ICYMI

On 15th June, we set out to talk about AI, careers, culture, leadership, wellbeing, and the future of work in Brussels. We didn't get through half of it.

Which I suspect was a good sign. Because every road seemed to lead back to the same topic: People. How we manage them, support them, develop them, trust them.

One panelist later told me she could have spent another hour talking about AI. Others wanted to go deeper on internships in Brussels, workplace culture, and what it actually takes to build healthier organisations.

Perhaps that's the challenge with conversations like these is that the future of work is a collection of questions that all seem to intersect around people.

What has been particularly encouraging is seeing so many participants continue the conversation after the event, sharing reflections, insights, and their own takeaways.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, contributed, challenged ideas, shared experiences, and helped create a space where we could have an honest discussion about work in Brussels.

Over the coming weeks, we'll be sharing interviews with our speakers, key insights from the discussion, and a few self-assessments and resources to help all of us become better people managers and colleagues.

If you'd like to follow the conversation, follow the A Better Brussels page.

We got this!

Photos by Romain Triollet and Malte Ketelsen

Event agenda

AI is reshaping how work gets done in EU affairs. Hybrid has rewired when, where, and with whom we work. Across Brussels, the question is what this means for careers, teams, and the future of work.

Hosted by A Better Brussels, this evening brings a candid, practical conversation into one room, recruitment, leadership, digital skills, well‑being, and the culture shifts already underway. With leaders from recruitment, policy, workplace culture, and learning & development, we’ll focus on what candidates actually want and how organisations can adapt without losing effectiveness or humanity.

Walk away with:

• A recruiter’s-eye view of where demand is moving

• Two low-cost culture fixes you can pilot next week

Join us at the Bump Policy Experience Space on 15 June.

17:30–18:00 | Arrival & networking coffee/drinks

18:00–18:40 | Panel: “Talent, Culture, and the Brussels Workforce of the Future” (moderated by A Better Brussels)

• How AI, digital skills, and hybrid work are reshaping EU affairs careers

• What candidates now expect from healthy organisational cultures

• How recruiting firms can lead on well‑being and inclusion

Featured voices:

• Majken Nørby Ekam‑Nielsen, People, Culture & Finance Director, EuropaBio

• Daniel Friedlaender, SVP Europe, Head of Office, CCIA

• Svetoslava Stoyanova, Leadership, Culture & Mental Health Coach; L&D expert focused on AI in education & mentoring

18:40–18:50 | Audience Q&A

18:50–19:30 | Networking reception

Shhh: PIRO SIRO will be offering a tasting of their Nepali Chili Oil. Yum! (available only in Brussels)