‘Young talent is the key’ - Linus Böll on the future of the family business and the industry

Linus Böll, B2B Sales Manager at TROIKA, sees young talent and fresh ideas as the key to the future of the promotional products industry. In our interview, he talks about the importance of promoting young talent and his plans to take on even more responsibility in the family business in the future.

What is it like being the boss’s son?
Linus Böll: “It’s a special challenge and at the same time a great privilege to work in the family business. As the son of the boss, I have both a great deal of responsibility and the opportunity to actively help shape the company right from the start. The expectations are high, but this motivates me to lead TROIKA into the second generation. I have always received a lot of trust from my father. It’s exciting to lead the family business into the next generation and find my own path at the same time.”

At what stage are you with TROIKA’s generational transition?
Linus Böll: “The generational transition is a long-term process. I am currently Head of Sales in our promotional products department. I have been working towards this position step by step since successfully completing my training in 2017. I have gradually taken on more responsibility and have been Head of Sales for B2B Europe since last year. My aim is to take on more management tasks in the coming years, while my father will still be on hand to advise me. The transition should be seamless to ensure the continuity and success of TROIKA.”

What challenges have you faced, and what challenges do you still face?
Linus Böll: “One of the biggest challenges for me is managing employees individually according to their level of experience and delegating tasks in a targeted manner. At the same time, I want to motivate each individual to pursue their own goals. The generational transition also requires us to find the right way to combine the experience of the older generation with the fresh ideas of the younger generation. Personally, it is also a challenge to harmonise work and family life – especially now that I became a father last year.”

What advice do you have for newcomers to the industry and those just starting their careers?
Linus Böll: “Be curious and open to new challenges. The industry offers many opportunities to develop yourself, but you have to be prepared to take on responsibility and keep learning. Networking and building strong professional relationships are just as important as technical skills.”

Why are newcomers personally welcomed at TROIKA?
Linus Böll: “At TROIKA, we attach great importance to an open and informal corporate culture. New employees should feel comfortable and welcome right from the start, because a good working atmosphere is the basis for success. We believe that a personal welcome helps to facilitate integration into the team and strengthen team spirit.”

What makes the TROIKA training concept award-worthy?
Linus Böll: “We focus on practice-oriented training that empowers trainees to take on responsibility and participate in projects right from the start. For example, trainees travel to trade shows early on, look after customers themselves, create their own marketing campaigns or are allowed to help develop their own innovations in product development. Each apprentice also gets a taste of every department at TROIKA for several months in order to determine where their strengths lie. We also offer close mentoring by experienced employees and promote the personal development of each individual. Our concept is geared towards promoting young talent in the long term and offering them the best conditions for a successful career at TROIKA.”

What measures does TROIKA take to promote young talent within the company?
Linus Böll: “We provide our young talents with long-term development within the company and give them opportunities for further training and to take on responsibility. It is important to us to promote young, motivated employees at an early stage and show them prospects for a long-term career at TROIKA.”

What does your professional development program for junior employees entail?
Linus Böll: “I have to be honest: our professional development program isn’t yet fully mature and still requires improvements, but it’s a top priority for us. We aim to create a structured program tailored to the individual strengths and goals of our junior staff. This will include both internal and external training, regular feedback, and opportunities to gain experience across different departments. Our goal is to provide the best opportunities for both professional and personal growth.”

What initiatives would you like to see from the industry?
Linus Böll: “I would like the industry to focus more on promoting young talent and sharing best practices. It would also be nice if there were further training programmes purely for our industry.”

What do you think is the importance of promoting young talent for the industry?
Linus Böll: “Promoting young talent is vital for the industry’s future. Without motivated young specialists, it will be challenging to address market demands. We need innovative minds who can bring fresh ideas and push the industry forward. Investing in the early training and development of young talent is therefore essential.”

Why did you decide to participate in PSI 2025?
Linus Böll: “PSI is a premier platform for our industry, offering a fantastic opportunity to showcase our products, innovations, and company to a global audience. It allows us to forge valuable new connections and deepen our relationships with existing customers.”

What expectations do you have of the trade show?
Linus Böll: “I’m looking forward to gaining insights into current trends and innovations that could significantly influence our industry. PSI offers a valuable opportunity to learn from each other. In particular, as we navigate generational transitions in family businesses, it’s crucial to develop new ideas that support the next generation while promoting innovation and sustainability.”

Looking ahead, what topics are you bringing to Düsseldorf?
Linus Böll: “At PSI 2025, we will showcase our latest products and highlight our new design globe collection from TROIKA.”