We explore what happens when being good with people matters as much as being good at policy.
Explore The Brussels Workplace Toolkit
Practical tools, guides, self-assessments, and insights for professionals and people managers navigating work in Brussels.
Leadership & Management
How can EU bosses do better?
What professionals told us they need from their managers, based on our listening sessions across Brussels.
A self-assessment designed to help managers reflect on their leadership style and identify opportunities to improve.
Am I a toxic boss?!
Career & Workplace Navigation
Red flags during interviews
Learn how to spot warning signs before accepting a new role.
Game plan for dealing with difficult workplaces
Practical guidance for recognising unhealthy workplace dynamics and understanding your options.
Conversation starters
Tools to help you have more productive conversations with managers, colleagues, and teams.
Workplace Culture
What makes a workplace toxic?
Understanding the behaviours, systems, and leadership habits that create unhealthy environments.
Spotting the warning signs
Recognise common indicators of burnout, disengagement, exclusion, and poor management.
Future of Work
The future of careers in Brussels 2035
Insights from recruiters, leaders, and professionals on how careers are changing.
AI, hybrid work & workplace culture
Exploring how technology is reshaping expectations of leadership, performance, and wellbeing.
Research & Observations
What we're hearing
Themes emerging from our interviews, listening sessions, events, and community conversations.
Brussels workplace insights
Articles, interviews, and observations about leadership, careers, management, and culture in the Brussels bubble.
Why we exist
Brussels is one of the most influential cities in Europe.
Every day, thousands of professionals work across EU institutions, trade associations, NGOs, consultancies, agencies, companies, think tanks, and advocacy organisations helping shape policies that affect millions of people.
It is a city full of intelligent, ambitious, and highly motivated people.
But for all the conversations Brussels has about policy, competitiveness, innovation, and leadership, we spend surprisingly little time talking about the people behind the work.
What makes someone a good manager?
What creates a healthy workplace culture?
How are careers changing?
What do professionals need to do their best work?
And what happens when organisations get these things wrong? These are the questions A Better Brussels exists to explore.
Who A Better Brussels is for
Professionals
Navigate your career with practical resources, workplace insights, and honest conversations about work in Brussels.
People Managers
Build stronger teams through better leadership, communication, and management practices.
Organisations
Understand what talent expects, showcase your culture, and participate in conversations shaping the future of work in Brussels.
Partners & Supporters
Help bring workplace culture, leadership, and wellbeing into the public conversation through events, research, and storytelling.
Support Us
By buying Things We Made
If you’re Googling “Is my boss toxic?”… you already know.
We made a T-shirt about it.
Good bosses check in. Great bosses check themselves
We made a T-shirt to remind them.
Who we are
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Shweta Kulkarni Van Biesen
Founder
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Christina Wunder
Ambassador
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Brett Kobie
Ambassador
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Tamara Makoni
Advisor
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Gökşen Calışkan
Ambassador
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Bryn Watkins
Ambassador
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Sabrine Skiker
Ambassador
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Andrew Gelston
Ambassador
Help us transform workplace cultures
You have the power to support those affected by toxic work environments in the EU policymaking space.