One may or may not agree with Emmanuel Macron's vision, but his success is probably due more to his temperament than his platform. The behind-the-scenes story of his victory reveals him to be both analytical and intuitive—rare combinations. Candidate Macron had a profile that was bound to appeal.

Exactly what many companies are now looking for. "A candidate with a good degree" means someone with a well-rounded mind, both analytical and synthetic, and "a candidate with good emotional intelligence," therefore someone intuitive.

In his book Revolution, our new President praises Balzac's young wolves with their voracious ambition… Perhaps we are witnessing "the extension of the domain of struggle" into the labor market?

According to a Rothschild partner, the Macron phenomenon can also be explained by a charisma more common in his generation; a genuine connection with others. The previous generation often retreated into formal relationships, while he preferred the "Obama style": friendly, agile, and relaxed. Providing candidates and clients with an exceptional experience, characterized by genuine interest and attentiveness to others, is often the key to successful recruitment.

“We need young French people who want to become billionaires,” Emmanuel Macron exclaimed in Las Vegas. He can rest assured, many thirty-somethings are embarking on the entrepreneurial adventure, seeing it as the only way to become a billionaire by 40. Startups in this sector are flourishing (HABX, Anaxago, WeWork…). Today, ambitious graduates of elite universities are creating their own startups, just as their predecessors dreamed of working in a strategy consulting firm 10 years ago or in a large corporation 20 years ago. The success of En Marche, the disruptive political startup, is simply a reflection of the times.

Increasingly, clients want to recruit very young people in their forties to fill management positions within companies. This trend is confirmed for investment jobs in the real estate sector – an atavism of the "boutique" effect and private equity – but also a real trend in development and consulting roles.

Clients used to rely solely on the track record of their partners (especially in recruitment). Today, companies pay much closer attention to a headhunter's ability to provide expert advice, have a broad perspective, be well-connected, and demonstrate a keen understanding of the human element. Sometimes, having read Hiroshi Mikitani's *Marketplace 3.0*, which sits prominently in Emmanuel Macron's library, is more valuable than having actually recruited for the same position 10 years ago

Times are changing. Sometimes it's unreasonable, but that's the way it is.