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Exit with Purpose: Leaving an Entrepreneurial Legacy

Secured Content for Teachers
This case study explores the entrepreneurial journey and legacy of Berend Groeneveld and the evolution of InterDam, a fire- and blast-resistant architectural products manufacturing company he co-owns. InterDam's roots trace back to Van Dam, a family business founded in 1906. The case opens in May 2024 with Berend contemplating a buyout offer for InterDam while reflecting on his legacy. The trigger to look into what he is leaving behind came when a former professor asked him to write his own obituary, specifying his ultimate goals in life and figuring out how to live up to it.  

This case is based on field research. It is written to provide material for class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a management situation. Identifiable information may have been anonymized or altered to protect confidentiality. Fictitious information may have been included and claims may have been exaggerated or simplified from reality to enhance the effect of class discussion. 

Copyright © 2025 RSM Case Development Centre, Erasmus University. No part of this publication may be copied, stored, transmitted, reproduced or distributed in any form or medium whatsoever without the permission of the copyright owner. Please address all correspondence to cdc@rsm.nl. 

Executive Summary

Learning Objectives Meet the Protagonist Target Audience Keywords How to use this case Authors Secured Content
Learning Objectives

After discussing the case, students will be able to:   

  • Understand the concept of imprinting and its relevance to entrepreneurship and apply it in a real-life setting, 
  • Explain key concepts that help one to analyze the building and leaving of legacy in this case: generativity, stewardship, succession, exit,   and philanthropy, 
  • Illustrate forms of generativity and types of legacy that may result from sustained entrepreneurship. 
  • Write their own legacy letter as an exercise in goal setting & life crafting/plan
Meet the Protagonist

Berend Groeneveld

Meet Berend Groeneveld, the founder of InterDam, a a fire- and blast-resistant architectural products manufacturing company. InterDam’s roots trace back to Van Dam, a family business founded in 1906. After Van Dam's bankruptcy in 2002, Berend and partners established InterDam in 2007, leveraging their industry expertise to create innovative designs and secure key clients. The company experienced steady growth, expanding into new markets such as offshore wind energy. 

Please watch the video, where Berend introduces himself, the history of the family business, and the founding and growth of InterDam.

Target Audience
  • Post-experience students (regular and executive MBAs) in classes on buy-in and buy-out entrepreneurship (harvesting and exiting)
  • Pre experience students (Bachelors and Masters) in courses on ambitious entrepreneurship 
Keywords

Legacy; Entrepreneurship; Impact; Stewardship; Generativity; Private Equity; Philanthropy.  

How to use this case

This multi-media case includes the following:

  • Teaching Case (restricted access)
  • Teaching Note (restricted access)
  • Teaching videos (restricted access)
    • Interviews with Berend Groeneveld:
      • What decision are you facing at InterDam and what is important to you?
      • What does legacy mean to you? What is your legacy?
      • Did you consider your legacy when choosing investors?
      • What is your biggest success: the number or products sold or the positive impact of your products on people’s lives?
      • What is next for you?
      • What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs regarding building their own legacies?
Authors

Solange Hai, senior case writer, wrote this teaching case under the supervision of Professors Wynand Bodewes at Tilburg University and Willem Hulsink at the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University. The authors would like to thank: Tao Yue, Managing Editor at RSM’s Case Development Centre, Dirk Groeneveld (Co-founder of InterDam, Former CEO of Van Dam), Jaap Engelsman (External Advisor to InterDam management team), Jip Gimbrere (Investment Director at VE Partners), and Dion Aya (Video Editor). The authors’ gratitude goes out to Berend Groeneveld (Co-founder of InterDam), who invited them to take a deep look into his life to build this case.  

Secured Content

To access the secured content, please download the teaching note from The Case Centre, which provides the necessary access information. Erasmus University Rotterdam staff can download it for free, while external users will need to purchase it. Detailed instructions for both are available here.

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