
During his time at INSEAD, Idgar's outlook was broadened, and he fostered lifelong connections. “INSEAD transformed me from being just a Dutch guy into someone with a much more global perspective,” he reflects. This global mindset influenced his decision to work in Silicon Valley after INSEAD, where he immersed himself in the dynamic tech environment before returning to the Netherlands.
In 2004, Idgar founded his own investment firm with a high school friend. Initially focused on turning around businesses, the firm evolved into a professional hands-on private equity firm. Despite the success, Idgar grew somewhat uneasy about the strong focus on shareholder value and felt that the dimension of impact on all stakeholders, including employees, the environment and society, was largely missing.
“Fairness has always been a core value for me. I started becoming more and more interested in how that concept could be integrated into business.”
This realisation led Idgar to explore impact investing and re-engage with INSEAD. He collaborated with the Hoffman Institute, focusing on fairness in business, and mentored MBA students in evaluating businesses based on social impact. This reaffirmed his belief in aligning business practices with ethical considerations.
In pursuit of fairness, Idgar has been investing in social ventures and impact funds. He also supports the School for Moral Ambition, inspired by Rutger Bregman’s work, which encourages individuals to address the world’s most pressing issues through their careers. “Would you rather spend your career making as much money as possible, or focus on the world's biggest problems and change history?” Idgar asks, emphasising the importance of moral ambition in professional life.
Idgar’s story underscores the power of a global education in shaping leaders who not only achieve professional success but also drive positive change with purpose. Through his dedication to fairness and social impact, Idgar embodies the values that INSEAD strives to instil in its graduates, proving that entrepreneurship and venture capital can be forces for good in the world.