Meet Sophie de Vos - August 2025
Sophie De Vos - Promo 1995
What are your most memorable memories from your studies at Solvay Schools? Could you mention two?
Two… that’s not much! Those years were so rich in diverse experiences. I’d say the Cercle and everything we organized there, more or less seriously. And maybe the Info Week. Or the experience of having to learn everything from scratch in a very short time. I always compare it to being lost in the middle of a jungle without any equipment and having to find your way out alone in four days.
Before entering the political sphere, which sector did you work in?
I started in a multinational, but I didn’t feel at ease there and quickly joined my father in the family SME, where I stayed for 24 years. It was a small, very family-oriented company of about twenty people, managing a network of vending machines for hot and cold drinks, snacks, and large bottles of water, mainly in public places.
The business was booming when my father started it in the 1980s. My role was to develop the activity, modernize the machines to integrate new technologies, and improve the product range. I tackled this work with great enthusiasm for many years.
What event or realization was decisive in your decision to engage in politics?
It happened gradually. In 2000, a friend invited me to participate in the municipal elections. I was pregnant and declined. In 2006, he asked again, and I accepted. I was already active at my children’s school and in my neighborhood, so I thought: why not invest in my community as well? I was elected municipal councilor, and in the following elections, my score made me “eligible for alderman.” I accepted this role and moved to part-time in the family business… and step by step, I became mayor.
To be honest, I never fell into the political world as a child, and it wasn’t my destiny. I still see myself today as an engaged citizen before being a “politician.”
Before that, I was thinking about whether I wanted to take over the family SME. Even though I was emotionally attached to it, I didn’t see myself continuing in that role all my life. My political experience turned out to be very rewarding: it’s a demanding job, but it allows you to truly improve citizens’ daily lives.
How has your Solvay education influenced or nurtured your political career?
Graduating from Solvay teaches you how to learn and adapt… and managing a municipality has several similarities with running a business. As mayor, I’m in charge of, among other things, finances and personnel, which isn’t too difficult given our training. For the rest—and this is one of the joys of this role—the subjects are extremely varied, and practically all the foundations acquired at Solvay come into play at some point.
How do you view the Solvay Alumni community today?
It’s a network, a big family. I’ve stayed in touch with many people from different graduating classes. And when a former student I don’t know contacts me, or I contact them, sharing this common education immediately facilitates exchanges.