FROM NATIONAL...                      ...TO TRANSNATIONAL

EDUCATION
Train at elite national university    MBA from a U.S. or top European
such as France's Ecole Nationale      B-school such as INSEAD or Lon-
doctorate d'Administration or get     don Business School.
in engineering or finance.

CAREER PATH
Join a large national company and     Starting in early twenties, join a
rise through the ranks, often after   multinational company, investment
a stint in a government ministry.     bank, or consulting firm outside
                                      home country. Move frequently: The
                                      average European CEO has worked
                                      for at least four companies and
                                      lived in at least three countries.

FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Not required; most Scandina-          English is essential, and most top
vians and Dutch speak English.        Continental executives speak
                                      three languages.


DATA: ASSOCIATION OF EXECUTIVE SEARCH CONSULTANTS, BUSINESS WEEK