Christophe Martinot is Belgian, married and a father of three. He has lived in Barcelona for more than 20 years, with periods spent working in Belgium, Chile and Denmark. He is the founder of SeedingEnergy, a consultancy specialising in organisational transformation, customer-centricity and new ways of working. He is also the author of \u2018Spiral Up\u2019, a book about leadership, organisational transformation and more human and resilient workplace cultures.<\/p>\n
Why did you choose Barcelona?<\/strong><\/p>\n I initially came to Barcelona for a professional opportunity with Danone, and the city quickly won me over. After living in different countries, I found a balance here that is very difficult to find in other European cities. Barcelona combines international energy, creativity, quality of life and a very human way of living and working. Over time, I also built my family life here, as well as much of the life I wanted for myself.<\/p>\n What are the city\u2019s strengths?<\/strong><\/p>\n Barcelona has an incredible ability to attract talent, creativity and people from a wide range of international backgrounds. I particularly appreciate its human side, cultural openness and how easy it is to build both professional and personal connections. I also greatly value the combination of sea, mountains, nature, culture and urban life, which makes a real difference to the quality of life.<\/p>\n Which aspects of the city need to be improved? How?<\/strong><\/p>\n Barcelona needs to regain some of its international ambition and make it easier to develop projects, businesses and innovation. I also believe there are important challenges related to safety, cleanliness, mobility and access to housing. To continue attracting international talent and investment, the city needs a stable, pragmatic and long-term vision that strengthens both quality of life and the confidence of residents and businesses.<\/p>\n \u00a0What do you expect from Barcelona in the coming years?<\/strong><\/p>\n I hope to see a Barcelona that is open, innovative and able to continue evolving without losing its identity. I would like to see a city that continues to invest in talent, education, entrepreneurship and more human and sustainable ways of working. Barcelona has everything it needs to become a European benchmark for creativity, innovation and organisational transformation.<\/p>\n Which city do you consider to be your home city? What do you miss most?<\/strong><\/p>\n Today, Barcelona is clearly my city. I have built my family life, friendships and professional career here. I miss some of my family and friends in Belgium, as well as certain aspects of Northern European culture. I also greatly value everything I gained from living in countries such as Chile and Denmark. Discovering new cultures, different ways of working and different perspectives on life has profoundly shaped the way I think and connect with people.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.barcelonaglobal.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/elperiodico-2.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\tEl Peri\u00f3dico<\/h6>\n\t\t\t