Good leadership is built on trust between clients and lawyers.

The challenge lies in maintaining trust through expertise and ethical conduct, especially in sensitive areas like tax law.

Successful leadership in an international tax law firm requires a foundation of trust, adherence to legal boundaries, and a focus on ethical practices.

Xavier Oberson is the owner of Oberson Abels established in 1961. He believes that passion, expertise, and teamwork are key factors for success. Under his leadership, the firm has evolved from a boutique establishment to an international presence by prioritizing building trust with clients and expanding connections globally.

We highly recommend listening to the full episode to gain more insights into leadership, success, and the evolving landscape of taxes in Switzerland.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode

• Discover the importance of trust and ethical leadership in international tax law

• Explore the consequences of varying tax burdens and the need for a balanced approach to taxation.

• Learn about incentives for charitable giving in tax distribution and cultural differences in philanthropy between Europe and the US.

“(On good leadership) It's a relationship of trust. So between the client and the lawyer, it's all about trust.” - Xavier Oberson

Topics Covered:

• 01:20 - History of his Law Firm: The law firm was founded by Xavier Oberson's father in 1961. Xavier Oberson took over the firm in 1996 and transformed it into a more international practice by expanding partnerships globally.

• 02:02 - Defining Good Leadership in Tax Law: Good leadership in an international tax law firm is described as being built on a foundation of trust between the lawyer and the client. The importance of expertise and ethical conduct, especially in the sensitive area of tax law, is highlighted.

• 04:09 - Taxation in Geneva: Xavier Oberson discusses the tax distribution in Geneva, where a significant portion of the population does not pay taxes, leading to potential long-term consequences. He suggests a reevaluation of the tax system to ensure a fair distribution of the tax burden.

• 06:11 - Philanthropy Differences Between the US and Europe: Contrasts are drawn between the culture of philanthropy in the US and Europe. Xavier Oberson explains how tax incentives and cultural norms influence charitable giving, highlighting the need for a more coordinated approach to philanthropy in Europe.

• 09:00 - Advice for Young Attorneys: Xavier Oberson stresses the importance of adaptability in the evolving legal landscape.

Connect with Xavier Oberson

• https://www.xavieroberson.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinaburrus/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katrina.burrus

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/katrinaburrus?lang=en

• More Impactful Episodes at https://mkbconseil.ch/eil-podcast/

The future of winemaking is moving towards quality over quantity. Both Tom Meadowcroft and Dr. Katrina Burrus acknowledged this shift in consumer preferences towards affordable luxuries and high-quality products.

The challenge lies in the differences between old world and new world winemaking practices.

In this podcast, Tom Meadowcroft, a viticulturist with his own winery in California discusses the evolving trends in the wine industry, emphasizing a shift towards quality over quantity.

He highlights the importance of leadership in the wine-making process, showcasing a collaborative approach in decision-making within a flat organizational structure. Tom also delves into the business aspect of winemaking, comparing the management styles between Europe and the United States.

Overall, the episode provides insights into the intersection of wine trends, leadership strategies, and business practices in the ever-changing world of winemaking.

A must-listen episode.

What You’ll Learn From this Episode
⦁ Discover the benefits of the holistic European winemaking approach that combines viticulture and oenology, compared to the specialized American system.
⦁ Learn about the differences between European and American leadership styles in the winemaking industry, and how collaboration and hierarchy influence decision-making.
⦁ Explore the shift towards quality over quantity in the wine industry and understand how California's position in the global market compares to regions like South America.

"I look at winemaking from the standpoint that people are gravitating towards quality, not quantity.” - Tom Meadowcroft

• 02:00 - Education Differences in Winemaking, Tom explains the differences between viticulture and oenology education in Europe and the U.S., emphasizing the integrated approach in Europe.
• 03:13 - Career Transition to Vineyard Management: Tom shares his journey from construction to managing vineyards in California for top wineries.
• 04:39 - Role of Vineyard Management Companies: Discussion on how companies bridge the gap between vineyards and winemakers in the U.S.
• 05:40 - Comparison of Old World and New World Winemaking: Contrasting traditional European land management with the innovative U.S. approach.
• 07:09 - Leadership Styles in Winemaking: Differences in leadership between European and American wineries.
• 10:00 - Employee Experience in Europe vs. U.S.: Tom reflects on his work experiences in European and American wineries, noting cultural and operational differences.
• 11:05 - Impact of Labor Laws on Winemaking: Recent changes in California labor laws and their effects on winemaking costs and schedules.
• 11:55 - Management Philosophy and Team Dynamics: Tom's collaborative management philosophy and the importance of communication in his winery.
• 13:05 - Future of Winemaking and Global Competition: Positioning of California wines globally, competition with South America, and the shift towards quality over quantity.
• 14:05 - Influence of South American Wines: Predictions on the growth of South American wines in the U.S. market due to cultural ties and competitive pricing.
• 16:02 - Cultural Influences from Living Abroad: How Tom's multicultural background from living in Switzerland has shaped his perspectives and management style.
• 19:58 - Where to Find and Purchase Tom's Wines: Information on purchasing Tom's wines online and navigating state alcohol regulations in the U.S.

⦁ Website: https://www.meadowcroftwines.com/
⦁ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drinkmeadowcroftwines
⦁ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meadowcroft_wines/

⦁ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinaburrus/
⦁ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katrina.burrus
⦁ Twitter: https://twitter.com/katrinaburrus?lang=en
⦁ More Impactful Episodes at https://mkbconseil.ch/eil-podcast/

Everyone wants to succeed in their investments by avoiding the pitfalls discussed in the podcast.

The challenge lies in navigating the complexities of investment decisions, including conducting thorough research, assessing and managing risks, and avoiding emotional decision-making.

In this episode of the Excellent International Leadership Podcast, Dr. Katrina Burrus interviews Andrew Stotz, an international financial analyst and investment expert who has conducted 800 interviews on people's worst investment experiences.

Stay tuned to learn more about the six key lessons from Andrew's interviews.

What You’ll Learn From this Episode

• Learn about the top 6 mistakes people make when investing, including insights into financial investments, starting a business, or entering a relationship.

• Explore cultural differences in attitudes towards money between the US and Thailand.

• Use the 6 listed investment mistakes as guide for you to create, grow, and protect your wealth

On investing ‘ "...people basically get emotional. They jump into something or they're not thinking clearly." - Andrew Stotz

Topics Covered:

• 00:15 - Discussion on the lessons learned from interviewing 800 people on their worst investment ever. Emphasis on the importance of research before investing and not solely relying on advisors.

• 04:29 - Importance of assessing and managing risks in investments.Explanation of the stop-loss strategy in managing risk.

• 06:26 - Discussion on the impact of emotions and flawed thinking on investment decisions.

• 13:15 - Examples of misplaced trust in investments leading to scams and fraudulent schemes.Comparison between the US and other countries in terms of regulatory burdens and trust in investments.

• 20:27 Importance of monitoring investments to prevent losses.Discussion on the decline of capitalism in the US and the impact of regulatory burdens on entrepreneurship.

• 28:55 Critique of the current narrative around big businesses and their role in societal issues.Discussion on the function of businesses to increase value within legal frameworks.

Connect with Andrew Stotz

• Website 1: https://andrewstotz.com/

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewstotz/

• Website 2:https://myworstinvestmentever.com/

Connect with Katrina Burrus

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinaburrus/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katrina.burrus

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/katrinaburrus?lang=en

• More Impactful Episodes at https://mkbconseil.ch/eil-podcast/

Leadership in service and working with nations with different leadership styles is a crucial aspect of international cooperation. 

However, the challenge lies in bridging the gap between different leadership styles and approaches. Each nation has its own cultural and organizational context, which can influence their leadership practices.

To overcome this challenge, leaders must have a deep understanding of different leadership styles and be adaptable in their approach. 

And the question, how does one find consensus from different countries in NATO  because each nation has its own priorities.  

Derrick Lee, a military/army officer with 30 years of experience in the intelligence specialty, with extensive experience in multinational,coalition,alliance operational environments, having led both US and allied military service members. Two combat deployments, to Iraq and Afghanistan, and experience in NATO as well as Republic of Korea/US Combined Forces Command. 

Well, let's deep dive with  Derrick Lee about his extensive military experience and his experience in multinational alliance operation and how consensus reached us at all. 

What You’ll Learn From This Episode

• Challenges in Building Consensus within NATO Members: Discover the complexities of aligning diverse national interests within NATO to achieve common goals.

• Leadership Evolution in Military and Organizational Hierarchies: Explore the shift in leadership styles as you progress up the ranks, from a focus on internal operations to strategic oversight.

• The Importance of Relationships in Leadership: Learn how guiding and leading your teams to cultivate strong relationships, not just vertically but also horizontally, can enhance team dynamics and performance.

Derrick Lee on managing different levels of the organization: "As you go up, the ratio of down and in versus up and out shifts. Down and in means you're focused within your organization and you're really kind of being closely involved. Up and out means you're interacting more with your higher headquarters, you're interacting more with your adjacent organization, and really kind of looking at the greater strategic picture."

Topics Covered:

• 00:23 Introduction to Derrick Lee's background in military intelligence, focusing on analyzing threat situations.

• 04:14 Discussion on monitoring Russian military activity in 2021 and the process of determining potential threats and future actions.

• 07:00 Challenges of building consensus within NATO due to different national priorities and threats perceived by countries bordering Russia.

• 09:50 Importance of explaining the strategic context behind orders to enhance team understanding and initiative.

• 12:00 Managing different levels of the organization, emphasizing the shift from focusing within the organization to overseeing strategic contexts.

• 14:46 Learning from various leadership styles and experiences to adapt to different levels of responsibility within the military.

• 17:54 Transition to working in defense contracting, highlighting the importance of understanding financial aspects and budget execution for operational success.

Connect with Derrick Lee

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrick-lee-1b619436/  

Connect with Katrina Burrus

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinaburrus/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katrina.burrus

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/katrinaburrus?lang=en

• More Impactful Episodes at https://mkbconseil.ch/eil-podcast/