EU's education, culture, youth & sport Director General welcomed in Differdange

By Caroline Diana

The European Union’s Director General for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport told an audience of college students to “go for it” when an opportunity arises.

“We have organized a life where we are afraid of everything, “ said Martine Reicherts, speaking as part of the Miami University Dolibois European Center Distinguished Lecture Series in Differdange on Wednesday. “Be confident, trust yourself … take your chance.”

Reicherts, a native Luxembourger, was the Advisor and Deputy Head of Cabinet to Jacques Santer for one year, and a spokeswoman for the European Commission for two years. 

Since then she has worked for the Luxembourg government as Director of Administration and Personnel Management as well as the Director General of Personnel and Administration, Head of the Office for Infrastructure and Logistics, and Director General of the Publications Office of Luxembourg. She began her current job in September.

Reicherts said many of her professional breakthroughs were the result of taking a chance. For example she said, early in her career at the EU, her boss had set up a meeting with a number of German speaking officials, however, the most important official invited to the meeting was Italian and could not understand German. 

In this situation, Reicherts said, “I took my chair, sat next to the chairman and started translating.” Two days later she got a phone call from him, offering her a job as his assistant.

She also emphasized the importance of balancing professional and personal life. Along with her government positions, Reicherts teaches yoga to students who include secretaries in the bureaucracy she supervises. She said that yoga not only helps her keep her professional and personal lives in balance, but also diminishes the hierarchy between herself and her employees.

By spreading her message of confidence, taking chances, trusting yourself, and balancing professional and personal life, Reicherts said she ultimately plans to “help the younger generation grow.”

Caroline Diana is a Boston, Massachusetts native who is currently a junior studying journalism and professional writing at Miami University in Differdange.

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