Jeppe la Cour, CBS EMBA Gradu­ate, Drives Re­new­able En­ergy In­nov­a­tion at Port of Roenne

"Education has always been important to me. I read often to stay sharp but there’s a time when you have to dedicate yourself to school again. I was at a point in my career where I felt it was time to gain new tools for my career development and everyday professional life."

Jeppe began the pursuit of the CBS EMBA after moving back to Bornholm and securing a position at Port of Roenne. The holistic focus of the programme aligned with his career aspirations, and he was encouraged in his educational pursuit, "Both the previous and current CEOs of the port an EMBA programme from CBS. They recommended the school to me, which was invaluable.”

Leading the Port’s Developments – 25 years ahead of schedule

Under Jeppe’s leadership, Port of Roenne has transformed significantly.

"Historically a fishery port, where the quota system in the late '80s changed our trajectory and in 2016 we saw an opportunity to support the green transition. Leveraging Bornholm's strategic location for renewable energy projects, and in this sense we could future-proof the port," Jeppe explains.

In 2016, a comprehensive four-phase master plan was initiated to develop infrastructure for offshore wind energy. The first three phases focused on building and enhancing the necessary infrastructure to support offshore wind operations. Phase four was designed to establish two separate operations to segregate passenger services from offshore wind activities.

While the original completion date for the entire master plan was set for 2050, the project is now expected to be concluded by next year. This accelerated timeline is attributed not only to the increased demand for offshore wind energy but also to the strategic leadership of Jeppe through the work he did in connection with his EMBA thesis, which had a focus on exactly this transformation plan. This led to accelerated  progress, with the project now expected to conclude next year.

The sum of the CBS EMBA

"It's challenging to pinpoint specific lessons because the education was comprehensive and holistic in its approach. Apart from giving me a perfect insight into the mechanisms and departments of an organisation, it also taught me to structure myself, work under pressure, collaborate effectively, and balance family and work," Jeppe reflects. "Summing it all up, the biggest gain was the ability to see the big picture and understand the business more clearly. Of specific courses, I can point to accounting and adaptive leadership that have aided me in this journey at the Port of Roenne, but it is the sum of overall development that you go through during the EMBA education that makes the difference from just taking short courses ad hoc. I now have an extra gear to elevate myself and piece everything together."

Another benefit that Jeppe highlights is the unique network that he was able to build during the EMBA education.

"Networking has been incredibly important. The connections made during the programme are invaluable. We've supported each other through highs and lows. Especially my ISP group (thesis sparring group) —we remain very close and regularly call to assist each other with all aspects of business and beyond, encompassing personal support and advice. The network is critical in my performance and development.”

The EMBA journey was not without its challenges.

"During the education, I was a little bit skeptical because I couldn't always see the red thread through the mandatory courses. There are moments of overwhelm because you are very busy, but as the professors say—it all comes together during the ISP - and it did! I plan on an annual update of the market and company analysis from my Thesis, as it gives me a valuable tool to be on top of the market changes and enabling me to present my model and data to the rest of the management team and the board. The data and models for space needed for the installation of wind turbines are based on an algorithm from my thesis, and it makes me proud to see it used by the industry.

A center for renewable energy in the Baltic Sea

Looking ahead, Jeppe is optimistic about the port's future. "With the Energy Island Bornholm project, the island will become a center for renewable energy in the Baltic Sea, creating jobs and new opportunities. The port will handle more activity, especially with the upcoming expansions.”

Despite potential competition, the Port of Roenne remains a key player, and it’s currently the only port in the Baltic Sea capable of installing new high-capacity turbines.

Jeppe reflects on his CBS EMBA experience, saying, "I’ve been discussing this a lot with our CEO, a fellow graduate. We now have the ability to elevate ourselves to a more strategic level and see the whole picture. We can really put the puzzle pieces together, and this is the biggest gain from the EMBA. As we move forward in developing the Port of Roenne, I can leverage my leadership, ESG knowledge, accounting skills, and more. It’s fantastic.”

Context: 

The entire Baltic Sea has seen the installation of 2.8 gigawatts of renewable energy over the past 25 years. Currently, the Energy Island project at the Port of Roenne is installing between 3 and 3.8 gigawatts, enough to supply more energy than all Danish households can consume. Contracts for approximately 6 gigawatts are already signed for future installation, which does not include the Energy Island. The Energy Island will only tender later this year. According to a recent report by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, the Port of Roenne is the only port in the Baltic Sea equipped with new 14 and 15 megawatt turbines.