of this support system is the inclusion of spouses and life partners. Due to the fact that the entrepreneur’s partner often inherits the operational burden of the company during a health crisis without having the necessary technical or managerial training, BforB provides targeted support to help them navigate the sudden transition into a leadership role.
Framework for Business Continuity Planning
| Focus Area | Preventative Action | Interventional Support |
|---|---|---|
| Governance | Defining emergency leadership roles | Peer-led mentorship for decision making |
| Information | Creating accessible data repositories | Guidance on critical knowledge transfer |
| Family | Partner education and onboarding | Psychological and operational support for spouses |
| Financials | Establishing contingency lines of credit | Strategic advice on maintaining bank credibility |
Solidarity Beyond the Checkbook
The conversation around cancer research often focuses on financial contributions. In Belgium, the Télévie campaign is a cornerstone of fundraising for leukemia and cancer research, traditionally seeing immense generosity from the business community. But, Lejeune makes a sharp distinction between financial charity and professional solidarity.
While entrepreneurs are quick to donate to research, Lejeune observes that they are often less inclined to support one another when a peer is actually suffering. “I will be very frank: currently, no,” he says when asked if business owners are truly solidary with each other in times of crisis. BforB was created specifically to bridge this gap, moving the needle from passive donation to active, peer-to-peer support.
By encouraging experienced leaders to share their vulnerabilities and mentor younger ones, Lejeune hopes to shift the culture of the Belgian business community toward one where health is not a taboo, but a factor of risk to be managed with transparency and courage.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Please consult with a healthcare provider for medical concerns and a legal professional for business succession and governance planning.
The next major milestone for cancer awareness and research funding in the region is the annual Télévie event, which continues to mobilize the business sector to fund breakthroughs via the FNRS. For those looking to secure their own business’s future, BforB continues to expand its network of volunteer mentors.
We invite you to share your thoughts in the comments: Have you ever faced a health crisis while leading a team? How did your professional network respond?
