Dora Vaes - Senior Consultant (Freelance)

Q: Where is Dora based?

Dora is based in Antwerp, Belgium .

Q: What languages does Dora speak?

Dora speaks the following languages: Dutch (Native), German (Advanced), English (Advanced), French (Advanced), Chinese (Advanced) .

Q: How many years of experience does Dora have?

Dora has at least 22 years of experience. During this time, Dora has worked in at least 5 different roles and for 3 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 4 years and 4 months . Note that Dora may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Dora's latest experience?

Dora's most recent position is Senior Consultant (Freelance) at Pepco Group .

Q: What companies has Dora worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Dora has worked for Pepco Group and C&A Europe .

Q: Which industries is Dora most experienced in?

Dora is most experienced in industries like Retail and Fashion and Apparel .

Q: Which business areas is Dora most experienced in?

Dora is most experienced in business areas like Procurement and Purchasing , Strategy and Planning , and Product Development . Dora also has some experience in Operations , Marketing , and Business Intelligence .

Q: Which industries has Dora worked in recently?

Dora has recently worked in industries like Retail and Fashion and Apparel .

Q: Which business areas has Dora worked in recently?

Dora has recently worked in business areas like Operations , Strategy and Planning , and Marketing .

Recommended expert

Antwerp, Belgium

Experience

Sep 2024 - Oct 2025

1 year 2 months

Senior Consultant (Freelance)

Pepco Group

Built standardized reporting framework aligning and growth KPIs → eliminated fragmented reporting, improved transparency
Created promotional calendar → now system-integrated and embedded in operations
Led planning team operating model → introduced organization-, process- and strategy design
Designed Strategic Target Forum process and template (per BCG recommendation) → outputs integrated into 5-year plan
Drove underwear business recovery → returned category to growth above LFL; created reusable turnaround template
Coordinated Poland recovery plan → implemented successfully; approach replicated for 2026

Jan 2018 - Dec 2024

7 years

Head of Strategic Transformation & CMO Strategic Business Development Operations

C&A Europe

Repositioned product & pricing strategy → ~25% communication efficiency gains & sales growth (with Bain & BCG)
Designed and implemented new operating model for CMO area
Launched denim marketing plan → achieved double-digit growth

Jan 2016 - Dec 2018

3 years

Lead Transformation

C&A Europe

Partnered with McKinsey to deliver restructuring → freed ~30% of resources for reinvestment
Designed & implemented strategic KPIs, dashboards, and project governance

Jan 2013 - Dec 2016

4 years

Lead Business & Strategy Development

C&A Europe

Embedded in 3-year transformation with McKinsey and BCG → responsible for Buying stream in defining and implementing new end-to-end process
Negotiated & managed partnerships (Beeline, JClub, Next & Rossmann)

Jan 2004 - Dec 2012

9 years

Antwerp, Belgium

Product Manager

C&A Buying

Managed product development & supplier relationships
Improved product quality and optimized cost structures

Industries Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time. Longer bars indicate deeper hands-on experience, while shorter ones reflect targeted or project-based work.

Experienced in Retail (22 years) and Fashion (21 years).

Retail

Fashion

Business Areas Experience

The graph below provides a cumulative view of the freelancer's experience across multiple business areas, calculated from completed and active engagements. It highlights the areas where the freelancer has most frequently contributed to planning, execution, and delivery of business outcomes.

Experienced in Strategy (13 years), Procurement (13 years), Product Development (9 years), Operations (8 years), Marketing (7 years), and Business Intelligence (4 years).

Strategy

Procurement

Product Development

Operations

Marketing

Business Intelligence

Summary

Senior consultant with 20+ years’ experience in leading complex transformation.

Commercially minded and analytically strong, with a sharp eye for opportunities and growth.

Combines data insights with human interaction to drive change that is embraced across teams.

Pragmatic, dynamic, and hands-on, known for turning complex strategies into practical, executable plans.

Builds trust between leadership and teams, delivering results with impact -and a touch of humor that strengthens collaboration.

Skills

Strategic Business Development
Business Analysis
Change Management & Reorganisation
Communication
Project, Process & Team Management

Languages

Dutch

Native

German

Advanced

English

Advanced

French

Advanced

Chinese

Advanced

Education

Oct 2008 - Jun 2010

INSEAD

International Executive Diploma in Entrepreneurship & Management · Entrepreneurship & Management · Singapore

Oct 1997 - Jun 2002

University of Antwerp

Master in Applied Economics · Applied Economics · Antwerp, Belgium

Profile

Created

November 2025

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is Dora based?

Dora is based in Antwerp, Belgium.

What languages does Dora speak?

Dora speaks the following languages: Dutch (Native), German (Advanced), English (Advanced), French (Advanced), Chinese (Advanced).

How many years of experience does Dora have?

Dora has at least 22 years of experience. During this time, Dora has worked in at least 5 different roles and for 3 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 4 years and 4 months. Note that Dora may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Dora be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Dora would be well-suited for roles such as: Senior Consultant (Freelance), Head of Strategic Transformation & CMO Strategic Business Development Operations, Lead Transformation.

What is Dora's latest experience?

Dora's most recent position is Senior Consultant (Freelance) at Pepco Group.

What companies has Dora worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Dora has worked for Pepco Group and C&A Europe.

Which industries is Dora most experienced in?

Dora is most experienced in industries like Retail and Fashion and Apparel.

Which business areas is Dora most experienced in?

Dora is most experienced in business areas like Procurement and Purchasing, Strategy and Planning, and Product Development. Dora also has some experience in Operations, Marketing, and Business Intelligence.

Which industries has Dora worked in recently?

Dora has recently worked in industries like Retail and Fashion and Apparel.

Which business areas has Dora worked in recently?

Dora has recently worked in business areas like Operations, Strategy and Planning, and Marketing.

What is Dora's education?

Dora holds a Master in Applied Economics from University of Antwerp.

What is the availability of Dora?

Dora is immediately available for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Dora?

Dora's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.