Leadership Journeys: Meet Sophie Looman from the Leaders4Tomorrow Program
Thanks to the amazing support of our global partners, at Talentor International, we consciously created a diverse group of leaders from Switzerland, the Netherlands, Latvia, Austria and Ukraine, to participate in this Leadership Program, to learn from each other’s experiences, to answer the questions that we have before leading teams and the experience of already leading an entire operation.
The Leaders4Tomorrow Program officially started in September 2023 at the Talentor Summit in Amsterdam, followed by a series of virtual sessions with global leaders and HR professionals from different industries, and an on-site Leadership Camp in Vienna during November 2023 in which we engaged with provoking keynotes, learning sessions and updates from everyone from the Leaders4Tomorrow Program team. And so, we soon reach July 2024, in which the closing of the program and the presentation of the strategic projects that each of our leaders developed for their companies and markets took place!
One of the top talents within the Talentor Community who participated and recently culminated the first cohort of the Leaders4Tomorrow Program was Sophie Looman.
Sophie Looman works as Team Lead in Hospitality, Facility & Retail at Independent Recruiters, our Talentor Partners from the Netherlands. She describes the mission of her role to make great matches between clients and candidates. With her operational background in hospitality, Sophie knows the industry like no other and fulfills an advisory role for both client and candidate.
Sophie’s strategic project in Talentor’s Leaders4Tomorrow Program focused on enhancing the Independent Recruiters Retail label and expanding connections with clients and top candidates. To achieve this, personalized physical mail was sent to 130 carefully selected prospects, ensuring a distinctive impression. By integrating this traditional method with digital marketing and personalized follow-ups, we aim to strengthen our presence and reputation in the recruitment industry.
“Our goal is to attract the best talent and clients – in one of the most challenging and yet exciting industries of big brands and client experience!”, Sophie mentions.
Her personal and professional progress was inspiring to our Talentor team, so we wanted to introduce Sophie to our whole community! We asked her a few questions and here is what she shared with us!
Hi Sophie! Congratulations on completing the Leaders4Tomorrow Program and developing a stand-out project! We want our Talentor Community to know you a little bit better, can you share with us what is the biggest milestone you have achieved in your job?
During my strategic project, we increased the revenue in Retail (both temp and perm) with 25% and grew the team with two recruitment consultants, Lisanne and Elise, who helped realized this growth in revenue!
What is a tip you would give your younger self or any young talent out there for the business world?
A tip I would give my younger self or any young talent out there in the business world is to never underestimate the power of networking. Building strong relationships and connections can open doors you never knew existed. Stay curious, be open to learning from everyone you meet, and don't be afraid to ask for advice or mentorship. Your network can be one of your greatest assets in your career!
In what job(s) did you work before you came to the recruiting industry or your actual position?
Before transitioning to the recruiting industry, I worked in the hospitality sector. My experience in hospitality provided a solid foundation for understanding client needs and delivering exceptional service. I began my recruiting career 5.5 years ago, focusing initially on hospitality recruitment, leveraging my industry knowledge to connect top talent with leading employers.
Have you lived and worked abroad before?
I was partially raised in Curaçao and spent part of middle school there. Additionally, I spent 1 year in the US, gaining experience on both the West and East Coasts. These international experiences have enriched my personal and professional background and provided me with a diverse perspective on different work cultures and environments.
If you could travel to any country in the world tomorrow, where would you go?
If I could travel to any country in the world tomorrow, I would go to Australia. The beach is my happy place and with the most beaches in the world, Australia would be a dream destination. Also, it’s perfect for water sports (would love to see the Great Barrier Reef!) and enjoying nature.
When Sophie shared her analog and digital approach of personally connecting to more than 130 top leaders in the retail industry in the Netherlands, we were all in awe of her commitment. She and her team know the industry, all big players and found talents for prestigious brands. Sophie brought inspiring questions, her full presence and real challenges to every single session – she shows up with this power to every client and candidate meeting and creates this winning spirit with everyone she engages with!
Thank you Sophie for sharing these interesting fun- facts with us! We wish you and your team many more successes! We are sure the Retail revenue will continue growing and growing! It was a pleasure to have worked with you in the program and to know more about you! We hope it was an experience as brilliant as the sea of Curaçao! 😉
To learn more about the Leaders4Tomorrow program click here.
