At WorldTempus, we like to showcase all kinds of writers, whether they are veterans of the watch industry or new faces. Today, our intern takes you to Frederique Constant to meet its CEO, Niels Eggerding.
What is the day-to-day life of a CEO like?
It’s very intense. I wake up and do my daily gym each morning before going to work. For me, it is crucial to work out in the morning to be ready for a hectic day at the office. I go from regular meetings with the management, production, and sales team to having business trips over 50% of the time; I never stop. I also need frequent feedback about the KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) of the company. But this busy lifestyle isn’t a constraint, I always love a good challenge and that’s what motivates me. And of course, a lot of coffee! To take a break and free my mind a bit, I do a lot of sports and I also enjoy meeting new people.
What advice would you give to a student who wants to succeed in the watchmaking industry?
“Have a purpose, be passionate, and be patient”, if you want to make it big in the watchmaking industry. It is also important to find a growing market where it is more interesting to learn deeply about business but also to make some real connections. The next generation needs to have a clear vision and to not get distracted. As I say, “Passion comes from why you wake up every morning” and to find that passion you need to try a lot of things, even if it takes years, be determined. Things take time so don’t lose that motivation and stay focused.
Can you name two things on your bucket list?
I really want to go and see the Northern Lights. It is something that I feel that everyone needs to see at least once in a lifetime. And I also want to travel all around Canada with my family to explore its beauty.
For a student looking to buy their first serious watch, which model would you recommend?
For a freshly graduated student I think they should go for a timeless model, the Moonphase 206 would be a good choice. It’s a classic, fresh and beautiful model that will make you stand out from the crowd.
When hiring young people (students) what are the qualities / key skills you are looking for?
Young people should be passionate and willing to be open to work on anything and everything. We want passionate people with entrepreneurial minds who are polyvalent and humble. Think about what your best skills are and the team will make sure that you develop them on specific tasks so that you will learn even more.
When you were a child, what did you want to do for a living?
At first, I wanted to cook and become a chef, but then around sixteen years old, I realized I was pretty bad at it. A few years later, I started an internship within a distribution watch company in the Netherlands, where we were working with Zenith, Benetton, Bally watches and Frederique Constant. At this time, it was clear that I had a strong interest in the craftmanship of watches – so I kind of fell into the watch industry.
What is your leadership philosophy; what makes a good leader for you?
In today’s environment, it is about the vision the team has, how to engage with it and how we can empower the team. So, the leader will be as strong as the team performs. A good leader must control the team’s performance, measure the objectives with KPIs and present the results monthly to the teams so everyone knows the current situation and what to improve. It is compulsory to bring people further. Employees must feel like they are part of something. They must be motivated by the whole company as well as trusting the company and feel comfortable reaching out if needed.
