It’s no secret that a highly talented cadre of leaders can be found in Luxembourg. “I’m often surprised, and impressed, with the quality of talent here,” says Agnieszka Zajac, Managing Partner at ODGERS BERNDTSON, “we are using Kitchen Table Conversations to uncover some of the reasons for this.”

The Kitchen Table Conversation series brings together representatives from the fields of research, industry, finance and not-for-profit in lively discussion regarding how the country produces such great executives. The insights gathered from Luxembourg’s CEOs are wonderfully perceptive and steeped in common sense.

Local Genius, Global Reach. How CEOs in Luxembourg Influence Business Here and Abroad

Are CEOs and other C-Suite executives in Luxembourg underestimated?

In the current business landscape, the ability to reach beyond borders and create value is critical to the success of every global organisation. From cultural diversity to the cutting-edge of regulatory development, CEOs here in Luxembourg are exposed to a plethora of business challenges and need to be highly capable and gifted players, here and on the world stage. What is the potential and the value of CEOs’ skills and expertise when we go beyond our borders?

Our last KTC event brought together 4 CEOs who shared with us some words of wisdom regarding the potential that comes from guiding an organisation in Luxembourg. It was also a wonderful lesson of humility in listening to how they describe leveraging local knowledge to better influence the global business landscape, all the while increasing the credibility of Luxembourg’s executives. Please find below some discoveries we made during the Kitchen Table Conversations.

Going Abroad… at Work

The multicultural nature of the Luxembourg workplace enables ‘global citizen’ thinking. “It’s easy to think about the impact your organization is having on the global landscape when you have 50+ nationalities working together every day,” said one of our guests, a CEO of a global aviation group based in Luxembourg. “Luxembourg is a mixing pot, not a melting pot. We embrace the different cultures and take our lessons and cue from the best in each of us”, she adds.

The diversity that permeates the workday, creates more cultural sensitivity but also enables a broader mode of thinking. ‘Community’ becomes more than just the immediate, local surroundings, as professionals have ties to nations around the world. Leaders become more observant, more attuned to the advantages that come with leveraging different ways of thinking to realize opportunities, and to approach challenges.

The Small-town Application for Global Challenges

In Luxembourg, the collaborative and community-minded aspect of problem-solving and organizational guidance is embedded in the culture. CEOs in Luxembourg are steeped in the ‘small-town’ values that organizations in other countries are striving to recapture in this chaotic and crisis-laden business landscape.

Luxembourg is a highly collaborative nation, with deep roots in agriculture, where people historically communicate well and depend upon each other. Luxembourgers have not lost the positive values that drive highly functioning societies. “Government here is managing the country like a big company, with a very pragmatic and KPI-driven approach,” said another participant, the CEO of a Research and Innovation center. “Government acts more like a facilitator instead of a spectator,” he added.

Nowhere is this more clearly expressed than in the short distance between government, regulators and business. This is a country where the three entities collaborate to enable and encourage deep and meaningful dialogue. “Everyone respects the opinions of others, and at least listens to ensure that there is a culture of sharing” as mentioned by the former CEO from the Fintech industry. The outcome? CEOs are not reluctant to bring issues to a government that is open and very willing to find solutions. This highly cooperative mindset provides access and openness that enables not just rapid, but very innovative, solutions. The intimacy between the State, regulators and business means that these bodies are working in lockstep to enable the envisioned future; not just for shareholders, but for communities and all stakeholders.

Social Capitalism Mindset

To truly have a chance to solve the pressing climate and social issues of today, organizations all over the world are realizing that they must take a ‘social conscience’ approach to doing business. This is a country where workers are automatically unionized. Even white-collar workers are represented. But Luxembourg has not experienced any appreciable labor strikes in decade. The European Trade Union Institute describes Luxembourg...

"The industrial relations culture is based on trust and discussion between the social partners. All of the research carried out points to a low level of labour conflicts in Luxembourg. Indeed, there are no statistics on the number of strike days. The culture of compromise, the fact that the right to strike can only be exercised after compulsory conciliation and the requirement for social peace for the duration of collective agreements mean that there are practically no strikes in Luxembourg."(1)

Although the concept is slow to arrives in many countries, here, there is a prevalent and all-encompassing idea; for a business to be truly sustainable, everyone should, and must benefit. This is a country where a CEO – of any sized company - can call on a Minister or other officials to discuss an issue or ask for action. The inevitable outcome of this form of open-door leadership is a thriving business landscape that envisions a future that includes all stakeholders.

Aspirational Leadership

Great aspirations attract great minds. Luxembourg is populated with Executive and CEOs who think deeply about their role in sustaining a future for all. They are steeped in collaborative decision-making, sensitized to the importance of looking beyond ‘here and now’ gains and, in this small country, where immigrants comprise almost 50% of the population, the kaleidoscope of potential and possibilities created from a truly pluralistic society is seen clearly, and celebrated.

About ODGERS BERNDTSON

ODGERS BERNDTSON promotes the amazing skills and talent of CEOs. We work with businesses throughout Luxembourg, and beyond, to address the needs of clients, helping them acquire and retain their strongest leaders and develop the next generation of successful executives. ODGERS BERNDTSON is deeply convinced that success lies in the partnerships developed between the most talented people, those seeking them, and the connector team that sees the synergies and potential between them. ODGERS BERNDTSON is a global player in the executive search industry, delivering transparent, honest and commercially aware results.

To find out more about ODGERS BERNDTSON, contact or visit their .

(1) https://www.etui.org/ReformsWatch/Luxembourg/Strikes-in-Luxembourg-summary