Self-made rebel.
"It took me 15 years to evolve from 'queen bee' to 'real me'."
I am a self-made entrepreneur in human resources. I founded my first company, Accent Jobs, when I was 31. That "firstborn" has grown into one of the largest HR players in Europe: House of HR.
Today I combine three roles: entrepreneur, investor and rebel. My mission: helping women take up space, in boards, in companies and in the world.
From 'queen bee' to 'real me'
I grew up in West Flanders, a region known for its many family businesses in agrifood and textiles. My parents ran a wholesale plant business. But when my father started thinking about succession by the next generation, he only looked at my two brothers.
“A little chocolate shop”
"Why don't you just start a little chocolate shop." That was as far as a girl's entrepreneurial dream should go, apparently. Excuse me? I wanted to be independent no matter what. After studying tourism I found a job at the reception of a campsite. The manager was good with numbers, I was good with people. Mediating when someone had stolen someone else's bar of soap in the showers, I loved that!
Learning to take risks
Through my husband I met Philip Cracco. He would become my business partner for the next 20 years. Together we founded Accent Jobs , which specialised in recruitment and staffing. Philip was the visionary full of risk, I translated his ideas into an ambitious but achievable goal. Along the way I learned to take risks.
Growth
Over the past 25 years Accent Jobs expanded and became part of House of HR, which today generates a turnover of €3 billion. My next ventures focused more on female entrepreneurship: either by bringing more diversity to boards or by investing in female scale-ups.
Unburdened
My father eventually became very proud of me. But it took me 15 years to evolve from 'queen bee' to 'real me'. The real Conny: participative, authentic, unburdened.
A journey of 30 years
From a first recruitment office in West Flanders to an investment vehicle for female entrepreneurs, a timeline of dreaming, daring and doing.
- 1995
- 2011
- 2014
- 2018
- 2023
- 2024
- 1995
- 2011
- 2014
- 2018
- 2023
- 2024