When Hanane Bekkaoui joined Bos Logistics Belgium on 1 July 2024, she stepped into an organisation that was undergoing rapid development. Today, as HR Office Manager, she is responsible for virtually all HR activities within the Belgian branch. It is a role in which she juggles personnel administration, training, wellbeing, cultural development and everything else to do with staff on a daily basis.

But her story doesn’t begin in HR. In fact, for many years, Hanane worked in administrative roles across various sectors. She enjoyed her work, but over time realised she wanted more. More of a challenge. More responsibility. More human contact.

“I felt I wanted to develop myself further.”

That turned out to be easier said than done. She was interested in HR, but kept coming up against the same barrier: no experience, no chance; no qualification, no chance. Instead of resigning herself to this, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

Investing in yourself

In 2021, Hanane enrolled on an HR course at Thomas More. It was a decision that would change her career for good. For three years, she juggled a full-time job with two evenings of classes a week and almost every Saturday morning at college. It was a journey that required a great deal of discipline and was sometimes quite tough.

“The first year was really tough,” she says with a laugh. “I often wondered what I’d got myself into.”

Yet she didn’t give up, because she knew why she was doing it: she wanted to open up new opportunities for herself and build a career in which she could really make a difference to people.

That effort paid off. Around the same time she graduated, she joined Bos Logistics Belgium as HR Office Manager. Looking back, she sees that decision as one of the most important investments she has ever made in herself.

Why HR?

What appeals to Hanane about HR are the people, the conversations and problem-solving. That, for her, is where the real value lies. Of course, administration and procedures are part of the job, but she derives the most satisfaction from supporting staff and helping them find solutions.

“I find it very rewarding when I can really help someone.” It is precisely that human aspect that makes her enjoy going to work every day. No two situations are the same. Every employee has their own background, story and challenges. That variety gives her energy.

Building trust

When she started, Hanane did not find a fully developed HR structure in place. There were challenges in terms of structure, communication and trust. Staff had seen various HR contacts come and go in a relatively short space of time, which meant that questions were sometimes left unanswered and uncertainty could arise.

Hanane deliberately opted for a measured approach.

“You can’t just walk in and change everything. First, you have to understand why things are the way they are.”

The first few months were therefore mainly devoted to listening: holding conversations, reviewing files and understanding what was on employees’ minds. Only then did she feel the time was right to implement changes.

According to Hanane, good HR work doesn’t start with systems or procedures, but with trust. “You have to earn trust. You don’t get it automatically just because you’re in HR.” That approach now seems to be paying off. Whereas her first few months were mainly about listening and observing, she now finds that staff are increasingly coming to her to share their questions or concerns.

Working with people

Of course, legislation and contracts are important. But ultimately, she believes it’s all about the people behind those documents.

Every employee has their own story, home life, ambitions and way of communicating. That’s why she tries to maintain a visible presence within the organisation and not just get in touch when there are problems. “The most valuable conversations often just happen on the shop floor.” It is precisely this human approach that, in her view, suits Bos Logistics so well.

Communication lines are short, colleagues know one another, and staff aren’t just numbers. That family atmosphere was one of the first things she noticed when she started at Bos Logistics.

Health changed everything

Outside of work too, Hanane has undergone an impressive transformation in recent years. After a doctor warned her of the health risks associated with being overweight, she decided to make a drastic change to her lifestyle. She began exercising intensively, combining strength training with cardio and kickboxing, and eventually lost around 35 kilos.

But according to Hanane, the greatest benefit isn’t the number of kilos. “I regained my energy. My self-confidence. My peace of mind.” Exercise has now become an integral part of her life – not just for her physical health, but also as a way of maintaining a balance between work and her private life.

That experience has also shaped her perspective as an HR professional. “When people feel good about themselves, you can see it reflected in everything – in their energy, their motivation and the way they work together.” According to Hanane, the importance of wellbeing within organisations is sometimes still underestimated. Yet it is precisely healthy, motivated employees who ultimately make the difference for colleagues, customers and the organisation as a whole.

Outside work

Anyone who thinks Hanane draws her energy solely from her work is mistaken. When she’s not in the office, she spends a lot of time at the gym, where she trains several times a week. She also loves to travel, often seeking out destinations outside Europe.

For example, she previously travelled to Thailand for an intensive sports camp focused on training and kickboxing. She also visited Dubai and celebrated her 40th birthday in Hawaii, a destination that had been at the top of her bucket list for years. “That was truly a dream come true.” There are still several destinations on her wish list, including New York.

She also loves good food, shopping and discovering new cultures and cuisines. It is precisely this combination of ambition, discipline and enjoyment that, in her view, characterises her approach to life.

Building for the future

Although she has only been with Bos Logistics for a relatively short time, Hanane is primarily looking ahead. She sees an organisation with great potential – one in which processes are being further professionalised, whilst at the same time there remains a strong focus on the human side of the work.

In her view, that is also the key to success. A strong organisation is not built solely on good systems or successful clients. Ultimately, it is the people who make the difference. And it is precisely those people that Hanane wants to continue to develop in the coming years. “I think you never stop learning. Not as an organisation, and not as a person.” Perhaps that statement sums her up best.

Because anyone who speaks to Hanane soon realises that, for her, development is not an end in itself, but a way of life.