Peak Performance: A discussion with Olympians & their coach

The INSEAD Alumni Association is pleased to invite you to the 2025 edition of Viewpoint, one of our flagship events dedicated to exploring timely and impactful leadership topics. This year, we turn our attention to the drivers of peak performance, long-term motivation, and mental resilience — qualities that matter as much in business as they do in elite sport.

To guide the discussion, we are joined by INSEAD faculty member and renowned mental coach Alain Goudsmet, who will open the evening and share the latest thinking, followed by a discussion with two of Belgium’s top field hockey athletes, including a Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist, as they reflect on what it has taken to perform — and thrive — at the highest level. This unique combination of coach and players will offer a rare, behind-the-scenes perspective on leadership under pressure, personal discipline, and the mindset of champions.

The evening will conclude with a walking dinner and drinks, offering alumni and guests the opportunity to connect, reflect, and continue the conversation in good company.

OUR SPEAKERS

Mr Arthur De Sloover

Arthur De Sloover (born 1997) is a distinguished field hockey defender. He began playing hockey at the age of four with Saint-Georges HC in Kortrijk and later joined Royal Beerschot THC in 2014. De Sloover made his debut with the Belgian national team, the Red Lions, in 2017. With the Red Lions he won the World Cup in 2018, the European Championship in 2019, and secured an Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games. As of August 2024, he has earned 167 international caps. He was awarded world’s best player of the year in 2019.

Ms Alix Gerniers

Alix Gerniers (born 1993) is a prominent midfielder in Belgian women’s field hockey. She started her career with Royal Hermes Ronse before moving to La Gantoise HC, where she contributed to three consecutive national championships from 2021 to 2023. Internationally, Gerniers has been captain of the Belgian national team, the Red Panthers, participating in the 2012 and 2024 Olympic Games. She has amassed over 277 caps and scored 54 goals for her country.

Professor Alain Goudsmet

Alain Goudsmet is a renowned Belgian mental coach with over two decades of experience in enhancing performance across sports, business, and education sectors. He is the founder and CEO of the Mentally Fit Institute, an organisation that applies sports coaching principles to corporate environments. Goudsmet has worked with elite organisations, including IBM, Air France, Shell, and Unilever. In sports, he served as the mental coach for the Belgian men’s hockey team for the Olympics. He contributes to academic programs as a professor at Solvay Business School and INSEAD.