21st Century Industrialists

Jul 17 2024 18 ep. 40 mins 35
21st Century Industrialists Podcast artwork

A series of one-to-one interviews with leaders of some of Europe’s best known industrial and technology companies. We ask these CEOs and Chairs about their early lives, careers, experiences and leadership lessons. We talk about the challenges of the sectors they are working in, the opportunities they see on the horizon and gauge their views on some of the burning topics of our time. 

  Business  Education
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BONUS EPISODE with "Mr Single Market": Enrico Letta

Jul 17 2024 29 mins  
In April of this year, former Italian Prime Minister and current President of the Jacques Delors Institute, Enrico Letta released his much awaited report "Much more than a Market". It was the result of nearly a year's work - involving over 400 meetings with stakeholders across Europe - and received a lot of media coverage and attention from anyone who works in EU public affairs and

Leonhard Birnbaum, CEO of E.ON on advancing Europe's energy transition

May 30 2024 36 mins  
Leonhard Birnbaum grew up in the industrial town of Ludwigshafen, Germany surrounded by industry. Later, after studying chemical engineering at university, he started his career in consulting, gradually gravitating towards the energy sector, first at RWE, then at E.ON. As the CEO of E.ON since 2021, he is leading one of Europe’s largest operators of energy networks and infrastruc

Benoît Potier, Chairman of Air Liquide

Apr 17 2024 41 mins  
During his engineering studies at Ecole Centrale Paris, Benoît Potier was active in the theatre group, enjoying it to such an extent that he even considered becoming a professional actor. Ultimately however, his decision to forge a career in industry instead proved to be the right one, as he has spent his entire career at Europe's leading industrial gases company: Air Liquide. In

Leif Johansson, the polymath of Swedish enterprise

May 19 2023 48 mins  
Leif Johansson initially wanted to be a rock guitarist. That ambition morphed into wanting to become a professor of physics. But somewhere along the way, he was drawn into business and found an endless avenue for his curiosity. He turned out to be quite good at business too, taking on his first leadership role at Husqvarna Motorcycles, at the age of 27. Over the decades that follow

Dr Martin Brudermüller & Dr Lars Frolund on Innovation made in Europe

Mar 15 2023 47 mins  
As ERT prepares to launch a new publication about innovation, we thought it could be interesting to do an episode where we discuss that very subject. So, we brought together a leader of one of Europe’s most significant industrial companies - Dr Martin Brudermüller, CEO of BASF SE - and a top drawer academic and deep tech investment expert - Dr Lars Frolund of M.I.T. and the Euro

Hilde Merete Aasheim, President & CEO of Norsk Hydro

Dec 15 2022 42 mins  
We talk with Hilde Aasheim Merete, the President and CEO of Norsk Hydro, the Norwegian aluminium and energy company, with operations worldwide. She talks about how her first summer job in a bakery put her on the path to working in business, the career moves that followed – at some inopportune moments – and the opportunities and challenges she has faced on her way to the top of

Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group

Nov 16 2022 37 mins  
In this episode, we talk with someone is leading the transformation of one of the most recognised car companies in the world: Ola Källenius, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group. He has spent his entire career working in various depts of the legendary car company, culminating in his appointment to the top role in 2019 – the first non-German national to lead the company. Over the cours

Jonathan Symonds, Chairman of GSK

Oct 13 2022 42 mins  
In this latest episode, we talk with Sir Jonathan Symonds, the Chairman of GSK. A maven of the bridge between life sciences and finance, he spoke with us about his upbringing in the UK, his first career track in accountancy & consulting, the cultural lessons he learned working on mergers such as the one that brought Astra and Zeneca together and the challenges & joys of cha

Jean-Paul Agon, Chairman of L'Oréal

May 18 2022 40 mins  
We kick off Season 2 with Jean-Paul Agon, long-standing Member of ERT and French business leader synonymous with one of France’s best known worldwide consumer brands: L’Oréal. We talk about beginnings, perceptions of beauty, crises, corporate strategy and the challenge of succeeding a legend. Episode 9 – Show Notes 21st Century Industrialists is produced by ERT and presented

Thomas Leysen, Chairman of Umicore, Mediahuis & Royal DSM

Jan 12 2022 52 mins  
Belgian industrialist Thomas Leysen tells us about his upbringing and early interest in business, media and environmental issues. As the chairman of businesses in a range of different sectors, we also hear about the strategic decisions that informed Union Miniere’s transformation into Umicore, the expansion of Mediahuis into a significant player in the European news media sector