Education & Training
Recognising HR leadership in Luxembourg’s financial sector
Published on 10 December 2025
The ABBL is proud to share that Myriam Sibenaler, Head of Human Resources and previous winner of the HR Leaders of the Year award, has been selected as a finalist in the 2026 “HR Leaders of the Year” competition in the Institutional category. This national initiative, organised by Paperjam, recognises HR professionals who are shaping the evolution of people management in Luxembourg. The contest is entirely peer-based: more than 420 HR specialists nominate and vote for the leaders who, in their view, best embody strategic vision, human impact and innovation in HR practice. For the financial sector – where talent attraction, retention, skills development and organisational resilience are essential to long-term competitiveness – this recognition highlights the central role of HR leadership in supporting the industry’s future.
Summary
Putting trust at the centre of HR leadership
In her interview with Paperjam, Myriam highlights two core drivers of effective HR leadership: open-mindedness and trust. She emphasises the importance of questioning assumptions, listening without judgement and understanding organisational dynamics beyond formal structures.
This people-first approach reflects a wider evolution within the HR profession, where the ability to build trust-based environments is seen as a strategic capability in its own right.
Trust remains the key to an HR director’s impact. By being transparent, keeping your commitments and listening sincerely, you create a climate where employees feel safe to express themselves and work together.
Myriam Sibenaler
Head of Human Resources, ABBL
Building tomorrow’s skills: a shared responsibility
Myriam also describes a structured, forward-looking approach to skills development, aligned with practices seen across Luxembourg’s financial ecosystem. It includes:
- jointly assessing training and development needs
- designing personalised development plans aligned with strategic objectives
- offering targeted learning opportunities
- fostering a co-responsible approach, where employees actively engage in their own development
This shared commitment to learning and adaptability is increasingly important as financial institutions navigate regulatory change, digital transformation and rising expectations around workplace wellbeing.
HR as a strategic pillar for the financial industry
The HR Leaders of the Year contest reflects a broader reality: human resources functions are becoming strategic partners, shaping organisational culture, supporting transformation, and ensuring talent attraction and retention in a highly competitive environment.
For Luxembourg’s financial sector – where international talent, specialised expertise and adaptability are crucial – HR leadership plays a central role in maintaining the country’s attractiveness and long-term competitiveness.
The full interview with Myriam, published by Paperjam, is available here.
The complete list of finalists, across four categories, can be consulted on Paperjam’s website.
Myriam Sibenaler
Head of Human Resources, ABBL
Published on 10 December 2025