Louise Kyhl-Triolo’s journey spans continents, cultures, and decades of transformative work inside global organizations. From helping laid-off professionals rediscover their identity to shaping innovation and leadership cultures in some of the world’s largest companies, her story is rooted in humanity, courage, and purpose. Humans of Fuzia is proud to feature Louise for her unwavering belief that work should never erase identity—and that leadership, when guided by kindness, reflection, and intention, can create lasting impact for people and the planet. Her voice resonates deeply with our global community of 5M+ women and allies striving to lead with meaning.
Q: Louise, what inspired you to begin your professional journey?
I’m Danish by origin, and I studied literature, languages, sociology, and culture across France, Denmark, and the UK. I left Denmark right after high school because I wanted to experience life beyond my home country. My first role was as an outplacement consultant, helping people who had spent 25 years in large organizations find new jobs after being laid off. I was very young at the time, and it was incredibly eye-opening.
What struck me most was how deeply people’s identities were tied to their job titles. When those disappeared, many felt they had lost everything. That taught me two things very early on: you can’t give your entire identity to work, and you must keep learning. That experience sparked my desire to help create environments where people can grow, learn, and stay connected to who they are beyond their roles.
Q: What challenges have you faced while building such a purpose-driven career?
Over the years, I’ve worked across France, the US, and Silicon Valley in global organizations, often creating initiatives that didn’t exist before. When you build something from scratch, challenges are inevitable. There’s uncertainty, resistance, and what I call the “corporate immune system”—when organizations instinctively push back against change.
I’ve learned that if one door closes, you find another way in—through collaboration, persistence, and belief in what you’re building. I’ve also consistently put myself in situations without much safety, whether that meant moving countries, founding innovation centers, or entering unfamiliar cultures. Those risks required a strong support system of friends and family, especially during moments of doubt.
Q: What has been one of your proudest milestones so far?
One of my proudest moments was creating Dream Big at Airbus. Inspired by the XPRIZE model, I believed that the collective intelligence of 135,000 employees held powerful ideas that were often unheard. We launched an incentive challenge that generated over 700 ideas, followed by a two-day summit where teams learned a new way of thinking and innovating.
Several ideas evolved into real business models, and more importantly, it created energy, hope, and a lasting entrepreneurial mindset within the organization. That sense of collective possibility—that people’s ideas matter—is something I’m deeply proud of.
Q: What are your thoughts on women in leadership today?
We’ve made progress, but there’s still room to create more space for women in leadership. I believe women bring compassion, kindness, creativity, and openness into workplaces—qualities the world needs more of.
I don’t believe you can manage people; you can manage processes. Leadership is about igniting desire, not control. When leadership is rooted in respect and vision rather than fear, people create beautiful things together. I hope we continue moving toward that shift.
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring women leaders and entrepreneurs?
Believe in yourself and go for it. Learn to set boundaries. Don’t give up on your dreams—whether that’s building a career, having a family, or both. Build authentic relationships and protect your support network; they’ll remind you who you are during your hardest moments.
Be intentional with your choices. Choose environments aligned with your values, not just financial needs. And finally, embrace reflection. Slowing down isn’t losing time—it’s how you truly learn and grow.
Q: How do you define success, both professionally and personally?
Success, to me, is creating something that has a positive impact beyond myself—on society, on people, and on the planet. When my work is in service of others and the world, that’s when I truly feel successful.
“Success is found in service—to people, to society, and to the planet.” — Louise Kyhl-Triolo
Connect with Louise Kyhl-Triolo: Louise Kyhl Triolo | LinkedIn
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