Jean-Emmanuel Hay: L ast year, at World Connect by APG, we discussed a geopolitical situation that was already complex. Looking back, it seems less difficult than the one we are experiencing today. Sandrine de Saint Sauveur: We need to rethink our models and our vision of the world. I have a feeling that this uncertainty is going to last. We
hummingbird: this agility allows us to adapt and keep moving forward. Jean-Emmanuel Hay : The APG network is divided into geographical areas, supervised by Regional Vice-Presidents. Who are they and how are they selected? Sandrine de Saint Sauveur: The selection of Regional Vice-Presidents
the spring, the General Meeting preceding World Connect, or during the event itself, it is clear how happy participants are to be together. These moments restore their confidence when they are sometimes isolated in the face of their daily difficulties. I often talk to colleagues who are worried about the uncertainty in their countries: sharing their feelings and experiences helps to reassure
“SINCE 1945, GROWTH HAS BEEN BASED ON A FORM OF STABILITY. WE MUST NOW LEARN TO LIVE WITH UNCERTAINTY“
are closely monitoring geopolitical developments, because we have offices all over the world and are impacted in one way or another every time something happens. I spend a lot of time talking to our partners, because the situation is difficult for some of them. Jean-Emmanuel Hay: How is this situation affecting the APG network? Sandrine de Saint Sauveur: Some countries are suddenly closing their borders, preventing any business from taking place, while others are suddenly opening up. When I talk about geopolitical instability, it is because we really do not know what tomorrow will bring. Many people continue to base their analyses on the past and on old patterns, even though reality has changed profoundly. Faced with this uncertainty, we must observe without judging and adopt the attitude of the pilot fish or the
is carried out by the President of APG Network, Richard Burgess. He chooses them from among the members of the board, which includes representatives from each continent. The key criterion is their ability to be APG-minded, i.e. to share the group’s philosophy and unite teams, a crucial quality in the current geopolitical context. Some countries can quickly find themselves isolated. Take Bolivia, for example: the government decided overnight to impose a 60% tax on airline ticket sales, the market collapsed and our local office found itself in difficulty, almost cut off from the rest of the world. In this type of situation, the Regional Vice-President is expected to try to find solutions to promote solidarity between the countries in his or her zone. There is a real sense of listening between members of the network, both regionally and globally. Whether at our Annual General Meeting in
them. Business is based on trust: you have to believe in your own ability to take action and in that of the network in order to renew yourself and move forward locally. Jean-Emmanuel Hay: What would still make you dream, in aviation, in terms of communication? Sandrine de Saint Sauveur: I would like us to call a spade a spade and show how extraordinary this industry is and how it inspires dreams. We are bipeds, and yet we make people fly: it’s fabulous! I would like us to stop presenting aeroplanes as a mere convenience. It is a remarkable invention, which is advancing every day thanks to cutting-edge technologies. Until we explain to the general public how exceptional it is to get a plane off the ground on time and safely, they will continue to consider it mundane. But it is anything but mundane: it is extraordinary! Let’s marvel at it.
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