Business Beyond Borders E23: Agnieszka Zajac, Odgers Luxembourg

Boards, CEOs & the Talent: Behind the scenes of leadership decision-making | Agnieszka Zajac,, Managing Partner, Odgers LuxembourgIn this episode of The Impact Founders (part of The Luxembourg Mind: Business Beyond Borders series), Alina talks to Agnieszka Zajac, Managing Partner of Odgers Luxembourg - a global Executive Search and Leadership Advisory firm.We go behind the scenes of how leadership decisions are really made - from CEO succession planning and next-gen leadership skills, to women leadership and age bias in the European talent market. Agnieszka shares her cross-border journey (and how she convinced Odgers’ headquarters to back Luxembourg as a serious market), why Luxembourg’s “smallness” is both a superpower and a trap, and what boards should prioritize if they want leaders who can handle what’s coming next. In this conversation, you’ll learn:- Why succession planning should start the day a CEO is hired- What “next-generation CEO” really means: agility, self-awareness, tech fluency, communication with impact- What Odgers does to push 50/50 shortlists and widen the pipeline of “board-ready” women- Why age + gender remain the biggest biases - and how to challenge them with process and evidenceIf you’re relocating to Luxembourg, building a leadership team, or thinking about your own next step, this episode is for you. The episode closes with a rapid-fire round: if you want to know Agnieszka’s view on the key trends which will reshape the industry and the skills we should all learn to stay relevant - stay with us until the end of the interview. Watch, share, and tell us your favorite takeaway in the comments.About the seriesThe Impact Founders spotlights entrepreneurs building with purpose - ventures rooted in innovation, impact, and long-term value creation. Part of The Luxembourg Mind, it highlights Luxembourg as a launchpad for high-impact entrepreneurship and cross-border leadership.#Luxembourg #Leadership #SuccessionPlanning #ExecutiveSearch #WomenInLeadership #Diversity #Talent #OdgersChapters 00:00 Intro: what we’ll cover (succession, women leadership, age bias, talent competition) 01:33 Agnieszka’s cross-border story and why she stayed in Luxembourg06:19 “Luxembourg magic”: access to decision-makers and the risk of being too conservative11:30 Executive education: how INSEAD shaped advisory approach16:32 Next-gen CEOs & succession planning26:10 Impact - hiring and inspiring leaders of tomorrow32:08 Women leadership: confidence and insisting on 50/50 shortlists 41:59 Age bias in Europe: why it persists and how to break it with process + proof45:19 Rapid fire: AI, courage, thinking beyond boundaries, adapting with AI50:24 Closing + gift: time, curiosity, and the “Order of Time” moment