We work hand-in-hand with parents, businesses and public authorities to help make the world a better place
Founded in France in 2003 by entrepreneurial brothers Rodolphe and Edouard Carle to bridge the gap in childcare solutions, Babilou has gradually grown to become a leading light in early years education and a major operator across the globe. We set out to support the well-being of children and the work-life balance of families at a time of rising birthrates and women in the workforce. Today, in our rapidly-changing, fragilized world, our role in society is all the more relevant: bring quality education to the next generation.
We began with one nursery and 24 cots. Five years later, we became the leading private childcare network in France. Today, we are present in 10 countries with around 1200 centers, 13,800 employees and more than 57,750 children in our care – and we are all growing in the same spirit, together.
Founders
Rodolphe Carle
Rodolphe Carle is the father of 5 children. In 1999, after completing his MBA at ESSEC business school in France, he began a career in investment funds at Net Partners in Milan, followed by Morgan Stanley and Global Retail Partners in London.
In 2003, to respond to the lack of childcare solutions for under-threes in France when birthrates and women in employment were among the highest in Europe, Rodolphe Carle founded Babilou with his brother Edouard Carle.
In 2014, he moved to Munich, Germany to lead the European development of Babilou and stayed for four years. Since returning to France and until January 2021, Rodolphe Carle has acted as president of Babilou Family and managed the Group Executive Committee with his brother Edouard. He is one of the founding members of the FFEC, the French Federation of Day-Care Businesses, an elected representative of the Growth Management Committee.
Edouard Carle
Edouard Carle is the father of 4 children. He qualified at the ICOGES business school in Paris with a specialty in marketing.
In 2003, Edouard Carle decided to found Babilou with his brother Rodolphe Carle. As Director of Development and Director of Human Resources, Edouard Carle took charge of the commercial development of Babilou with local municipalities, the recruitment of childcare professionals and the guarantee of the Babilou Family image. As General Manager of the Group, he continued to develop and managed partnerships with local municipalities and businesses around the world.
As president of the Babilou Foundation he continues his engagement for future generations.
Tomorrow Starts Now - Sharing a Common Vision
In 2022 the Group’s teams believed the moment was ripe to usher in a new vision project that inspired our teams around the world. Our challenge was to bring forth a 21st-century pedagogy nourished by the richness of the Babilou Family community (cultures, values, experiences), contributions from neuroscience, and the major educators of the previous century.
In eighteen months, Vision 2030 was born through a co-creation process at the global level, with participation from all countries and the involvement of the leadership of Babilou Family Group. The result: One mission: through Sustainable Education and care, to prepare children to thrive and contribute as conscious human beings. This new corporate mission was rolled out to nearly 500 employees (managers, site directors) in fall 2022 through workshops and seminars in the various countries.
Our values
Team Spirit
We believe in the talent of everyone, in their individual intelligence and sense of collective responsibility.
Together we grow:
- We support each other for individual and collective success
- We value diversity to build better outcomes
- We are kind respectful and trusting.
Passion
We are ambitious, passionate and driven by a common purpose:
- We do things with heart and care.
- We enjoy getting people on board our collective mission.
Continuous Learning
Leaders in education only if we have the humility to question ourseleves and to learn forever.
- We are curious and aim for progress
- We learn from each other all the time
- We learn from the environment and everything around us.
Timeline