Training graduates capable of evolving in an international environment is part of the DNA of the University of Liège. Each year, many ULiège Alumni continue their careers far beyond European borders, contributing to the international visibility of Belgian expertise abroad.
Among them, Antoine Delwaide, who graduated with a Master’s degree in Electromechanical Civil Engineering (2020) from the School of Engineering, perfectly illustrates this dynamic. His professional journey has taken him from Brussels to the United States thanks to the Prince Albert Fund, an initiative supporting the international development of Belgian companies.
Hosted by the King Baudouin Foundation, the Prince Albert Fund (PAF) is a leading programme that enables talented young professionals to gain concrete experience in international development outside Europe, in support of Belgian companies.
Since its creation in 1984, the Fund has enabled more than 600 young leaders to carry out international projects for over 300 Belgian companies, thereby contributing to strengthening Belgium’s economic presence worldwide.
After graduating from ULiège, Antoine Delwaide began his career as an energy market analyst at Engie Impact in Brussels. A few years later, he seized the opportunity offered by the Prince Albert Fund and moved to Atlanta to develop the US activities of Sensolus, a Belgian scale-up specialising in asset tracking solutions for logistics processes.
This international experience marked a key milestone in his career, allowing him to explore new responsibilities, broaden his skills, and gain a global perspective on business development. Back in Belgium, he recently joined the strategy consulting firm Boston Consulting Group.
We asked him a few questions about his career path and international experience.
I started my career as an energy market analyst at Engie Impact in Brussels, where I stayed for two years. I then spent three years in Atlanta launching Sensolus’s activities, a Ghent-based scale-up that develops asset tracking solutions for logistics processes. A few months ago, I returned to Brussels and joined the strategy consulting firm Boston Consulting Group.
I was awarded the Prince Albert Fund scholarship, which allows young professionals under 30 to develop a project for a Belgian company outside Europe. Through this programme, I was able to meet nearly 40 companies with a wide range of projects. In the end, I chose Sensolus because I immediately connected with the team and the product. I was also very excited about the idea of starting a project from scratch in the US.
It was a very enriching experience for me: with relatively little professional experience, I discovered a new sector, a new market, and a new role, all within only 12 months to make an impact.
On a professional level, this project allowed me to gain a very broad understanding of how a growing company is managed and how it expands internationally. I was exposed to a wide range of tasks, from sales and marketing to human resources management and customs logistics.
I gained a lot of autonomy and confidence, and I learned to quickly navigate topics I did not yet master. In particular, I found that promoting new products in a highly competitive market like the United States was especially insightful. Ultimately, this exposure to such a wide variety of topics also helped me better define what I would like for the next steps in my career.
On a personal level, this experience allowed me to travel for three years across the United States, a country I realised I knew much less well than I had thought. I also made great encounters, including other alumni of the Prince Albert Fund.
In general, I believe that having a technical background is always an advantage when trying to sell a technical product. In Europe, our salespeople are usually supported by engineers when it comes to finding solutions to customer problems.
In my situation, this was not possible at the beginning due to the distance and time difference. Having a strong technical understanding of our products allowed me to save a lot of time in the sales process. It also reassured American customers who were reluctant to buy technically complex products from a company whose technical support was based in Europe.
Moreover, our products rely on telecommunications networks, which differ from one country to another. Adjustments were needed during the first months, and once again, having a solid technical understanding of the products was essential to quickly develop suitable solutions.
In my view, it is much easier to start from a strong technical foundation and then develop commercial skills than the other way around.
I would give them three pieces of advice.
First, I would strongly encourage them to learn as much as possible from the experience of others: speaking with those who have already faced this challenge and understanding their successes and failures saves a great deal of time.
Second, I believe it is important to make the most of what already exists in Belgium or Europe, for example by relying on existing clients that have subsidiaries abroad. First references are key, and extending existing contracts internationally is a relatively straightforward way to establish oneself as a credible player in a new market.
Finally, I would strongly recommend meeting as many potential clients or partners as possible, even without the immediate intention of selling to them. It is often through these exchanges that a better understanding of the local market emerges.
This award is presented to Professor Geenen in recognition of the entirety of his pioneering work on the role of the thymus in central immune tolerance towards the endocrine glands
The HERA Awards recognize final-year projects that incorporate social, environmental, economic, and participatory dimensions. A €2,500 prize is available for master’s theses!
The University of Liège is preparing an Alumni gathering in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg during the 2026-2027 academic year. Alumni ULiège in Luxembourg: let us know you're interested now to receive your official invitation!
