A little note before you tune in: This episode was recorded in beautiful Tuscany, Italy, and our conversation is in Italian. If you'd prefer to follow along in English, you can watch the episode on YouTube with English subtitles.

In this episode of When Art Meets Leadership, I visit Bruno Alfieri at his home in Tuscany, Italy. Bruno spent much of his professional career in Luxembourg, working with Fideuram and Intesa, and today serves as Deputy Chairman of Intesa Sanpaolo Wealth Management.

Beyond his career in finance, Bruno is a passionate art collector. His home reflects a lifelong curiosity about creativity, from modern art and African masks to sculpture, literature, film, and music.

Our conversation explores the relationship between art, leadership, and personal identity. Bruno shares how his appreciation for beauty began in childhood, how a visit to Siena influenced his decision to leave Southern Italy at 18, and why he believes the objects we choose to surround ourselves with reveal something about who we are.

We also discuss the similarities between collecting art and investing in businesses. Bruno explains why he values personal connection over financial speculation, how collectors can support emerging artists, and what the art world shares with venture capital: curiosity, risk-taking, patience, and the ability to recognize potential.

Throughout our discussion, we return to a central question: how much of who we are is shaped by rational decisions, and how much comes from following our instincts?

What We Cover

• Bruno's career in finance and his lifelong connection to art
• How childhood experiences, travel, books, and music shaped his artistic curiosity
• Leaving Southern Italy at 18 and following an instinct that led him to Siena
• Why personal taste matters more than market trends when collecting art
• The emotional connection between collectors and the objects they choose
• How African masks and sculptures became part of Bruno's collection
• The difference between buying art for personal meaning and financial return
• Why art can become a tool for self-reflection and self-discovery
• The relationship between professional identity, authenticity, and leadership
• Treating people with equal respect regardless of their position or status
• The responsibility collectors have toward artists and their development
• The role of galleries in supporting emerging talent
• What art collecting and venture capital have in common
• Why curiosity, instinct, and long-term thinking matter in both art and business
• Recognizing talent and helping others grow
• The role of intuition and research in making meaningful decisions

Relevant Links

• Connect with Bruno on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruno-alfieri-6b7433/
• Connect with Alina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinaignatieva/
• Follow the podcast for upcoming episodes: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2517937.rss

Author and host: Alina Ignatieva
Videographer and Editor: Veta Vlasova
Post-Production and Publishing: Biljana Sandic

In this episode of When Art Meets Leadership, I welcome Bob Kneip, the Luxembourg entrepreneur behind Kneip and a long-time collector of pop art.

Bob shares how his business began in 1993 with a simple goal: to make financial communication and fund reporting clearer, more useful, and more visually engaging. What started as a communications company grew into a successful business that was later sold to Deutsche Börse.

Alongside that entrepreneurial journey, Bob built an extraordinary art collection; not as a formal investment strategy, but as a way to bring energy, color, and reflection into the office. He explains how art became part of the company culture, why it mattered for employees and clients, and how it helped create a more human and inspiring workplace.

Our conversation explores the connection between leadership, creativity, and resilience. Bob speaks about the role of art in helping him step back, think clearly, and build a culture of openness and sharing. We also discuss how he supported Luxembourg artists, turned office spaces into living galleries, and why he believes art should be lived with, not stored away.

What We Cover:

• Bob’s entrepreneurial journey and the founding of Kneip in 1993
• How financial communication and fund reporting became a business opportunity
• Why he brought pop art into the office environment
• Turning workspaces into places of inspiration and reflection
• How art helped strengthen company culture and team spirit
• Supporting Luxembourg artists and connecting them with the wider ecosystem
• The importance of sharing art with employees, families, clients, and partners
• Why art should be lived with, not hidden in storage
• What art can teach leaders about openness, instinct, and resilience
• The role of collection, relationships, and storytelling in leadership
• Why Bob still collects today

Want to see some of the art Bob currently has on display in his office? Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube for a closer look at the pieces he lives and works with every day.

Relevant Links

• Connect with Bob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-kneip-ba6b4440b/
• Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinaignatieva/
• Follow the podcast for upcoming episodes: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2517937.rss

Author and host: Alina Ignatieva
Videographer and Editor: Veta Vlasova
Post-Production and Publishing: Biljana Sandic

In this episode of When Art Meets Leadership, I welcome Catherine Lebrun, founder and curator of Gallery Subtile in Luxembourg.

After 18 years in finance and fintech, including working as a CFO, Catherine began questioning what she wanted from the next chapter of her life. During the pandemic, she created a visual map combining everything she loved: art, vintage furniture, contemporary design, events, and human connection. That map eventually became Subtile.

Our conversation explores what it takes to leave a secure career and build a creative business from the ground up. Catherine speaks openly about financial uncertainty, evolving an initial idea, developing multiple revenue streams, and making the choices required to pursue more meaningful work.

We also discuss why Subtile is more than a traditional gallery. It is a space where art, design, craftsmanship, events, and community come together, inviting people not only to observe creativity but to participate in it.

What We Cover

• Catherine’s journey from finance and fintech to the art world
• Turning a visual map into a real business
• Why creative concepts must evolve after they meet the market
• Building a gallery around art, objects, connection, and impact
• Balancing creative purpose with financial sustainability
• Developing multiple revenue streams within a creative business
• What art can teach companies about innovation and client experience
• Creating trust through personal service and long-term relationships
• Leading through projects rather than a traditional team structure
• The trade-offs involved in leaving a secure corporate career
• Resilience, patience, and accepting that meaningful growth takes time
• Why human connection remains central in an increasingly digital world
• Catherine’s plans to take Subtile beyond Luxembourg
• The relationship between art, craftsmanship, the mind, and the hand

Relevant Links

• Learn more about Gallery Subtile: subtile.style
• Follow Gallery Subtile on Instagram: @subtile.style
• Connect with Catherine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-lebrun/
• Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinaignatieva/
• Follow the podcast for upcoming episodes: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2517937.rss

Author and host: Alina Ignatieva
Videographer and Editor: Veta Vlasova
Post-Production and Publishing: Biljana Sandic