Meeting with Hubert de Boisredon, CEO of the Armor group, about his book "The Spirit blows, follow it. Journey of a committed leader".

Hubert de Boisredon, CEO of the ARMOR group, headquartered in Nantes in western France, has been involved with Fondacio since his youth. In a book to be published in France in September 2021, "L'Esprit souffle, suis-le " (The Spirit Blows, Follow It), his journey as a committed leader testifies to how to be an actor of change to build a more humane and just world, at the heart of the challenges of our societies. It is a story that tells in a simple and authentic way his journey of personal transformation, with and for others, the encounters and experiences that inspired him and the way in which welcoming a living God into one's life is a fundamental source of being a leaven of hope. Whether or not one knows the business world, it is also an illustration that it can be a place of humanization of our world. It is also a sign of the Good News in the peripheries of the world.

"It is possible to do something extraordinary with your life when you trust your inner guide, your star, your talents and, for those who know how to recognize and name it, God who lives in the depths of our being." Hubert de Boisredon

It may seem strange to talk about the Holy Spirit when you are a business leader, Hubert acknowledges, but for him, work is a place of co-creation and transformation of the world. Fondacio was a place that nourished him and encouraged him to engage in the world. It is a spirituality that unites faith and commitment, which invites us to believe that God is involved in our human adventures.
As a preview of her book and the links to the press articles and interviews offered at the end of the article, we reproduce here the interview with Magali Audusseau published on the fondacio.fr website.

How did you meet Christ? What change did it make in your life?

Hubert dB - All my youth I tried to be perfect and to be the best to deserve God's love. But during a retreat at La Roche d'Or in 1982, when I was 18, Father Callerand, who was preaching, said a word to me: "Let yourself be loved, let yourself be loved by God". It was a turning point. He witnessed the life of Charles de Foucauld who called out to God by saying "My God, if you exist, manifest yourself to me". I took up this challenge and climbed the hill of Rocher d'Or, and, being completely alone at the top, I cried out: "My God, if you exist, manifest yourself to me". I was then seized by a presence that enveloped me with such love that I had nothing more to say, nothing more to bear, except to stay there and receive it. For a long time, I had no desire to move, so gentle and strong was this presence. I could feel it penetrating every pore of my skin. It literally changed my life by making me realize that I no longer needed to be perfect to be loved. At that moment, I became free to make my own choices.

In your book, you talk about how this encounter with God was a turning point. And there is also the encounter with Fondacio. What concrete achievements came from it?

Hubert dB - I very quickly perceived an invitation to engage as a Christian in society. It started with the creation of Contigo (a microcredit bank created in Chile under the status of a foundation) with Laurent and Marianne (now my wife). At that time, Fondacio was more community-oriented, with a whole group of friends and encouraged by the founder of Fondacio and Ignacio Rosselot, who was then in charge of Fondacio Chile, we already had the wish that this spirituality of Fondacio be given to the world and bring something useful by an economic means, so that our contemporaries live better, are happier and can develop their talents. Contigo was really about that.
Fondacio is the spiritual place that has always left me very free and encouraged me to engage with the world. It is a spirituality that unites faith and commitment, that invites us to believe that God is engaged in our human adventures. Fondacio appears to me as an aid to see God in myself, in others and for others. I engage in the community because I find strength and nourishment for my life journey, and also a common desire to build a more humane and just world.

As a visionary leader, do you think that integral capitalism could be a solution for the company of tomorrow? and if so, under what conditions?

Hubert dB - I think that capitalism must be integral, humanistic and altruistic. It must not only aim to maximize profit, but also allow the development of the human being and the transformation of society.
Within the Armor group, we place societal innovation at the heart of the company's transformation. We want to use technological innovation to serve a broader objective: ensuring the safety of goods and people, combating global warming, developing the circular economy and creating jobs locally. The objective is indeed to enable human development and to build a more ecological and humane world. It is Laudato Si' in the business world and in the name of Jesus' words: "I have not come to judge the world, but to love it". This invites me to engage in the world by giving myself out of love for it. This is the whole spirituality of Fondacio.

What other places are you involved as a disciple of Christ at Fondacio?

Hubert dB - Beyond my action in the company within Armor as a committed member of Fondacio, I am part of the international headquarters team and I am also happy to be alongside Marianne, in support and in prayer, in her responsibility for Fondacio France, as she is for me in my various commitments.

Also, for three years, with the encouragement and support of François Prouteau, president of Fondacio, Louis Faure and I have created Eotekoum, a leadership consulting firm to support project leaders and actors, young and old, who wish to give of themselves to transform the world, starting with their organization and themselves. Indeed, we all often have great ideals, but are held back by our own blockages, our fears, our attachments and sometimes our infidelities. It is important to work on ourselves, not to become more perfect, but to become more aware of what we could accomplish if we let the Spirit take hold of us and awaken in us the courage to act. This is also the whole message of my book.
The book "The Spirit Blows, Follow It. Itinerary of a committed leader" published by MAME - Price: €15.90. Order

Watch the Zétéo podcast with Hubert de Boisredon: The world needs witnesses to God's love

Various press articles have echoed the book and Hubert's career:

> Aleteia - A great boss who chose to follow the Holy Spirit
> La Croix - "The Spirit blows, follow it", the journey of a committed leader
> Les Echos - "Make the world a better place or maximize profitability?