News

March 2026

Uncertainty has become the only certainty.

This sentence has guided the profession for the last 20 years, but it has never been truer than it is today.

Armelle Boulon, Client Partner and Country Manager for France at Pedersen & Partners, took part in the program “On se dit tout,” hosted by Magali Forestier on L’Hémicycle TV. It was an opportunity to reflect on a journey that took her from Normandy to Central Europe, from the fall of the Berlin Wall to today’s disruptions in international leadership.

What struck her most? A conviction: we no longer hire executives based on résumés - we recruit human beings with their own set of values.

At Pedersen & Partners, the focus is on what résumés never mention: cultural fit. That invisible chemistry between a leader’s values and those of an organization. When this cultural fit is right, a leader does more than perform - they create lasting impact and help the organization grow.

During this discussion, she shared the competencies she sees emerging among leaders who truly succeed:

• The eagle and the ground: The ability to take a strategic step back, then immediately dive into action. This dual posture is no longer optional.
• Cultural agility: Understanding that what works in Paris may not work in Prague or Singapore - and vice versa.
• Turning obstacles into opportunities: Rather than resilience (which implies bending), she emphasizes this ability to transform obstacles into opportunities.
• Authenticity as trust capital: A credible leader is not the one who has all the answers, but the one who is aligned, sincere, and consistent between words and actions.

One figure also stands out: 56%.
56% of executives in France consider international expansion a top priority in 2026 - up 20 points in just one year (Eurogroup barometer).

But who is truly driving this international ambition?
In too many organizations, global strategy is still shaped by homogeneous leadership teams - coming from the same country, the same background, and the same decision-making culture.

In a fragmented and culturally complex world, homogeneity at the top is no longer a strength; it is a strategic risk. Diversity within executive committees is not a matter of image but of leadership quality and value creation.

Business leaders, in 2026 - the year of international expansion - are encouraged to build governance that truly reflects the markets they serve.

Many thanks to L’Hémicycle TV and to Magali Forestier for this thought-provoking exchange.

The full interview (in French) is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5TMuCoLsCE