The Geography of Talent
By Susana von der Heide Founder & Thinking Partner at VON DER HEIDE
If philosophy has taught us anything, it’s that being is never static. As Sartre put it, we are condemned to be free – and in that existential space, talent too becomes a fluid, ever-evolving possibility.
But what exactly is talent?
You’ve probably guessed by now: I don’t believe in rigid definitions. I see talent as a living phenomenon – the best version of ourselves that emerges in the right environment.
Talent Isn’t Magic. It’s Context + Choice + Discovery.
Here’s the trap we often fall into: thinking talent is a gift or a lucky break. A framed degree. A perfect LinkedIn profile.
In truth, talent is not something you have – it’s something that takes shape when the environment empowers you.
Consider the concept of The Geography of Geniuses:
Why did Florence during the Renaissance produce such a burst of creativity? Why Vienna during the golden age of psychoanalysis? Why Silicon Valley in the ’90s?
Because the environment mattered.
Not because talent only lives in specific places – *but because certain places nurture it.
What Makes Talent Thrive?
Talent grows in environments where:
- Curiosity is rewarded, and critical thinking is expected
- Failure is accepted as part of the process
- Collaboration beats competition
When talent doesn’t find the right space, it leaves.
As Foucault reminded us, power shapes knowledge, and too often, organizations shape (or suppress) talent with invisible structures and silent rules.
Think of someone who only found their voice after changing teams, roles, or cities.
Sometimes, your surroundings block your growth. Other times, they reflect your potential back to you.
Everyone Has Talent. But Not Everyone Finds It.
We are all talented, though not all of us know it yet.
That’s because discovering and expressing talent is a conscious act. A series of choices.
Talent is activated by asking, testing, failing, iterating, and by being in the right place at the right time.
So the real question is:
Are we designing environments that allow talent to thrive?
Or are we still confining it within structures that stifle growth?
In a world where change is constant, the challenge isn’t just attracting talent.
It’s creating it, nurturing it, and – most importantly – letting it choose how it grows.
Talent Isn’t a Buzzword – It’s a Dynamic Asset
We’ve all heard it at conferences and in mission statements:
“People are our greatest asset.”
But how many organizations actually treat talent like the dynamic, high-potential force that it is?
Talent isn’t something to be measured in spreadsheets or stored on a balance sheet.
It’s more like the stock market – fluid, reactive, and shaped by context.
- There’s rising talent: reinventing itself and seizing new opportunities.
- There’s undervalued talent: overlooked by rigid systems.
- And there’s IPO talent: breaking barriers, gaining visibility, and setting new standards.
The best companies don’t just retain talent – they elevate it.
They create ecosystems where people can diversify their skills, invest in their growth, and generate compounding returns in creativity and impact.
Because the opposite is also true:
When talent feels trapped or unrecognized, it exits.
It looks for a new space where its value is clear, where its growth is possible.
In Today’s Talent Economy, Geography Matters – Even If It’s Virtual
In a world shaped by volatility and remote work, companies are no longer just competing for clients or capital.
They’re competing for talent with the resilience to navigate uncertainty and the vision to build what’s next.
As Plato said, “A country cultivates what it honors.”
The same applies to companies.
So – what are you cultivating?
