An unexpected start
The first contact between Inge and Netwerk was initially commercial in nature: she came to sell something, but ended up with a job offer. Stijn saw in her the solution to a problem he had wanted to address for some time: strengthening the HR structure within Netwerk. What started as a supporting role for the payroll department quickly grew into a broader responsibility for recruitment and account management.
“My intention was to help, but before I knew it, I became part of the team,” Inge says with a laugh.
From team building to strategic growth
Inge’s natural curiosity and insight into people helped her to quickly build a recruitment team that not only worked efficiently, but was also structurally anchored within Netwerk. Where previously account managers did both sales and recruitment, a clear division and collaboration was now set up. This not only ensured scalability, but also a clear focus within the teams.
“The transition was not always easy, but I am convinced that structure and transparency are essential for sustainable growth,” says Inge.
At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic brought additional challenges. Inge started in January 2020, and a few months later the world came to an abrupt standstill. “Initially, I got to know the team mainly via Google Meet. Yet I immediately felt that the culture here was different: open, human and with room for growth.”
The acquisition by Companions
An important milestone in Netwerk’s evolution was the acquisition by Companions in the summer of 2024. This step brought additional financial and legal support, but also presented Netwerk with the challenge of safeguarding its unique culture. Together with Jan, Inge was given the leadership of both Netwerk Belgium and the Netherlands, with the ambition of further expanding the company.
“Companions offers us a lot of expertise and support, but they allow us to determine the daily operations ourselves. That is crucial to maintaining our authenticity,” Inge emphasizes.
Leadership and vision for the future
Inge sees leadership as a combination of strategic thinking and people management. “You have to provide a framework in which people feel valued and in which they can grow, without you as a manager having to check every detail.” Her goal for the coming years is to grow Netwerk to 300 employees, without losing sight of the core values.
“Our strength lies in our humanity. We don’t want to be the biggest agency, but we do want to be the reference for technical talent. If people spontaneously come to Netwerk because they know that we work correctly and decently, then we have achieved our goal.”
Stay curious!
When asked what she would advise her younger self, Inge answers without hesitation: “Stay curious. Don’t be limited by what you think you know. If you had told me five years ago what my job would look like today, I wouldn’t have believed you. But today I find it one of the most fascinating jobs there is.”
With that attitude, Inge continues to build a Netwerk that not only grows in number, but especially in strength and impact.
