Guest - Union Investment

One of the leading asset managers in Europe:

-Founded in 1956

-Assets under Management (EUR 437 billion in total; EUR 229 billion for institutional clients)

-Significant and steady growth in previous years

Financial Center:

-Frankfurt 200 years ago - Nobody was thinking about managers or leadership. 80% was agriculture

Age of industrialization:

-The woman of pic is a kind of leader. We had Terrorism? Try to cut a process into pieces and make every piece very efficient. Repetitive task with (Foreman/woman with a supervisory task). Now we have a very efficient way of producing things. People are now wage-dependent. Terrorism/Scientific XXX.

Workplace 4.0:

-Agile work with a digital connection. Suddenly you need different skills for everyday work and be flexible and willing to discover. You also need new leaders

Individualization:

One of the megatrends. Self-determination. People want to be involved in decision-making and shape their own life. They want to be self-determined. Very important trend, which brings a great degree of freedom to the people. This is required from the managers and leaders.

Work-Life-Blending:

Another Mega-trend. Because there is a blurring line between work and life

Sustainability

Speed:

Use of artificial intelligence to create reports for investment funds

The speed of development is impressive. As a leader, you need to incorporate these changes and adapt

VUCA:

Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity & Ambiguity

Old World:

Transactional leadership with commands and people listening and doing it the best they can and getting corrected. Question: Is this world over or obsolete?

Example: Military/Fire Brigade - By the time we discuss solutions, the problem problems -> Need for command

New World:

Transformational Leadership world. Give valuable feedback that needs to be appreciated

You need leaders that act as role models and have charisma. They need a sense of unity with the team

1. Visionary: Yes, we can. Solution orientation and forwardlooking

2. Strategist: Breaks down the vision and makes it practical to fulfill the task at hand

3. Motivator: Motivates the team to fulfill their potential

Communication: Willingness and Ability to communicate - Also communicate problems or bad messages

The joy of experimentation: the Ability to accept that things can go wrong. The problem is not that something went wrong, but if we don’t analyze it and try to fix it -> we don’t make it again

Courage: Encourage yourself and your teammates

Trust: As a leader, you have to be predictable in a positive sense