At this week’s Community Breakfast, Herluf Thomsen shared a story of professional reinvention—and personal rediscovery. After 15 years at Novo Nordisk, spanning public affairs, marketing, and international assignments, his job was suddenly relocated. With teenage kids and a newly resettled family in Denmark, moving again wasn’t on the table.
Panic? Maybe a little. But mostly curiosity.
From Panic to Pipeline
Instead of diving into job boards, Herluf chose a bold path. He reached out to old colleagues and collaborators—not for work, but to ask: What do you see in me?
That disarming question unlocked unexpected insights. Turns out, Herluf’s strengths—strategy, innovation, big-picture thinking—were obvious to others. With their feedback and some courage, he launched LPO Consulting and began helping former colleagues on his own terms.
Structure, Luck, and a Lot of Coffee
While the first clients came easily, Herluf learned fast that consulting requires more than skills. It takes structure. He began managing a pipeline, tracking contacts in Excel, and checking in regularly. Networking became more intentional—less about hoping and more about planting seeds.
He’s also building a health-tech tool, writing a book on a rare hearing disorder, and exploring AI. Safe to say: life outside the corporate machine suits him.
What Republikken Means to Him
Herluf credits Republikken as the perfect space for this chapter of his life. It’s where he’s found inspiration, collaboration, and genuine connection. Whether it’s casual chats that lead to client work or help from fellow members like Stine the designer, Republikken is more than a workspace.
He says it best: “I’m sure I’ll need more of you soon.”
And lucky for us, we’ve got Herluf too.