LuxUnplugged Podcast

In this episode, Adrien welcomes Stéphanie Damgé, Head of the House of Entrepreneurship, for an insightful conversation on the entrepreneurial landscape in Luxembourg. With over a decade of experience in fostering entrepreneurship among the youth, Stéphanie shares her journey from starting her career in human resources to leading Young Entrepreneur Luxembourg, and now guiding entrepreneurs at the...

In this episode, Adrien welcomes Andrew Notter, Partner at Anderson Wise and chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce for Luxembourg, for an in-depth conversation on the Luxembourg recruitment landscape. Drawing from 17 years of experience in the Grand Duchy, Andrew unpacks how the country’s business environment, talent needs, and career opportunities have evolved—especially in the wake of the...

In this episode, Thierry is joined by Muriel Morbé, CEO at the House of Training. We explore the pivotal role of professional development in Luxembourg’s evolving business landscape. From tailored programs designed for industry leaders to innovative approaches in lifelong learning, Muriel sheds light on all things "House of Training".  We also discussed the impact of education on workforce transfo...

In this episode, Vincent Hein, director at Fondation IDEA, joins Adrien to discuss Luxembourg's public spending habits and question whether Luxembourg can afford it over the long run. They explore the rapid growth of public expenses in Luxembourg, driven by population growth, construction costs, and social spending. While Luxembourg's short-term fiscal indicators are strong, Vincent raises concern...

In this episode, Thierry is joined by Eric Busch, Founder of Ike Solutions and newly formed neoSapiens (formerly BuschX), to delve into the market's Luxembourg IT and tech recruitment segment. Eric shares his journey from his study days.  We discuss the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship in Luxembourg and why attracting talent has become more complex in today's working environment. ...

In this episode, Adrien is joined by Sasha Baillie, CEO of Luxinnovation, to delve into the intricate world of diplomacy, economic strategy, and fostering innovation in Luxembourg. With an extensive background spanning international diplomacy and economic affairs, Sasha shares her journey from the corridors of embassies to leading the country's national innovation agency. We discuss the challenges...

In this episode, Adrien sits down with Michel Poucet, an innovative entrepreneur in the space industry, to explore the future of space operations and innovations in space domain awareness. Michel reflects on how his early fascination with space—ignited by encounters with astronauts and visits to space stations—shaped his passion and ultimately led him to pursue a career dedicated to exploring and...

Ready for a deliciously inspiring story? In this episode, Thierry sits down with Anne Faber, the creative force behind Anne's Kitchen. Known for her successful TV shows and cookbooks, Anne's transformation into a respected food journalist, TV personality and a successful entrepreneur is an inspiring story for our business community. The conversation begins with a dive into Anne’s career trajectory...

In this episode, Adrien sits down with Vincent Hein, a director and economist at Fondation IDEA, to dive into the pressing economic and policy issues facing Luxembourg. Vincent shares his passion for economic development and public policy, shedding light on his dual role at Fondation IDEA—a think tank created by the Chamber of Commerce to spark fresh ideas and stimulate public debate in Luxembourg...

Join Adrien as he dives deep into the world of venture capital with Yannick Oswald, Partner at VC firm Mangrove Capital Partners. Yannick shares his fascinating journey into venture capital, underscoring the importance of passion for startups and the resilience required from founders. In this conversation, Yannick highlights Mangrove’s strategic focus on early-stage tech investments and disruptive...

Join us as Thierry welcomes Christophe Timmermans, CEO of Solarcleano and Fallprotec, to our podcast. In this episode, we explore how these innovative companies are reshaping the solar industry while ensuring safety for workers at heights. But Christophe's path to success wasn't without its challenges and adventures, and we delve into those as well. A native of Luxembourg with a passion for intern...

In this episode, hosts Adrien and Thierry sit down with Gerry Wagner, spokesperson at the House of Automobile and Director of International Institutional Relations at Arval BNP Paribas Group, to discuss the evolving landscape of e-mobility in Luxembourg. With over a decade of experience in the banking and operational leasing sector, Gerry shares his perspectives on the evolution of the automotive...

In this episode, hosts Adrien and Thierry sit down with Mathias Lentz, the dynamic CEO of Brasserie Nationale, Luxembourg's foremost privately-owned brewery. Mathias opens up about his personal journey, emphasising the pivotal role of external experience before joining the family business. He then delves into the brewery's history, highlighting its remarkable resilience and growth in the face of c...

Adrien welcomes Antoine Welter, co-founder and CEO of Circu Li-ion. A driven impact entrepreneur at heart, Antoine walks Adrien through the whole process that led him to quit his consulting job to found the Luxembourg-based battery upcycling start-up with his co-founder and CTO, Xavier Kohll. During the conversation, Antoine brings up the highly debated myth of urban mining, which consists of re-u...

In this second part of our discussion, Thierry and Adrian host Pierre Reuter and George V. John in an engaging discussion spotlighting Luxembourg's pivotal role in the ever-evolving space industry. Delving into the European Commission's drive for regulatory harmonization, they explore the complexities of crafting EU space law to accommodate diverse activities while emphasizing sustainability imper...

In this episode, Adrien welcomes Antoine Clasen, CEO of Bernard-Massard, Luxembourg's premier wine producer. Antoine walks Adrien through the century-old history behind this renowned sparkling wine (known as crémant in Luxembourg) maker and how it emerged throughout the years after being completely destroyed during WW2.  Known for its iconic yellow label and red foils, Bernard-Massard has carved i...

In this episode, Adrien welcomes Daniel Klemetz , CEO of Greenworlder , a purpose-driven startup at the forefront of sustainability innovation. Embark on a journey to uncover Greenworlder's core mission: to nurture a dynamic online ecosystem that brings together climate enthusiasts and businesses, united in their dedication to combating climate change. Daniel highlights the importance of addressin...

Adrien and Thierry welcome Dominic Grieve, former UK conservative member of parliament and attorney general under Prime Minister David Cameron. A vivid Remainer and friend of Luxembourg, Dominic walks them through his background and what led him to choose a political path back in the 70s alongside a very successful legal career as a barrister (lawyer). Showing a lot of affinity towards the grand d...

In this episode, Thierry hosts a conversation with Pierre Reuter and George John from Hogan Lovels as they explore Luxembourg's growing space industry. They discuss Hogan Lovels' essential role in guiding clients through the legal aspects of space activities. With teamwork between their Luxembourg and Washington D.C. offices, Hogan Lovels provides exceptional expertise in navigating intricate regu...

Adrien welcomes Yuriko Backes, Minister of Finance in Luxembourg. A fine reader of history, Minister Backes walks Adrien through the lessons that she has learned from living in Japan which in turn nurtured this passion of hers to embark on an international relations career. They discuss the key challenges that she has faced since taking on her role in early 2022, especially in the context of confl...

Thierry welcomes Barbara Chevalier, CEO at CFL multimodal. In this podcast recording Thierry and Barbara discuss the company's business model, Luxembourg's role as a logistics hub, and the positive impact of rail freight solutions on sustainability, highlighting CFL multimodal's integrated and sustainable approach to multimodal transportation across Europe. Barbara also highlights the commitment o...

Adrien welcomes Florian Feltes, co-founder and CEO at Zortify. A staunch academic at heart with deep problem-solving skills, Florian walks Adrien through the process that led him to adopt natural language processing (NLP) as a way to rationalise the decision-making process. At a time when AI is slowly but surely becoming an ubiquitous component of our ways of going about our lives - think of ChatG...

Thierry welcomes Martin Schoonbrodt, Co-Founder at the Probiotic Group. Martin is an entrepreneur that co-founded this very exciting and forward thinking business in 2014 with the vision to take a biotech approach to the cleaning environment.  Based in the north of Luxembourg and now at the House of Biotech, this forward thinking business dedicates much of their efforts in research and development...

Adrien welcomes Georges Krombach, Head of Sales and Marketing at the Landewyck Group. A native Luxembourger who spent a chunk of his career in the US, Georges walks Adrien through the history of the Landewyck Group, a tobacco and property business, and how this Luxembourg-based family export business has evolved over time with global players emerging in other key regions. Then they talk about the...

Thierry welcomes back Pierre Thein, Director at the Hein Group, to the show. In this follow up episode, Thierry and Pierre cover the last 18 months since our first podcast recording.  During the conversation, Pierre explains to our listeners how the company overcame key challenges and adapted to the new working environment. Pierre has been with the company over two decades and the Hein Group as th...