Editorial by Managing Director Alexander De Beir
Reflections on cross-border collaboration and leadership at the WIL Group Conference in Brussels
At ADM, my team and I look back fulfilled on the inspiring WIL group conference we proudly hosted last week in Brussels. Meeting colleagues from around the world and sharing insights on the project economy and transition/interim management left us with a sense of satisfaction and determination.
As we all observed, the Interim Management sector is growing steadily. It is becoming a vital part of trade and business organizations.
Cross-border collaboration was the key theme of the conference. While the focus was on business, it was particularly inspiring to hear key speakers share their perspectives on cross-border collaboration.
Christian Salez, General Manager of EUROPALIA, the biennial cultural festival in Belgium, emphasized the critical role cultural diplomacy plays today in bringing people together to tackle social, environmental and political challenges. Thank you again, Christian, for your inspiring words.
We were also honored to welcome Herman Van Rompuy, Prime Minister of Belgium from 2008 to 2009 and the first permanent President of the European Council from 2009 to 2014.
With remarkable clarity, wisdom and moderation, Herman Van Rompuy, who holds a bachelor’s in Philosophy and a master’s in Applied Economics, summarized the world’s complex situation and provided key insights on how we can address the dangers and challenges we face.
Unity, democracy, autonomy, long-term
Hearing Herman speak about unity as a way to counter the growing risks of individualism and insecurity in society was truly inspiring for us as WIL group members. He also stressed the need for more European cooperation and integration, resonating with our members, even those operating far from Europe. His words encouraged us to collaborate more closely, share best practices and continue growing as the world’s leading Interim Management group.
Mr. Van Rompuy also highlighted democracy as a key public value, along with the personal values needed to uphold it, such as respect for human dignity, openness and dialogue. This was a crucial source of inspiration for us as professionals committed to learning from one another to improve ourselves.
His explanation of the need for a strong and autonomous European Union was equally inspiring. European sovereignty, he explained, is not an end in itself but a means to sustain social models and democracies. This applies to our work too—individual autonomy helps achieve balance between personal development and professional success. Similarly, companies and organizations must have the freedom to structure themselves as they see fit, including deciding whether to bring in high-profile interim professionals when needed.
The former President’s emphasis on long-term vision might seem at odds with the short- or mid-term solutions provided by Interim Management, but it’s quite the opposite. Long-term goals can be pursued more effectively by professionals who temporarily assume high-responsibility roles. In fact, those without concerns about job security are often better positioned to focus on long-term targets.
Finally, Mr. Van Rompuy closed his inspiring speech by affirming that he is a man of hope. This message, from someone who has faced numerous crises, motivates us even more to embrace hope as a duty to future generations. I strongly believe that our business in Transition and Interim Management is a business of hope—an active concept, representing vitality and life, just as our keynote speaker emphasized.
