“People are more motivated if they can get organised during the day,” says Tom Baumert, director of the Confédération luxembourgeoise du commerce, who--at age 39--heads an employers’ organisation with 1,800 members in services, commerce and transport. “We defend the interests of our companies, it’s lobbying,” he explains. Baumert manages a team of 23 employees and values freedom and trust. “I give maximum freedom and I believe in skills, not age,” he stresses.

Prior to this position, Baumert worked at the Chamber of Commerce, responsible for the House of Entrepreneurship project and startups. Since December 2021, he has been concentrating on keeping in touch with members and adapting his management according to their profiles. “You can’t manage everyone in the same way,” he says. An innovator, Baumert “thinks he’s a long way from the traditional.” “I’m interested in technologies and new developments in strategy and marketing, and I try to implement them on a day-to-day basis,” he concludes.

This article was originally published in French. Read all the #Nextgen profiles in the October edition of Paperjam.