28. Gravitas Shift: When Power Is in Europe and the Future Moves to China | Leaders in Motion - How Global Executives Reinvent Leadership in the Age of AI and Market Disruption

Description

"The problem is not bad leaders in China. The problem is a Western-led governance model that confuses uniformity with discipline, historical revenue with future potential, and center-driven control with strategic relevance."

For years, European headquarters have blamed their China underperformance on local leadership. In this solo episode, Kevin draws on conversations with a dozen of executives who built careers in the gap between Chinese market reality and global HQ logic — and breaks down why the model keeps failing.

Five acts: the daily symptoms of misalignment, the structural sources rooted in Western governance assumptions, the operational consequences, the long-term damage to brand relevance and talent position, and the hard pivots that actually change the trajectory.

In this episode:

Why "ghost alignment" in quarterly reviews is a governance failure, not a people failure
The 18-month vs. 4-month innovation gap — and what it actually signals
How boards that have never visited China are making invalid resource decisions
Why the return rate of overseas Chinese talent flipped from 20% to 80%

Featuring voices from: Fabien Dumont (Autoliv CTO), Sonia Benjeloun-Carpentier (Piaget Managing Director China), Guilhem Souche (Luxury Executive China), Guido Maune (Partner EAC), Jenny Lai (Bluebell, Managing Director Greater China), Pierluigi Visotti (Founder ULYSSES), Ye Han (Partner Kantar), Laurent Scarato (Industrial Executive China), Greg Au-Yeung (Managing Director China Ingenico), Anne Line Hansen (Cross Border Board Advisor), and Francesco Pesci (ex Lancel Managing Director).

Download the Executive Brief: The Gravitas Shift: When Power Is in Europe and the Future Is in China | LYC Partners

If you lead into China, sit on a board that covers China, or are rethinking your China model — this one is for you.

Follow the show and leave a rating to help more leaders find it.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

If the topics discussed resonate with your own leadership challenges or the conversations happening in your organization - assessing international leaders, aligning global and local teams, building capabilities across regions. You can reach us at LYC Partners to set up a consultation.

Produced by Bonjour Podcast (Melanie Hong), Leaders in Motion blends storytelling, strategy, and data-driven insight, giving today’s leaders a roadmap to anticipate tomorrow’s challenges and lead with intention.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About Leaders in Motion - How Global Executives Reinvent Leadership in the Age of AI and Market Disruption

Leaders in Motion is a strategic podcast for global executives, C-suite leaders, and transformation experts navigating career reinvention, AI disruption, and cross-border leadership in a rapidly changing world.

Hosted by Kevin Hong, Partner of LYC Partners - a leading executive search and leadership advisory firm - and The Council, an exclusive peer network for senior leaders, the show brings real-world insights from those shaping the future of work.

Each episode dives into the intersection of leadership, technology, and human adaptability, offering actionable strategies for leaders who want to stay relevant, resilient, and future-ready.

What you’ll hear on Leaders in Motion :

In-depth interviews with global CEOs, CHROs, board members, and transformation leaders who share their defining career moves, leadership philosophies, and lessons from uncertainty.
Solo episodes where Kevin shares frameworks, market intelligence, and proven tools to help executives stress-test their careers, strengthen their visibility, and build long-term career insurance.

Key topics covered :

Executive career transformation & personal reinvention
The rise of skills-based organizations and agile leadership models
AI, automation, and the evolving role of the C-suite
Global mobility & cross-cultural management
Building influence, resilience, and board readiness
The future of work in Asia and beyond

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

If the topics we discussed today resonate with your own leadership challenges or the conversations happening in your organization - assessing international leaders, aligning global and local teams, building capabilities across regions. You can reach us at LYC Partners to set up a consultation.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About Leaders in Motion - How Global Executives Reinvent Leadership in the Age of AI and Market Disruption

Each episode dives into the intersection of leadership, technology, and human adaptability, offering actionable strategies for leaders who want to stay relevant, resilient, and future-ready.

What you’ll hear on Leaders in Motion :

In-depth interviews with global CEOs, CHROs, board members, and transformation leaders who share their defining career moves, leadership philosophies, and lessons from uncertainty.
Solo episodes where Kevin shares frameworks, market intelligence, and proven tools to help executives stress-test their careers, strengthen their visibility, and build long-term career insurance.

Key topics covered :

Executive career transformation & personal reinvention
The rise of skills-based organizations and agile leadership models
AI, automation, and the evolving role of the C-suite
Global mobility & cross-cultural management
Building influence, resilience, and board readiness
The future of work in Asia and beyond

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Description

In this episode:

Why "ghost alignment" in quarterly reviews is a governance failure, not a people failure
The 18-month vs. 4-month innovation gap — and what it actually signals
How boards that have never visited China are making invalid resource decisions
Why the return rate of overseas Chinese talent flipped from 20% to 80%

Download the Executive Brief: The Gravitas Shift: When Power Is in Europe and the Future Is in China | LYC Partners

If you lead into China, sit on a board that covers China, or are rethinking your China model — this one is for you.

Follow the show and leave a rating to help more leaders find it.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About Leaders in Motion - How Global Executives Reinvent Leadership in the Age of AI and Market Disruption

Each episode dives into the intersection of leadership, technology, and human adaptability, offering actionable strategies for leaders who want to stay relevant, resilient, and future-ready.

What you’ll hear on Leaders in Motion :

In-depth interviews with global CEOs, CHROs, board members, and transformation leaders who share their defining career moves, leadership philosophies, and lessons from uncertainty.
Solo episodes where Kevin shares frameworks, market intelligence, and proven tools to help executives stress-test their careers, strengthen their visibility, and build long-term career insurance.

Key topics covered :

Executive career transformation & personal reinvention
The rise of skills-based organizations and agile leadership models
AI, automation, and the evolving role of the C-suite
Global mobility & cross-cultural management
Building influence, resilience, and board readiness
The future of work in Asia and beyond

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About Leaders in Motion - How Global Executives Reinvent Leadership in the Age of AI and Market Disruption

Each episode dives into the intersection of leadership, technology, and human adaptability, offering actionable strategies for leaders who want to stay relevant, resilient, and future-ready.

What you’ll hear on Leaders in Motion :

In-depth interviews with global CEOs, CHROs, board members, and transformation leaders who share their defining career moves, leadership philosophies, and lessons from uncertainty.
Solo episodes where Kevin shares frameworks, market intelligence, and proven tools to help executives stress-test their careers, strengthen their visibility, and build long-term career insurance.

Key topics covered :

Executive career transformation & personal reinvention
The rise of skills-based organizations and agile leadership models
AI, automation, and the evolving role of the C-suite
Global mobility & cross-cultural management
Building influence, resilience, and board readiness
The future of work in Asia and beyond

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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Description

In this episode:

Why "ghost alignment" in quarterly reviews is a governance failure, not a people failure
The 18-month vs. 4-month innovation gap — and what it actually signals
How boards that have never visited China are making invalid resource decisions
Why the return rate of overseas Chinese talent flipped from 20% to 80%

Download the Executive Brief: The Gravitas Shift: When Power Is in Europe and the Future Is in China | LYC Partners

If you lead into China, sit on a board that covers China, or are rethinking your China model — this one is for you.

Follow the show and leave a rating to help more leaders find it.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About Leaders in Motion - How Global Executives Reinvent Leadership in the Age of AI and Market Disruption

Each episode dives into the intersection of leadership, technology, and human adaptability, offering actionable strategies for leaders who want to stay relevant, resilient, and future-ready.

What you’ll hear on Leaders in Motion :

In-depth interviews with global CEOs, CHROs, board members, and transformation leaders who share their defining career moves, leadership philosophies, and lessons from uncertainty.
Solo episodes where Kevin shares frameworks, market intelligence, and proven tools to help executives stress-test their careers, strengthen their visibility, and build long-term career insurance.

Key topics covered :

Executive career transformation & personal reinvention
The rise of skills-based organizations and agile leadership models
AI, automation, and the evolving role of the C-suite
Global mobility & cross-cultural management
Building influence, resilience, and board readiness
The future of work in Asia and beyond

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About Leaders in Motion - How Global Executives Reinvent Leadership in the Age of AI and Market Disruption

Each episode dives into the intersection of leadership, technology, and human adaptability, offering actionable strategies for leaders who want to stay relevant, resilient, and future-ready.

What you’ll hear on Leaders in Motion :

In-depth interviews with global CEOs, CHROs, board members, and transformation leaders who share their defining career moves, leadership philosophies, and lessons from uncertainty.
Solo episodes where Kevin shares frameworks, market intelligence, and proven tools to help executives stress-test their careers, strengthen their visibility, and build long-term career insurance.

Key topics covered :

Executive career transformation & personal reinvention
The rise of skills-based organizations and agile leadership models
AI, automation, and the evolving role of the C-suite
Global mobility & cross-cultural management
Building influence, resilience, and board readiness
The future of work in Asia and beyond

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Description

In this episode:

Why "ghost alignment" in quarterly reviews is a governance failure, not a people failure
The 18-month vs. 4-month innovation gap — and what it actually signals
How boards that have never visited China are making invalid resource decisions
Why the return rate of overseas Chinese talent flipped from 20% to 80%

Download the Executive Brief: The Gravitas Shift: When Power Is in Europe and the Future Is in China | LYC Partners

If you lead into China, sit on a board that covers China, or are rethinking your China model — this one is for you.

Follow the show and leave a rating to help more leaders find it.

---

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About Leaders in Motion - How Global Executives Reinvent Leadership in the Age of AI and Market Disruption

Each episode dives into the intersection of leadership, technology, and human adaptability, offering actionable strategies for leaders who want to stay relevant, resilient, and future-ready.

What you’ll hear on Leaders in Motion :

In-depth interviews with global CEOs, CHROs, board members, and transformation leaders who share their defining career moves, leadership philosophies, and lessons from uncertainty.
Solo episodes where Kevin shares frameworks, market intelligence, and proven tools to help executives stress-test their careers, strengthen their visibility, and build long-term career insurance.

Key topics covered :

Executive career transformation & personal reinvention
The rise of skills-based organizations and agile leadership models
AI, automation, and the evolving role of the C-suite
Global mobility & cross-cultural management
Building influence, resilience, and board readiness
The future of work in Asia and beyond

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About Leaders in Motion - How Global Executives Reinvent Leadership in the Age of AI and Market Disruption

Each episode dives into the intersection of leadership, technology, and human adaptability, offering actionable strategies for leaders who want to stay relevant, resilient, and future-ready.

What you’ll hear on Leaders in Motion :

In-depth interviews with global CEOs, CHROs, board members, and transformation leaders who share their defining career moves, leadership philosophies, and lessons from uncertainty.
Solo episodes where Kevin shares frameworks, market intelligence, and proven tools to help executives stress-test their careers, strengthen their visibility, and build long-term career insurance.

Key topics covered :

Executive career transformation & personal reinvention
The rise of skills-based organizations and agile leadership models
AI, automation, and the evolving role of the C-suite
Global mobility & cross-cultural management
Building influence, resilience, and board readiness
The future of work in Asia and beyond

🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your executive inspiration and learn how global leaders think ahead, move faster, and lead smarter.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get access to exclusive insights and all the details about the Leaders in Motion Academy, our executive program.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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