Stefan De Smet

We identify and develop potential leaders within our organization.

As CEO of District09, the ICT partner of the City of Ghent, Stefan De Smet encounters the various challenges of an urban environment on a daily basis. “They require a mindset of continuous improvement, agility and creativity,” he says. “And to keep innovating, it’s essential to help develop team members’ capabilities, stimulate self-reflection, and encourage personal growth.” Get to know this 2024 ICT & Digital Coach of the Year award candidate.

What does inspirational and coaching leadership mean to Stefan De Smet?

“Within District09, every leader is given the tools and skills to inspire and motivate employees so that they feel safe to take risks and learn from their mistakes. This is how we create an agile organization. A coaching leadership style leads to better performance, better service to the city’s citizens, and also helps us attract and retain talent.”

“With an eye to the future, we continue to invest in leadership development. We support our current leaders while identifying and developing potential leaders within our organization. Succession planning is essential to ensure continuity and stability in this rapidly changing industry. In addition, we focus on the physical and mental health of our employees, and of course on the continuous development of new skillsets in ICT.”

Which personal achievements is Stefan most proud of?

“With District09’s technology, we help the employees, residents and organizations of the City of Ghent to solve many challenges. In this way, we take the digitalization of the city to a higher level. We also made the digital city services more personal, accessible and easier for the users. A nice example is the proactive service we introduced last year, whereby citizens who are entitled to a discount or an adjusted tariff are automatically granted this.”

“Users give us an 8.8 out of 10 for the digital services of the City of Ghent. But I’m even prouder of the District09 employee satisfaction rate. More than 80% feel appreciated by their direct supervisor and experience a pleasant work environment within the team. It is important to me that our team is as diverse as the population of the city we serve. That’s why we continue to focus on inclusive onboarding processes and continuous professional development, so that every talent can grow within the organization.”