Kristina Kreisberg, International Account Manager, represented Firstbrokers at the Worldwide Broker Network’s (WBN) 75th International Conference in Lisbon at the end of October. The conference program featured expert presentations and valuable opportunities to exchange insights with international colleagues. For Kristina Kreisberg, the most memorable highlight of the event was the Leader Series presentation by conductor and musical director Martim Sousa Tavares.
The Portuguese conductor approached leadership through the lens of his own profession—conducting an orchestra. In his presentation, he described the vastly different, and at times unconventional, ways renowned conductors work with world-class orchestras.
For example, the legendary American conductor Leonard Bernstein could lead an orchestra hands-free, using only his facial expressions. In contrast, the Italian maestro Riccardo Muti might conduct without looking at the orchestra at all, keeping his gaze fixed somewhere far above the musicians. Meanwhile, Romania’s musical visionary Sergiu Celibidache would continuously interrupt rehearsals, micromanaging the highly experienced Berlin Philharmonic and scolding the musicians as if they did not even know the notes.
These distinct leadership styles offer a fascinating metaphor for the corporate world. When a shared goal is clear and the team consists of top experts in their field, a leader’s role is not necessarily to dictate a single correct way of working. Instead, similar results can be achieved through very different types of interaction, high standards, and presence.
Sousa Tavares works as a conductor and musical director and has collaborated with orchestras across eight countries. His artistic work strongly emphasizes making classical music accessible and bringing cultural life outside of major metropolitan areas. In 2022, the Orquestra Sem Fronteiras, which he founded, was awarded the European Charlemagne Youth Prize by the European Parliament.
For Firstbrokers, international encounters are a vital opportunity to exchange views and build networks. At the same time, they provide fresh perspectives from outside our own industry. Sousa Tavares’ presentation served as a reminder that in leadership, just as in music, the ultimate result stems above all from people’s ability to collaborate and work together.
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