Business Analysis Blueprint

Filip Hendrickx

Filip Hendrickx’s career is a testament to the power of curiosity, adaptability, and a passion for connection. Starting as an engineer and transitioning “by accident” into business analysis, Filip has woven his technical expertise with a deep understanding of strategy and innovation.

A true community builder, he co-founded the BA & Beyond conference and, until recently, led the IIBA Brussels Chapter, creating spaces for professionals to collaborate and grow. In June, he was elected to IIBA’s Board of Directors. By blending business analysis with lean startup techniques and facilitating organizational transformation, Filip continues to push boundaries and inspire others in the profession.

We recently spoke to Filip about his transition into business analysis, his dedication to connecting the global business analysis community, and how he drives transformation in organizations worldwide.

Your business analysis journey sounds fascinating. Can you tell us how it all got started? What inspired you to get into business analysis, and how has it evolved over the years?

I'm a business analyst "by accident." I studied engineering and started my career as a microelectronics and multimedia researcher. In my first project, I designed computer hardware (using FPGAs).

I quickly moved on to software development and architecture, first building proof of concept software for future multimedia applications and then software tools for generating administrative process management applications. I didn’t realize it then, but I was working through the entire chain of business analysis and what would later become full-stack development.

After a brief stint at a local pharma startup, I realized my passion lay in understanding customer needs and shaping solutions, rather than focusing on the software development side. During my job search, I discovered this was called "business analysis." I wasn't sure what kind of company or domain I wanted to work in, so I became a consultant. This allowed me to experience a variety of contexts.

I became responsible for a document management system during my first consulting assignments. I was a product owner avant la lettre. In hindsight, never having heard of "BA vs PO" was probably a blessing. I just did what was needed to help our users.

You’re the co-founder of the BA & Beyond conference and former president of the IIBA Brussels Chapter. What sparked your passion for supporting your local business analysis community, and how have these efforts shaped the profession in your region?

My father spent his entire career as a schoolteacher, so you could say I was spoon-fed knowledge-sharing from the day I was born! During my early years in consulting, I took up the role of BA and EA Knowledge Coordinator. I enjoyed seeing how colleagues found inspiration in each other's stories.

When I became an independent consultant, I sought other ways to connect and inspire business analysis professionals. Again, I accidentally came across the IIBA Brussels Chapter and quickly got involved as the events organizer.

Around the same time, I began public speaking at conferences in Europe and leading my own workshops. I found these events very inspiring and energizing, and realized there wasn’t a dedicated conference in Belgium. It was a clear gap that needed filling!

Together with Patrick Van Renterghem, who was already organizing business analysis workshops in Belgium, I co-founded the BA & Beyond conference. With both local and global speakers and the enthusiastic support of our chapter as a co-host from the very beginning, it quickly grew into an exciting international journey!

In terms of shaping the profession through connecting and knowledge sharing, there are two important considerations:

• You’re not alone. Many business analysis professionals share similar challenges and are more than willing to lend their experience or a helping hand. When you start seeing the same people returning to events and new people being inspired for the first time, you realize you’re hitting a sweet spot and creating a community.
• There’s growing interest in standards and certifications. There’s been a noticeable shift in organizations seeking to professionalize "traditional business analysis" while also fast-tracking people from non-business analysis backgrounds (like SMEs) to become change makers.

I believe the Brussels Chapter and the BA & Beyond conference have played a key role in highlighting the business analysis profession to a broad audience while connecting local and global communities.

Congratulations on winning the 2024 IIBA Volunteer of the Year Award for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region! What does this recognition mean to you personally and professionally?

Thanks! Winning this award has truly been heartwarming. When you're passionate about something, you don't act to get recognition—it’s the cherry on the cake!

Many business analysis professionals tend to focus on the future—the things that must, should, or could be done. We're challenged by the hills ahead of us. But an award offers a unique reminder to pause, look back, and appreciate the mountains you’ve already climbed. It’s a chance to reflect on the successes you’ve achieved with your peers and the lasting impact you’ve made.

One of your key areas of interest is blending business analysis with innovation and lean startup techniques. Could you share your thoughts on how this combination can drive organizational transformation?

Short feedback loops in uncertain contexts are key to innovation. When navigating a world of unknowns, innovation demands taking small steps forward, continuously learning, and making course corrections, all while staying aligned with a long-term vision. Traditional analysis approaches excel in stable, well-defined environments. In innovation contexts, we need to tackle challenges differently.

However, relying solely on trial and error can feel like playing the lottery. The blend of the structured and analytical business analysis mindset with the experimental, iterative, and incremental innovation approach can drive impactful organizational transformation that sticks. Our facilitation skills enable stakeholders to co-create this transformation.

Having an innovation mindset also means being comfortable with making mistakes and failing. As my friend Judy Alter says, "FAIL" stands for "First Attempt in Learning." This contrasts with traditional business analysis, where we often strive to eliminate uncertainty through thorough up-front analysis, believing we can avoid mistakes. Yet, in a context of uncertainty, that approach can be inefficient or even unachievable.

Stepping outside your comfort zone can be difficult, but that's exactly where the most meaningful learning happens!

Your book Brainy Glue focuses on business analysis, innovation, and change. What inspired you to write it, and what do you hope readers take away from it?

I've always enjoyed writing, but I never pursued it in a structured way. When Ian Richards approached me to co-author a book on business analysis, I didn’t hesitate. I knew having a partner in crime would bring the dedication and momentum required to see the project through.

One key takeaway from this experience comes from someone who inspires me, Mark Smalley: “The reader never reads what the author writes.” Ian and I poured many of our own experiences and insights into Brainy Glue, but ultimately, I hope readers feel inspired to explore uncharted territory, to boldly go where they haven’t gone before. Be a Bold Analyst!

You’ve worked on a range of roles—from founding altershape to serving as a visiting professor. How do these diverse experiences help you bring unique insights into the business analysis world?  

Taking on different roles across various contexts, business domains, my own company, and initiatives like BA & Beyond and education has broadened my perspective immensely. These experiences have pushed me to think as a business analyst and architect, a product owner and product manager, a follower, a leader, a business owner, and a teacher to both seasoned professionals and beginners.

The most impactful insights rarely stem from a single specialization. They emerge by combining elements from different fields and perspectives. Looking back, I see becoming a business analyst “by accident” as a blessing—it meant I was never unconsciously limited to just one lens or approach.

Many people and resources cover the "typical" business analysis content. While this is important, it’s the non-typical contributions that truly make a difference.

What’s the most challenging project you’ve taken on in your career so far, and how did you overcome the hurdles to deliver results?

Oh, tough question! Every endeavour has its challenges, and what I find challenging tends to change over time. I often think back to my first consultancy assignment. Almost everything was new to me: a new role (business analyst instead of researcher/developer), working as a consultant instead of an employee, a client, and even a business domain I hadn’t worked in and knew very little about.

One of the projects during that assignment involved rolling out a new process and role across the entire organization, spanning about 20 offices in Belgium. This meant working in both Dutch, my native language, and French, which I spoke but had never used professionally. Adding to the challenge, I had zero background in change management!

I survived mainly thanks to the wonderful help of my colleagues, both at the client’s organization and the consulting company. I was able to check ideas, soundboard, and co-create. I felt surrounded, supported, and trusted. The client's key stakeholders were very mindful about taking things one step at a time, allowing room for learning and adjustments along the way.

I also learned the value of having someone “on the inside." I worked on the roll-out alongside an internal sales colleague who knew the organization and its employees intimately and was trusted by his colleagues, even when delivering tough messages. That was invaluable.

What advice would you give to aspiring or early-career business analysis professionals looking to make an impact?

Immerse yourself in both the local and global business analysis community, as well as other relevant communities. Surround yourself with peers inside and outside of your organization. Attend all sorts of events, and don't hesitate to share your own thoughts, experiences, questions, and challenges.

The business analysis community is incredibly welcoming and supportive. Listening, participating, and contributing will inspire you, broaden your perspective, and propel you forward.

In 2025 and beyond, we’re spotlighting the versatility, value, and far-reaching impact of talented business analysis professionals like Filip through Analysis Everywhere. If you need some inspiration for sharing your own story, visit our website for more information.

Know someone who's making an impact as a business analysis professional? Reach out to brand@iiba.org to have them featured in our next Business Analysis Blueprint.

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