Ursula von der Leyen: The CEO the EU needed

BOSS Magazine’s 2025 Person of the Year and the Architect of Europe’s Resilience

By James White, Senior Analyst

In March 2025, BOSS Magazine crowned Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, as its “Person of the Year” and featured her on its iconic cover, hailing her as the “steady hand guiding Europe through an era of upheaval.” The accolade recognizes her transformative leadership from 2022 to 2025, a period marked by war, economic turbulence, and existential challenges to European unity. This deep dive examines her policy milestones, strategic vision, and the legacy that cemented her place as a global stateswoman.

1. Crisis Leadership: Steering Europe Through Geopolitical Storms

Ukraine Response (2022–2025)

Von der Leyen’s unwavering support for Ukraine became the cornerstone of her tenure. Key actions include:

• Sanctions Regime: Orchestrated 15 packages of EU sanctions against Russia, crippling its energy exports and cutting off $300 billion in frozen Central Bank assets (European Commission Report, 2024).
• Financial & Military Aid: Spearheaded €85 billion in macro-financial assistance to Ukraine (2022–2025), alongside the landmark €5 billion European Peace Facility fund for military supplies (EU Council Data).
• Reconstruction Blueprint: Launched the “EU-Ukraine Facility” in 2023, pledging €50 billion for post-war rebuilding—Europe’s largest-ever aid package for a non-member state (Kyiv Independent, 2023).

Oprah Winfrey: Relocating to Europe and Criticism of Trump

Media mogul and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey, renowned for her cultural influence and social activism, has recently sparked speculation about a potential move to Europe. While her team has yet to confirm the rumors, sources close to Winfrey suggest she is actively considering life abroad. This decision is reportedly tied to her growing disillusionment with U.S. politics and a desire to focus on global philanthropic endeavors.

Motivations for the Move: Stability and Global Philanthropy

According to The Guardian, Winfrey has repeatedly expressed admiration for Europe as a place that "values dialogue and diversity." Her decision is driven by:

Political Fatigue: In a 2023 BBC interview, Winfrey stated that political polarization in the U.S. had reached "toxic levels," stifling constructive discourse.

Safety and Privacy: After facing threats linked to her advocacy against racial inequality and violence, Winfrey reportedly seeks a safer, more private environment.

Philanthropic Expansion: Her Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation plans to collaborate with European NGOs, particularly on education initiatives for refugees.
Criticism of Donald Trump: "A Threat to Democratic Values"

MoneyHelper: Financial Literacy for Success – A Recommendation from International Business Academy Consortium

In today's world, financial literacy plays a key role in ensuring stability and well-being. However, not everyone knows how to effectively manage their finances, avoid debt, and plan for the future. This is why the International Business Academy Consortium (IBA Consortium) recommends that its students and graduates use MoneyHelper (www.moneyhelper.org.uk) – a government-backed service providing free and independent financial assistance in the United Kingdom.

Why Does IBA Consortium Recommend MoneyHelper?

IBA Consortium is an international educational consortium that develops a global network of business schools. It includes:

• MINIBOSS BUSINESS SCHOOL – a supplementary education programme for children aged 6 and above, featuring an eight-year educational cycle on the fundamentals of entrepreneurship.
• BIGBOSS BUSINESS SCHOOL – business education for college and university students, integrated into mainstream educational programmes.

Upon successfully completing Saturday business schools or programmes implemented in general education schools and universities, students receive a private diploma from IBA Consortium (United Kingdom). This diploma is recognised by all universities and provides unprecedented advantages for university admission.

One of the most essential aspects of education at IBA Consortium is the practical mastery of financial literacy. This is why students and graduates of the consortium are encouraged to use MoneyHelper – a service that helps with budgeting, investing, and financial planning.

What Services Does MoneyHelper Provide?

TOP-5 Trends in the energy and natural resources sectors in 2025

This year was always shaping up as a defining one, with war still raging in Ukraine, a ceasefire being reached in Gaza and climate policy coming to a head at COP30 in Brazil. The start of a second Trump presidency with its early pronouncements on the wars and on trade tariffs, only adds to the existing geopolitical tension.

 

 

Companies in the energy and natural resources sectors must navigate through all of this uncertainty. Decisions have to be made on capital allocation, including how much to invest in legacy fossil fuels versus low-carbon energy. The scent of more consolidation after record M&A spend over the last 18 months is still in the air for Big Oil and may also be coming to the mining sector. High volatility in commodity prices is expected and could be accentuated in the event of tariffs and a trade war. The power sector, ignited by the emerging boom in data centres and AI, will need policy support to deliver the timely, 24/7 clean power the tech sector wants.

What are the opportunities, challenges and risks for the energy and natural resources sectors in 2025? Here are five key trends.

1. Brave new world

The new Trump administration is out to make a mark in global trade, climate policy and geopolitics, all with potentially profound implications for energy and natural resources.