The NETWORK's New President Monika Ruseva Views Partnerships as 'Key to Success'

Monika Ruseva, the newly elected President of The NETWORK, an established professional women’s association based in Luxembourg, has set out an ambitious vision for the organisation, centred on partnerships and creating more opportunities for women’s professional and personal growth.

Originally from Bulgaria, Monika Ruseva brings a diverse international background, having worked across Europe before settling in Luxembourg six years ago. “Working and living in Luxembourg has been quite an interesting challenge,” she reflected in an interview with Chronicle.lu. She added that her own career shift - from the legal field to HR and recruitment and now programme management in Big Tech - has motivated her to help others navigating similar transitions. Her new role at The NETWORK is “a great opportunity” to do this.

Speaking about her initial involvement in The NETWORK as a member, Monika said she was drawn to The NETWORK’s inclusive nature. “It’s quite uniquely positioned” in that the organisation does not target specific domains and this offers flexibility in terms of events and topics, but also for potential external partners and initiatives. “The positive impact we can make is much bigger in this way. It is amplified by this diversity and inclusivity,” she said.

At the heart of her vision for The NETWORK is collaboration through partnerships: “I really believe that associations in Luxembourg should be partnering much more now than ever, because there is a real opportunity for us to join efforts and steer the conversation […] to support women”. She noted how organisations such as The NETWORK could help in areas such as navigating the job market, career transitions and expat life, by joining forces and by running initiatives “with positive impact”, rather than focusing solely on organising monthly events. Monika said her main goal as President is “to really raise the profile” of The NETWORK, helping it become more active in the social, expat life of women in Luxembourg. She mentioned plans to expand the communications team, strengthen social media and connect with potential partners (other organisations, government ministries…), emphasising her belief that “partnerships are really key to success.” She elaborated: “I think if we join efforts, we can definitely achieve more”, notably in terms of supporting women and creating “opportunities for them to grow personally and professionally” - not least those facing the challenges of a career change.

Monika also spoke of her “hands-on” leadership approach, which values feedback. One early initiative she is launching is monthly office hours where she can engage directly with current and potential members to understand their needs. “I’m someone really engaged for whom feedback is very important,” she noted, adding that it was important that The NETWORK stays “current”. “Whilst we have quite a well-established brand, I think there is much more work to be done”.

She also hopes to shift the focus towards more interactive events which leave attendees with “actionable takeaways”, thus adding value and attracting more partners. Upcoming events will explore topics such as neurodiversity (14 May) and women navigating parenthood, building confident communication, challenging biases and advocating for themselves and their families (18 June).

In a fast-changing world, Monika said she sees The NETWORK playing a critical role in helping women adapt. “The world is changing really rapidly," she said, notably touching on technological advances. "The focus [is] shifting to upskilling and to think more about what we can do long term that might not be easily replaced by AI.”

As for her advice for other women looking to take on a leadership role, Monika emphasised the value of looking beyond paid opportunities to consider voluntary roles. She described volunteering as a powerful yet often overlooked career progression path: “Volunteering is a great opportunity that many people underestimate when it comes to building your portfolio”. She expressed her desire, as President of The NETWORK, “to create an environment where volunteers are coming with the clear thought that this platform is helping them to build those opportunities and that portfolio for themselves” - in addition to having a positive impact on the wider community. The focus is thus not only on helping members grow, but also those who volunteer for The NETWORK (board and committee members).

She encouraged potential members to consider the value of joining an inclusive, growth-focused organisation such as The NETWORK: “This is a unique platform within a very inclusive framework. It is providing great opportunities for personal and professional growth, which is supported by the success stories of many of our members.” This message will also be strengthened through storytelling, for example in the organisation’s eNewsletter. She added: “We have a fantastic board and wider team of very experienced individuals across multiple different sectors, from legal, HR to finance. And I think everyone can benefit from that.”

As she embarks on her leadership journey, Monika said she was “very excited” and determined to build opportunities and to partner with others.