A Day with President Macron at Versailles + A Lesson for The Americas

I have been humbled throughout my career with Softtek to have the opportunity to take part in many events, which include the likes of the World Economic Forum B20 Task Force and CEO Summit of the Americas, and amidst the presence of industry leaders, founders of Global Fortune companies and heads of state. The international business conference hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles last month, was one for the books.

The modest email invitation did not do justice to the exclusivity of the event. However, the meeting gained media attention just days prior, with The New York Times highlighting how Macron was making Versailles the place to be on the way to Davos 2018. 

I’ll admit that an invitation to Versailles, commissioned by the president of France, was not an offer to turn down. Welcoming an intimate group of 140 executives (among them, Alibaba, Coca-Cola, HPE, SAP, Google, Bank of America, JP Morgan, General Mills, Samsung, Toyota), Macron put together an attractive soi·rée…of wining, dining and constructive networking under the theme, “Choose France.”

Rich business conversations were accompanied by once-in-a-lifetime “amenities”: a welcome from the international French ambassadors; a live Classical concert at the Chappelle; lunch and dinner catered by France’s finest Chef Alain Ducasse; and not to mention, private tours of Versailles’ historical legacies. But French luxuries aside, equally impressive was the openness and excitement around this newly assembled French administration and the mutually beneficial productive agenda programmed for the day. France truly understood, in an important way, that the decision to invest is a joint effort of both hearing from government about the country’s strategic opportunities and plans, as well as engaging with other businesses to understand what they are doing.     

Macron’s main message came through loud and clear (and, in English): Come to France, and we won’t let you down. His confident, yet non-condescending tone is a virtue that resonates well with local citizens and global investors alike. And indeed his pragmatism is making waves overseas. The President’s offer—an alluring tax reduction for businesses expanding operations to France—gained support by the crème de la crème of today’s companies. During the event, Facebook, Google, Target Paris and SAP announced big investments in the country, during one-on-one discussions. This includes Facebook’s projection of doubling its team by 2020 and pouring in $12 million USD for growth, and SAP with a 2 billion euro 5-year French investment plan in R&D.

Today’s political landscape still boasts an overwhelming wave of populism, and with that, certain market restrictions and anti-globalism which disrupt the flow of goods and services around the world. With apprehension in Europe facing Brexit and uncertainty with political leaders from the Americas and across the globe, we’re increasingly seeing a disenchanted populist sentiment.

Perhaps this unbalanced satisfaction is spurring an interesting turning point right now in the global political landscape, with Macron blazing a trail. There is an energy and enthusiasm that exude from France’s current leadership; full of youth, vision, support in start-ups, healthy investment in technology and a way of articulating the value that the new direction will bring to the economy. Macron is building a renovation plan for a more competitive France, and letting the world know that investment in technology innovation is at the top of his list. His leadership cultivates inclusion, and he is earnest about keeping global trade afloat.

Macron has less than a year under his belt in office at the élysée Palace, and only time will tell as to whether his bold ideas take root and lead France away from a nationalistic ideology. It is important to believe and have faith in the global system, and to not revert back to trade barriers and trade wars. Perhaps if there is one short-term take away from Macron, it is that the change we crave is not systemic overhaul but rather institutional tweaks.