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SEBASTIAAN SANDERS, DIRECTOR LEOLUX

Sebastiaan Sanders, director and owner of interior design company Leolux, is at the helm of the family business. With 350 employees who have heart and know what "Italian" class is, the furniture oozes sophistication. Leolux has been around since 1934 and was founded by Sebastiaans grandfather. Each piece of furniture is produced to order and sold through a worldwide network of Leolux dealers. MASTERS talks to Sanders: who put his career together? Text: Mical Joseph
Image: Leolux

What was your very first job?

"My parents taught me the value of money and thought it was important for us to start side jobs early. That's why I picked mushrooms in Venlo near our neighborhood. It sometimes happened that I was at the pub with friends in the evenings, but then early in the morning I would be back at around 6 a.m. in my togs picking mushrooms among the horse manure.

I was actually sure pretty early on that I also wanted to work in the family business. My grandfather was in the business and so was my father, so it seemed like a logical step. Nevertheless, I had kept a number of options open during my high school years; in addition to the "family option," I began studying Economics and Law. In the end, I turned out to be best suited for the strategic direction and chose Bain & Company. I did a lot of consulting for large companies such as Heineken and Philips."

How did you end up in your current job?

"At the age of 32, I started at Leolux. It literally felt like coming home when I joined the family business. In fact, I noticed that that warm atmosphere I experienced at home was also felt in the corporate culture. That was obviously brought to me by my grandfather and father."

How did the family business actually begin?

"My grandfather took over a small existing upholstery business after World War II. That was made possible with the last pennies of the family's savings. After the war, his mother (my great-grandmother) received compensation for bombing their house to pieces. They used the money not to rebuild the house, but to build the business. It was truly a generation that worked hard to build something better on the mess that was left behind. My grandfather had a vision: he wanted to make modern design like the Italians did back then. And he succeeded."

On the business front, what do you notice about being a child of your father and a grandchild of your grandfather?

"I noticed that I actually inherited quite a lot from my grandfather and father after all. From the beginning the motto has been: wanting to be a brand as a company and really adding something to the market is very important for Leolux. I have adopted the passion and entrepreneurial spirit. By this I mean that when there are setbacks, I don't let my head hang, but instead make the most of them. This fact is very much in the family culture and I am proud of that!"

In that, who was your wheelbarrow?

"One of the partners at the company where I worked before Leolux, the American Chris Zook, taught me a tremendous amount. Chris was super good strategically, he saw the essence of the problem and then explained step by step how to get out of that problem. This mentor taught me to focus and his wise words I took with me in my further career.

At Leolux, I actually went off the deep end because the external director before me left earlier than expected and didn't teach me the ropes. I invented a lot with the team I worked with, and in fact, these people have all been wheelbarrows for me as well. The combination of these employees took me further."

What did you learn during the corona period?

"Keeping calm and creating clarity for my team are important aspects I learned especially during the corona period. When things become unpredictable, a difficult time begins. In my position, it is important to make adjustments where necessary, so that everything is still kept on track."

What is your greatest passion in your profession?

"What I like is that as a company we create our own design that hasn't been seen anywhere yet. So coming up with and designing things from scratch. I also appreciate the enthusiasm people have for our brand and product. The employees who work here create a great sense of belonging and show loyalty. Some came in at their father's hand and leave 48 years later to retire. So the employees first went through my grandfather, then my father and now me. That's special.

My grandfather died when I was 12 years old, so I never knew him as a working man, but nevertheless, the anecdotes of the employees who did know him working give me such a good picture of him. As if I did experience my grandfather."

What has been the biggest learning moment in your career?

"When I was just starting my first job, I pushed myself very hard to achieve goals and insisted on doing everything myself. If something didn't work out, I could get really frustrated. My supervisor would really scold me afterwards and say, "Why don't you just ask me or one of the others? Over the years, I learned to ask for help. I put my misplaced pride aside. Asking for help is key."

What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

"You don't have to do everything alone and make sure you use your network well, in a positive sense."

Have you been a wheelbarrow for anyone?

"I do hope so! I encourage young talents and also give them room to learn all kinds of things. Then when things sometimes go 'wrong,' I take full responsibility. These people also have to trial and error."