More than two years ago, she was still working in her husband's company, and from today Isabelle de Pauw from Pavio can call herself “the best businesswoman in East Flanders” for a year. You can read in this conversation how the Ghent mother of two accomplished this feat.
“Pleasantly surprised, but above all amazed,” is what we say when we congratulate Isabel on her win. “The other ladies are all great too. I've only been in the business for two years, so I'm still kind of new to entrepreneurship. This is a bit unexpected. It feels very special to notice that so many people are supporting me and the company.” How East Flemish women manage all this requires some explanation, says Paavo, who is also raising two young children. Gratitude is the prevailing feeling. Time for a conversation.
Can entrepreneurship and family management be combined?
“I have a lot of energy. To stand still is to go backwards. I can handle some things, but above all I can accept with both hands that I have a nice network around me and also a wonderful man that I can count on. My mother is also always willing to help when necessary Over the past six months, Pavio has been growing like a comet. It has been particularly difficult at times to manage everything. The real expansion of the team will also take place soon and we have recently moved to new offices in Ghent. Very intense, but we have managed to keep things moving for now (He laughs)“.
Can you still disconnect completely?
“This is a difficult thing for me. If you are self-employed, you always take your work with you. Fortunately, I really enjoy my work, and it gives me a lot of energy. Between all the worries, I build in small moments of relaxation. For example, I I regularly take Pilates classes or explore the world with friends.I also try what is necessary Quality time To spend with my husband. As I said, our team will be expanding soon, but for now, as a manager, I still handle almost all the roles on my own. “‘Inaccessibility’ is not in my vocabulary at the moment.”
You've already mentioned that you come from a true entrepreneurial family. For example, you say that you have great admiration for your father's career and especially his “focus, passion, and strong, but at the same time, very human way of doing business.” Make this tangible.
“My father is the CEO of WDP, a Bel20 company. You should know: When I was young, that small family business was still in my grandmother’s basement, and they ran it with five people. A quarter of a century ago he single-handedly brought it to the stock exchange. Those were the years Very difficult, but he managed to do it. Today my father employs more than a hundred people, who together form a very strong team. This family atmosphere of that time is still reflected in the warm way of doing business today. Human capital makes a big difference. I admire him for that, and that admiration has only grown since I started a company myself.
During this campaign you said: “With Paveau, we hope to give 'conscious consumption' a boost and reduce the mountain of plastic waste.” Why is sustainability so important to you and your company?
“With Pavo I want to mean something for future generations. When I look at the climate and all the problems that come with it, I think it is essential that when you do something, it has the necessary impact.
“The topic of water in particular is very close to my heart. About twenty years ago I went to live in Australia with a host family for a year. There they appreciated the importance of using water in moderation, even then. Here in Belgium this matter was almost not discussed. Then it was not It's not about drought Global Warming. In The Land Below you encounter for the first time its rarity and value. It's a philosophy I still hold dear and forms the foundation of Pavio.
Aren't you afraid that the label “goat wool socks” will be stuck on your socks?
“No, it's impossible to do everything perfectly in that sustainable story. And I'm not doing it myself. When I had the idea to develop that bottle, it wasn't with the aim of integrating the environmental aspect of water into the business model. I really created it from my own needs. Meaning We consciously drink water from the tap at home, but we haven't found a suitable and suitable bottle to pour the water in. At the same time, the bottle is an opportunity to address a topic that I am very passionate about and believe deeply in.
“It is not my intention to point the finger at others. The challenge has not been given to me alone. With just my bottle, I will certainly not provide a decisive solution to the climate problem. But it is important that we all try to make a difference in the best way we can, no matter how small.
“It's always about finding the right balance. You should try to present your marketing story in a way that everyone feels good about, and above all, try to do what you can to deal sustainably with the planet,” says the newly crowned East Flanders Entrepreneur of the Year. .
“Lifelong entrepreneur. Total writer. Internet ninja. Analyst. Friendly music enthusiast.”
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