1. Astrid Akse,
EMEA HR Manager Born in the
Netherlands
Now lives: Neuchâtel,
Switzerland
Who inspired you to be
who you are today?
Definitely my parents. I had a mixed cultural
upbringing as my Mother is from South America
and my Father from The Netherlands. A good
combination between teaching me to be direct
and to the point on one side and not to be scared
to use your emotional side as well on the other side.
What are you passionate about outside of work?
I love to travel. Experiencing different countries and their
cultures is still fascinating to me. My all time favourite countries
that I’ve seen so far are Tibet and Bolivia – I think their culture
is one that a lot of people can learn from. They’re not walking
the tightrope of life wondering when they might fall off but
living a very peaceful and harmonious existence.
How did you start your career in HR?
Before my Kelly career started 15 years ago in 1997 I’d been working for 10 years in the
travel industry, I wasn’t really looking to move jobs but I saw an advert in the paper for
a position that would deal with multiple clients based in countries across Europe and
that interested me. I was up for the challenge so I joined the team at Kelly in Amster-
dam. But I didn’t immediately start to work within the HR function, instead I joined as a
Consultant. After 1 year I was made Branch Manager and then later Regional Manager.
It wasn’t until 7 years later that I started to think about how I could put my skills to use
in HR. There was an opening for a training and recruitment role and I thought OK so
I’ve seen the operational part and liked the focus on the commercial aspect of the
business but I knew that my main passion was the people element. Later I became the
HR Manager for the Benelux region and since May 2011, the HR Manager for EMEA.
What have been your biggest challenges throughout your career?
It sounds like a cliché but I really am a people person and when I had to manage my first
organisational restructure I started to wonder if HR was really for me. When you’re close
to your colleagues and find yourself in the position of having to sit down and have a
discussion on why the business needs have changed, it’s an incredibly difficult
conversation to have. I don’t think I’ll ever find that part of the role easy.
I put a lot of pressure on myself to constantly seek out new challenges. The need to be
continually learning and growing within a role is really important to me. A while ago, I was
honest when I was unsure of what my next challenge could be within Kelly. It just so hap-
pened that the honesty I shared with my manager meant that I was given this fantastic
opportunity to relocate to Switzerland and start my current role. That is proof for me that
if you’re in the right organisation and you can be honest with yourself and others you will
open up career options that you may not have come across otherwise.
What about the highlights?
1. Managing a recruitment branch through
a booming economy 97-2000 and experi-
encing 100% growth year on year was so
motivating both for myself and my team.
2. Leading the regional team I learnt a lot –
how to cope with customers and employees
in the different countries. The countries of
the Benelux may be very close in distance
but the cultures are completely different.
3. Moving to another country to start a new
role. I didn’t plan where I would be today
when I started my career but I really feel like
I’ve grabbed the opportunities presented
to me and made them my own.
What advice would you give to those starting out in their career?
Favorite
subject
at school?
Geography!
I also loved learning
languages – today I can
speak German, French,
Dutch, English and Spanish.
Grab
opportunities
when they arise
with both
hands.
Don’t be afraid
to be yourself.
Be brave and honest
about what you want
to do and where
you’d like to go
with yourself
and others.
Look for a match
with your personality
and the people working
in the business. Base three
quarters of your decision on
the content of the role and
the people that work
in the company
How do you stay positive even through
the difficult times as a HR Manager?
I’m an naturally optimistic person. When
you’ve travelled to different countries around
the world and seen such poverty you realise
that we have so many choices and chances
in life here that others simply never get.
Life and your career is like a road with many
twists and turns. Sometimes you’ll be motor-
ing down the path full speed ahead and
other times you might be at the crossroads
wondering which direction to take. Be honest
with yourself and I really believe that you’ll
find the right way.
This is My Story
Go with your
gut feel – it’s
usually right
Do what you’re
good at
and what
you love!