Bobbie Morel
Chief of Staff at Indahunt
1. Do you remember a time when you were happiest as a child? Where were you, who were you with and what were you doing?
I was happy all the time. The happiest I was living with my mum who I love dearly, growing up in Amsterdam with my most favorite time living in The Jordaan (village in Amsterdam), where people say what they think and (re)act on any situation occurring. But also, with my dad being all the vacations in Asia where I grew up (Singapore & Tokyo), swimming pool live and easy life living. Oh, and playing badminton with my dad who I have not seen much but who was essential in my becoming and making the choice working in the corporate world after my 10-year career as ex classical Ballet Dancer of The National Ballet Academy. I love my family.
2. What seemed like an inconsequential decision at the time, but in hindsight turned out to fundamentally reshape your life?
When my ex-girlfriend was pregnant I started my company Indahunt. Yes you can read it as In Da Hunt, but it’s Indahunt. Indah is the name of my daughter and means “Magnificent”. But to come back on the question, to start my own company right in the middle of the credit crunch phase 1 brings a lot of challenges to begin with. Thanks to my broad recruitment experience at that time I was honored at becoming the contract recruiter for the ING Bank responsible for all IT permanent jobs EMEA and later responsible for RAM (Resource Allocation management, freelancers) Financial Markets (the heart of the ING). So, although it felt a bit odd to start, it turned out great ☺.
3. What do you think is true that most people think is false? What do you think is false, that most people think is true?
I think it’s true that there is “Age Discrimination” within companies especially also within our domain of TA / HR, where people tend to wave it away. And I also think it’s false that you need the same age to have the right team dynamics, what lots of people can think. Have to say not only in the HR domain, but in all domains around the verticals within corporates. Somebody can be 30 with a great Uni degree and in-depth knowledge (from the papers) that people would like to hire in a team where mostly people are 30 years of age, but maybe the 40-year-old brings the humor and culture to the team and the in-depth hands-on experiences (like the impossibilities within the field) they really need. In my opinion, but also on data, you see that companies who hire from a one dimensional (one way of approaching the decisions made from the team dynamics) mostly end up with firing lots of staff years later. As an HR Business Partner / Recruiter you need to learn to say NO to your stakeholders and give them the right advice on how to resolve a challenge. Otherwise you end up running and delivering on the demand, but at the end it was all for nothing. Also talking about values, when you hire in younger staff due to cost considerations, you mainly end up with not the right choices. If you give peanuts you get monkeys. And please do not mix-up Racism and Diversity, it’s not the same. Racism is good to have as one of the topics, but certainly not the main. Age discrimination, more Diversity as a whole and for companies to be more Inclusive (openminded, sharing is caring) are the main topics, if you ask me …
4. Name a well-known person you admire and explain why you hold them high esteem?
Admiring is a big word, then I have to say Mahatma Gandhi. To rephrase, my children, my mum and dad. But to highlight some people I respect I have to say my friend Gordon Lokenberg, Batman, Irina, Shally are the best sourcers where I learned a lot from. But also Dj’s like Awanto3, Roelove74 & Marcello who are awesome DJ’s and Thomas Gandey and 1979 as best producers I met so far .. I admire all mankind making the world a better place. And although I love to read books regarding Recruitment, I still couldn’t find the time, but respect all who give their heart in our field. I respect CDO’s who have great Digital strategies and CxO’s with awesome Digital visions. Therefore I’m a Business & Digital Liaison.
5. If you wrote a ‘user manual’ for how people should interact with you, what would be the most important point in the manual?
Just be kind. You are who you are and you are good how you are.
6. What personality trait has got you in the most trouble? What kind of trouble does it get you in?
As being Dutch I can be straight forward.
7. What is your passion, outside of work?
My two children Indah & Aebe. The are the world to me and looking forward to spend our lives together in awesomeness. They are the reason I work so hard. They are the joy in my life and my purpose in life.
8. On what topic would you never make a joke? Why?
I like all jokes as long as they come from a good heart and are funny. Humor is what connects us all around. Nowadays I’m on #Clubhouse App ( @bobbiemorel ) and laughing my balls off in the comedy room (only one liners, some good, some bad, but it keeps me smiling.
9. What is that thing which is OK to ask you about, but which other people are wary to do so?
You can ask me anything, 24/7, in that way I’m an open book.
10. What app or tech product have you most recently fallen in love with?
I like #Clubhouse, but love Tooling. I like to know how to find the best and love to learn new ways of doing such. Therefore my role within the Sourcing Summit means the world to me. As Head of Entertainment I can learn from the best in the world and spread my love on my way. After I mastered Classical Ballet and being a DJ now for 20+ years it’s the most logical step combining my Talent Acquisition Love with my passion, entertainment.
11. What’s the last image on your camera roll? Care to explain?
A picture of a Robot Snail, have it already for a long time. Reason is that Technology is going fast and so the markets will do too. What is interesting is that lots of companies use the Digital Transformation part as they are actually in IT Transformations to move to Digital. This is a huge difference. Meaning we are too slow on Tech at this moment and need to move quicker, with Cyber Security as baseline and not as factor somewhere in later sprints, this is a concern.
12. What’s your favourite meal? Can you say why?
I love eating, full stop ☺
13. How would you compare being a nightclub DJ to being a Head of Talent?
In my believe a baker bakes his/her own bread. So a Head of TA is also the one who knows everything about sourcing, even if they are not operational anymore, you should lead by example and be up to date. So, in my case as also being on point on Sourcing, besides strategy regarding proces, ATS, stakeholder management, vendor & partner engagement, forecasting, training, managing, leading etc etc … my other world is to find the (what I find) best music. Per example, one of my best friends now just have Silver Platinum for his song Midnight. Beatport number 1. And it makes me very proud to have played with him b2b in the prestigious nightclub Radion (Underground Club in Amsterdam). I will play in Italy b2b after Covid. Also you have to be fully focused on the crowd, I never play what they want, I play what I know they need ..
