DSHS_Magazine_2022

the next generation
Stal Hendrix.” It took a leap of faith to completely take hold
of the reins, but in 2020 Janou took the lead of HX Events and
began managing all the marketing and communications for
Stal Hendrix, HX Stallions, HX Breeding and HX Auctions.
“I never shy away from challenge, but I also felt like I was
taking on a big responsibility. I was fortunate to have the
support of my family and some freelance professionals - but
to be perfectly honest - also due to the corona pandemic I
had a fairly smooth transition into the events because the
ones that did take place were all online that year.”
Inspiration
“I did set one important condition before joining the family
business. I wanted a broad spectrum of responsibilities.
And both work from home but also at external events. I
get really inspired by big shows and the ideas I gain there
I translate into new opportunities for our own company.”
Hence Janou also continues to provide her services at
major events such as The Dutch Masters and Jumping
Indoor Maastricht. “I also find the work of other ‘next
generationers’ very inspiring. For example, Judy-Ann
Melchior and Marta Ortega Pérez. These are both very
successful and powerful women who both had huge shoes
to fill. I am quite sure they also had some reservations but
are now on the top of their game in continuing the empires
of their families into a new era.”
Respect
“I believe the (positive) pressure to perform is something
most entrepreneurs feel, but for the next generation of
the Hendrix family is also means we have to build on
40 years of experience. Paul and Emile have done things
a certain way and trying to change or improve some of
those things is a learning curve. The respect we have for
them is unlimited, but times are changing and that does
require strategic adjustments that need to be well thought
through.”
“I am the last person of our family to join in. Timothy has
been at the helm of the Baarlo stable with Emile in an
advisory role for a while now. While my brother Michel runs
the new stable in Kessel - which functions as an extension
to the original breeding stable - the management here is
now slowly and gradually shared between me and Paul.
I’ve been more involved in the personnel management for
example, and we evaluate more and more together about
the breeding program and the stallions.”
Lessons learned
“One thing I’ve taken away from my banking job and
implemented here is weekly meetings. It sounds simple,
but the impact has been very valuable. In the corporate
world there might be too many meetings, but we did not
really have a set moment for the whole family to meet and
discuss ongoing matters. Now every Monday afternoon
that moment is blocked in everyone’s calendar, and we all
meet to strategize and decide on things together. That is
really the best part of the family business, being able to
continue and grow together. It is a shared effort, and we
all complement each other. That does not mean we don’t
bud heads sometimes, however in the end we all strive for
a common goal.”
'The respect we have
for Paul and Emile is unlimited.'
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DSHS | The 2022 edition
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