"The program taught me to stand firmly behind myself."
INTERVIEW WITH PROF. DR. IR. MICHAEL CORBEY AND ALUMNA BRIGIT VERSCHUREN
What happens when experience meets ambition?
In this interview series, professors and alumni of TIAS School for Business and Society come together to discuss developments in their fields and the impact on today's world. From the latest technological breakthroughs to the human side of leadership: each edition shows how knowledge and practice strengthen one another.
How do you keep challenging yourself, even with years of experience and expertise?
In this edition, Michael Corbey and Brigit Verschuren explore how a degree program can still surprise and inspire you, even when the theory may not be entirely new to you.
As CFO of the internationally operating company Lan Handling Technologies, Brigit Verschuren is responsible for IT, Legal and Finance. Finance, she explains, is a broad domain: "I'm involved with new business development, business models, short- and long-term planning, budget cycles - you name it. And ofcourse, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which is a major topic today."
A wealth of experience More than four years ago, Brigit started the Executive Master of Finance & Control (EMFC) at TIAS. At that point, she already had a strong background and deep subjectknowledge. In her role as a principal consultant at a consultancy firm, she was encouraged to pursue the degree in order to continue growing professionally.“To remain in that leadership role, it was important to earn the necessary qualifications — including the EMFC, which grants eligibility for the Register Controller title. I already had a master’s in finance and significant experience at multinational companies. So I wondered: what could this program really teach me?”
Extrinsic motivation? That kind of doubt is not a strong foundation to start - and Michael Corbey, Academic Director of the EMFC program at TIAS campuses in Tilburg and Utrecht, knows it well. "With purely extrinsic motivation, you won't get far. A short 10-week course might work, but not a two-year program like this."
Entering with an open mind While Brigit’s initial motivation may have been somewhat extrinsic, she quickly discovered the added value of the program. Brigit: “That’s because of my ‘intrinsic Brigit.’ I always approach things with an open mind — and I did the same with this program, expecting to learn from the people around me.” But how do you learn from others when you’re one of the most experienced in the group? “Through different formats, lots of interaction, presentations, and real-life business cases, many concepts I already knew were presented from a new angle and tested in practice,” says Brigit. “Also, professionals who are early in their careers look at things differently — not just in terms of content, but also work ethic, time management, and ethics. I’ve learned a lot from that.”
New knowledge through interaction and reflection Michael agrees: “That’s why I always aim for age diversity in our cohorts. The interaction between professionals from both business and non-profit backgrounds, each at different stages in their careers, is incredibly valuable. Take agile working, for example. Many organizations claim to use agile methods, but in practice, it often falls short. Why is that? The concept is so new that there’s little academic literature on it. By discussing it in class, you connect directly to everyone’s professional reality. That’s real learning — not from books, but through reflection and dialogue.”
A strong controller with confidence With a passion for sustainability, business ethics is a key topic for Brigit. Thanks to insights from younger classmates and impactful presentations on ethical dilemmas, she now feels more confident in the decisions she makes.
“And having the RC title gives you more confidence — in yourself and in what you stand for. It confirms that I see things clearly, that I can speak up, and that I can fully support both myself and my company’s vision.”
Michael adds: “As a CFO, you have to stand your ground — and that’s not always easy. These kinds of experiences help you become a strong controller, ready to do the right thing when it counts.”
Prof. Michael Corbey
Prof. Dr. Michael Corbey is Professor of Management Accounting & Control and Academic Director of the Executive Master of Finance & Control at TIAS. He has been awarded the Best Lecturer Award ten times already.
Brigit Verschuren
Brigit Verschuren has been CFO of Lan Handling Technologies since early 2024. Previously, she held consultant-, finance- and management positions at various (international) companies. She graduated cum laude from the EMFC program, earning a 9.5 for her thesis — the highest grade ever awarded in the program's history.
TIAS is the business school of Tilburg University and Eindhoven University of Technology.
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