In a rapidly shifting consulting industry, where competition is fierce, staying ahead means continuously strengthening our expertise, both horizontally across disciplines and vertically within our specialisations. That’s why we prioritise learning, sharing, and growing together as a core part of our culture, and why we dedicate significant resources each year to ensure every team member has access to high-impact learning opportunities.

One way we achieve this is by supporting colleagues in pursuing quality learning experiences that broaden expertise and feed directly into our strategic goals: focusing on circular and sustainable practices to master planning and territorial envisioning. Equally important, though often challenging, is sharing knowledge internally, ensuring insights flow across teams and strengthening our collective impact.

A great example of this in action is our colleague David Monic, consultant in urban development, who in 2025 joined an MIT Professional Learning program. David specializes in circular economy and financial modelling, working on projects related to the built environment, from local building sites to European policy visions.

Learning & Growth: Deepening Expertise and Expanding Horizons

What key skills or insights are you bringing back from the program?
David: “I learned how to design circular diagrams to follow material flows within specific value chains, a practical tool I can directly use in projects. I also strengthened my expertise in financial assessment and gained a better understanding of international actors, initiatives, and benchmarks in circular economy.”

How did you experience the MIT short format (9 weeks)?
David: “It was quite intense! Adding one and a half days to the work week wasn’t easy, but because it was only nine weeks and the content and people were so engaging, it was worth it. The enthusiasm of the participants made the extra effort enjoyable.”

Does the MIT Professional Learning experience reflect IDEA’s learning culture, and how will it influence your daily work?
David: “MIT focuses on mastering complex concepts with the best available tools, excellence through depth. That’s very much aligned with IDEA’s approach to continuous learning and expertise building. The outcome of the course already has an impact on my daily work. I use what I learned to create more realistic, in-depth solutions for our clients for example, in the Mobiccon project, a Horizon Europe initiative on circular concrete in Bulgaria. It also expanded my professional network and reinforced my role as an internal reference point on circular construction.”

Strategic Impact: From Knowledge to Competitive Edge

How does this experience support IDEA’s RTD-team’s (Regional & territorial development) strategy?
David: “It strengthens our position as experts in circular construction. The MIT certification gives us credibility at an international level and supports our long-term vision of sustainable urban development. With our historic link to urbanisation, it helps us rethink the future of cities, combining competitiveness and climate resilience.”

How can circular economy insights give IDEA a competitive edge?
David: “Circular economy is about creating viable economic models that reduce environmental impact by keeping materials in circulation. In today’s context, doing more with less, building autonomy with this knowledge gives us real added value to offer clients. Circular economy connects with so many fields, from territorial development to innovation, labour markets, and social economy. It’s truly crosscutting, and that’s where its power lies.’

Knowledge Sharing: Turning Individual Learning into Collective Growth

How do you plan to share your learnings with the team?
David: “Through presentations and knowledge exchanges. I’d like to organize a small knowledge forum and also share key documents and insights in a common hub so everyone can access them easily.”

What could inspire future learning opportunities at IDEA?
David: “MIT offers professional certificates in many areas, sustainability, financial modelling, blockchain, and more. Anyone at IDEA can find something that’s both personally interesting and valuable for our clients. Once the right topic is identified, it’s just a question of when to take the leap.”

Expanding IDEA’s Reach

David’s journey perfectly illustrates IDEA’s core values: learning, collaboration, and innovation, all while embedding sustainability and forward-thinking strategy into everything we do. His experience reminds us of that investing in knowledge isn’t just an individual choice, it’s a collective strength that shapes our shared future.

His experience at MIT is more than a personal achievement, it’s a story about how curiosity and continuous learning drive IDEA forward. From international perspectives on circularity to practical applications in our own projects, this learning opportunity can ripple through the organisation, sparking new ideas, inspiring colleagues, and strengthening our impact.

At IDEA, knowledge isn’t static. It evolves through colleagues like David who dare to explore, connect, and share. Because when we learn, we grow together.

David Monic – Expert Real Estate & Territorial Development