Different countries, different customs? A journey through the talent landscape in med-tech and pharma with Stephan Breitfeld of ingeniam Executive Search & Human Capital Consulting in Frankfurt, Germany.

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1. What developments are shaping executive research in your country?

Stephan Breitfeld: In Germany, the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly significant. We observe a challenging balancing act: On one hand, there is a growing number of younger, AI-oriented professionals entering the market; on the other hand, we continue to value highly experienced executives, some even beyond typical retirement age. Bridging this generational and technological gap defines today’s executive research.

2. Which candidate soft skills are most in demand?

Stephan Breitfeld: Three key soft skills are especially important today:

• Resilience: Demonstrable experience managing crises.

• Flexibility: The ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances.

• Agility: Mental agility and readiness for continuous change and innovation.

These three points are among others part of a “Self-Managing Leadership” approach one should establish!

3. What is your country famous for worldwide?

Stephan Breitfeld: Traditionally, Germany is associated with high-end medical devices, beer, “currywurst”, and similar products. However, the country is evolving beyond these stereotypes. To me, Germany’s greatest asset today is its openness to other cultures, ideas, and perspectives.

4. How are new technologies changing the identification and selection of executives?

Stephan Breitfeld: New technologies, particularly AI, have significantly accelerated the pace of executive search processes. Routine groundwork – such as initial candidate research and a first screening – can now be executed much faster and more efficiently, creating more space for deeper engagement with candidates’ personalities, motivations, and cultural fit.

5. Which innovative talent acquisition strategies do you observe that are still underestimated internationally?

Stephan Breitfeld: Surprisingly, returning to ‘old school’ personal interactions is an innovative yet underestimated approach. While AI significantly facilitates preliminary tasks, true success in executive research still relies heavily on genuine human interaction. Personal engagement – whether connecting over shared interests like football or travel – is, in my view, essential.

Learn more about ingeniam Executive Search & Human Capital Consulting (IIC Partners: Frankfurt).

This project was created in partnership with Claricent Partners (IIC Partners: Mumbai).