Preferably by appointment?
An interview for Jobhop written by Maud Vanwalleghem.
Text: Maud Vanwalleghem
Publication: Job hop
When Tina looks back on her journey, she finds it striking that our education system no longer focuses on talent and motivation. She had to go looking for herself, and that has brought her far.
Tina, you graduated as a bachelor in civil engineering. What followed after that?
I worked briefly as a site manager at a site in Knokke, but soon found out that I had more affinity with interior and real estate. I started working as a real estate agent and a few years later as an interior architect at a company in Aalst. I learned a great deal, but after a few years I was ready for something new. Via a short employment at VMSV, I ended up at the City of Aalst as a civil servant, responsible for government contracts.
Where did the idea for Anna Pops come from?
At that time I was a young mother and I simply spotted a gap in the market: finding quality children's shoes in Aalst was very difficult. I followed a starter's programme at Unizo and reduced my work at the City of Aalst to a part-time job. My boyfriend, who had been an independent architect for years, was able to guide me well. We started testing the concept, from a part of his office that looked out onto the street.
How do you start such a venture?
I had no idea: how much stock should I buy? What are quality shoes? How do you run a store? But the risk was limited. I didn't have to rent a store space, and if the sale didn't work out, I could always organize a sale and stop. In May 2012, I gave birth to my second child, and in August of that same year we opened. It was hard work, but it turned out to be a good thing! After a while, I was able to quit my part-time job.
How did Tina's environment react to her career change? And what advice does she give to others who also have a desire to become entrepreneurs? Read the full story here .
Job hop is the first job shadowing platform in Belgium. Their mission is to make meaningful work and job satisfaction attainable for everyone. This by letting people taste their dream job without risk.
