We’re excited to feature Ilonka’s insights this week in our first international #womenINstaffing spotlight. Ilonka is currently the Managing Partner of Randstad Innovation Fund. Randstad Innovation Fund is the corporate venture fund of Randstad investing in HR technologies. Before that she successfully founded and sold two recruitment businesses. Ilonka is now based in Hungary but has worked in the staffing industry across Europe.
Ilonka Jankovich, Managing Partner, Randstad Innovation Fund
Years in staffing: Almost 20 years
Fun fact: People thought Ilonka was crazy when she left her career as a lawyer to start a recruitment firm. However, this career shift didn’t happen overnight. Ilonka’s entrepreneurial moment occurred while driving back from one of her clients, an IT staffing firm placing IT professionals on projects. She thought: why is this not available for lawyers? It was a completely new idea at that time. For a couple of months, she needed to finance her Legal staffing firm with income from practicing law. Ilonka had two phones on her desk. When both were ringing at the same time, she had to make a choice which one to pick up first! Luckily after a few months, she could concentrate fully on the staffing business.
What is the best advice you’ve received recently?
The best advice I received recently is to have a more sustainable approach. I always move in new territories, and if I think that I have completed my task or set up a business, I move on. My goal is to create or be part of an environment where I can be challenged while playing a sustainable role.
Given your unique role investing in the industry’s future, what are you most excited about for the future of staffing?
I am very excited about the technology revolution coming in the next 10 years, which in my view will be similar in effect to the industrial revolution. Matching technologies, machine learning, big data and online platforms will change our industry. I do not see that as a threat but as a huge opportunity. The human factor and service will always continue to play a role. The challenge is to figure out how to use technology and how to redefine the human factor.
Will you share a memorable moment from your time as a staffing firm owner?
As a firm we have done many volume recruitment projects. One was particularly interesting because it was for the United Nations. The best moment was when we visited the UNCHR and we walked the floors and you see all these people working who you know, having a great meaningful job. That’s the best part of our profession.
Are you an industry veteran that’s excited to share your lessons with the next generation of staffing leaders? Share your insights as part of this #womenINstaffing Wednesday series. Contact me to learn more.
Confused on the hashtag (#) in the title of this series? Let me know if you’d like to join a virtual roundtable with a few other female staffing execs to discuss the power of Twitter to build your personal brand.
