It’s all about continuous learning. Some topics we would never have spent time on in the past have now become paramount, and it offers a real advantage to know at least some basics about them.

1) History and geography

Let’s be honest. Did you know where to situate the Strait of Hormuz six months ago? Do you know much about it? The world may have become a village, but the paradox is that our young generation lacks some fundamental knowledge about it. Surveys among Flemish geography teachers show that no less than 85% of teachers think that topographical knowledge is weakening among incoming students. And we adults, also relying too much on immediate digital sources, tend to weaken our own level of knowledge. Let’s use the digital offer in the right way, for example by listening to podcasts like the Dutch Groot Podcastlas, or reading Peter Frankopan’s books like The Earth Transformed, to (re)gain a general level of knowledge of history and geography. This will help us know where critical energy sources are situated, how wars over them destabilized the world, and how solutions arose. As an independent manager, you need to prove you are aware of and interested in how our world evolves.

2) The news of the day

“White gold beneath Belgium”? At the end of March 2026, The Brussels Times announced that Belgium was considering launching an exploration mission for natural “white hydrogen” after a major deposit was discovered in neighbouring Lorraine, raising hopes it could extend into Belgian territory. https://www.brusselstimes.com/2047435/white-gold-beneath-belgium-government-eyes-hydrogen-mission-after-major-discovery

When you read the news nowadays, pay particular attention to energy- and climate-related news, and make the effort to think about how the news could have an impact on your business, the organisation you are currently working for, or…

3) …The company of your dreams

No doubt you have also, once in your life, made a top 3 of the organisations you would dream of working for. If the dream still holds, think about their dependency on energy sources and their vulnerability as far as climate change is concerned. And when you apply for a job or a mission as an Interim Manager, make an impression by showing your aptitude to debate these critical topics and how they could impact their business.

4) Legislation and politics

Did you know Belgium produces one of the best caviars in the world? Royal Belgian Caviar, which operates from Turnhout and Mouscron, anticipated more than 30 years ago that the sale of wild caviar would become illegal (which was the case in 2007) and started a sustainable 100% Belgian, 100% natural production. This perfect example of a success story built on excellence and adaptation shows how important it is to find new opportunities. Today, the brand, owned by family company Joosen-Luyten, keeps thriving, although energy prices remain quite challenging for the aquaculture sector, like many others. Benefiting from the long-term contracts made available for business purposes, the company managed to buy energy at a low rate a few years ago, which allows it today to keep the price of its state-of-the-art product quite stable.

More than ever, it remains essential to follow how policies evolve and their impact on legislation, on energy and climate in particular. You don’t have to be the expert, but you need to know that each piece of legislation can spark new opportunities.

5) Food and wine revisited

Talking about fine food! Recognizing a corked wine, showing good manners at a dinner, appreciating rare products: these are subtle assets, not directly related to work, that used to help make a good impression during a supposedly “informal meal” which often turned out to be the ultimate test to gauge whether the candidate would fit in the job and the company culture. Today, showing interest in food and wine produced with a sense of respect for nature and humankind, knowing more about the provenance of ingredients, and privileging locally produced ingredients with low energy/climate impact means you acknowledge both climate and energy as subjects that also relate to our daily life. It tells a little more about your own vision of the world and its future. Good to remember!