Farlei Kothe, CEO, Stefanini NA/EMEA/APAC: 2025 is a year of bold moves and strategic adaptability

Outsourcing Today, the business services industry’s community networking and news integrated platform, resumes the series of interviews dedicated to evolution, expectations and opportunities in business services and related industries.

We invite business leaders, managers of strategic departments of companies, key voices in their field to share with us their insights depicting the new beginning of this year in business, how it looks, how it is anticipated, what adjustments are included in 2025’s agenda and the perspective of growth.

Find the full series of interviews here

We spoke recently with Farlei Kothe, CEO, Stefanini NA/EMEA/APAC about the business evolution, trends and expectations of growth.
Find below the insights:

Strategic Vision and Market Trends
What are the key trends you believe will shape your industry in 2025?
2025 will be a year where adaptability and transformation continue to define the tech services industry. AI will move from exploration to full-scale implementation, driving automation, efficiency, and new business models. Cybersecurity will remain a top priority, with companies investing in more advanced protection strategies to mitigate evolving threats. The rise of AI-driven customer experience will demand a balance between automation and human-centric services.

A major shift for us this year is the fact that we now operate as one region—North America, EMEA, and APAC—under one leadership. This new structure will drive greater agility, deeper expertise, and stronger collaboration across global teams. With a unified approach, we are better positioned to embrace these industry changes, innovate on a scale, and deliver an even higher level of service to our clien

What major adjustments should a business consider this year, in the context of local market competition and worldwide challenges?
Navigating 2025 means businesses must fine-tune their strategies to balance cost, efficiency, and quality. Market volatility, shifting customer expectations, and technological acceleration demand a proactive approach. Companies must rethink their operational agility, invest in AI-driven automation, and create hyper-personalized services to stand out in competitive markets.

With our unified North America, EMEA, and APAC structure, we now have a global perspective with local expertise. This integration allows us to leverage best practices across regions, accelerate decision-making, and optimize resources in a way that is more effective than ever before. The businesses that will thrive are those that stay flexible, adapt quickly, and see change as an opportunity, not a threat.

What leadership aspects are you carrying into 2025?
Leadership in 2025 requires a refined mix of strategic foresight, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. The ability to inspire teams through uncertainty remains critical, as does fostering an environment of innovation and continuous learning. Leaders must prioritize resilience—not just in business models, but in their people. Trust-building, transparency, and inclusion will be more essential than ever, particularly as organizations navigate AI integration, sustainability demands, and evolving workforce dynamics.

With the new regional structure spanning North America, EMEA, and APAC, leadership will play an even more crucial role in driving cross-regional collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and strategic alignment. The most impactful leaders will be those who know how to balance digital transformation with human connection—leveraging global insights while staying deeply connected to local market realities.

More than ever, our leadership will be challenged by its ambidextrous capabilities. What do I mean about ambidexterity? At the same time, they must bring stability to the teams, they must challenge them for AI trend. At the same time, they must keep the business running (keeping the lights on), they must transform it heavily based on innovation, automation and AI adoption.

At the same time, they must inspire the team, they must push them to learn as fast as possible. The world, the market and our customers, are all changing. And our resilience, knowledge and experience, are great skills to co-create with our customers.

People and Sustainability
What steps is your company taking to align with the sustainability goals in 2025?
Sustainability is no longer a secondary goal—it’s an essential business pillar. In 2025, we are reinforcing our commitment to reducing carbon footprints, optimizing energy consumption in our operations, and embracing responsible AI practices. Additionally, we’re investing in sustainable supply chain management and ensuring our digital transformation efforts align with green initiatives.

How do you engage people in your teams to ensure long-term sustainability in your operations?
People drive sustainability. Our approach focuses on fostering a culture of shared responsibility—where every employee understands the impact of their work on the environment and society. Training programs, internal green initiatives, and incentivizing sustainable workplace behaviors all contribute to long-term engagement.

Which are the main aspects to be considered in 2025 in terms of DEI and ESG?
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) efforts are deeply interconnected. In 2025, companies must take DEI beyond hiring practices and embed it into leadership development, decision-making processes, and workplace culture. On the ESG front, businesses will need to ensure that their sustainability goals align with regulatory frameworks and customer expectations.

With our one-region model, DEI takes on a broader, more impactful approach, ensuring inclusivity across different geographies, cultures, and workforces. The power of a truly diverse and global team lies in the ability to drive innovation, equity, and long-term business sustainability

What are the priorities for nurturing talent and building a resilient workforce this year?
The workforce of 2025 demands an ecosystem of continuous learning, mental well-being, and career flexibility. Upskilling and reskilling remain crucial, particularly in fields such as AI, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. Additionally, fostering leadership at all levels and ensuring psychological safety in the workplace will be key to retaining talent.

As a unified North America, EMEA, and APAC organization, we now have stronger career development opportunities, global mobility programs, and cross-border collaborations. This structure enables employees to expand their expertise, contribute to diverse projects, and build resilience in an ever-changing market.

Innovation and Digital Transformation
What role does innovation play in the company’s business strategy for this year? In what kind of business aspects should it be more integrated?
Innovation is at the heart of everything we do. In 2025, its role extends beyond product development—it must be embedded in customer experience, operational efficiency, and talent strategies. AI and automation will reshape business models, but innovation also means rethinking how companies work, communicate, and deliver value.

With a unified global region, we have the unique advantage of leveraging AI and digital transformation strategies across different markets. This allows us to accelerate innovation and bring tested, high-impact solutions to a broader client base.

What emerging technologies are you planning to leverage for business growth this year? What about AI, how is it anticipated to reshape the business this year?
AI will no longer be a competitive advantage—it will be a necessity. In 2025, we expect AI to further optimize decision-making, automate repetitive tasks, and enhance predictive analytics for business growth. In addition, blockchain for security, quantum computing advancements, and the rise of AI-driven creative tools will redefine business landscapes.

With our North America, EMEA, and APAC integration, we can accelerate AI-driven solutions at scale. By combining insights from different markets, we can fine-tune AI applications, ensuring they address regional needs while driving a consistent global impact. AI is transforming industries, but companies that find the right balance between automation and human ingenuity will emerge as true leaders.

Looking Ahead
The power words of 2025: Resilience. Transformation. Global Synergy.
2025 is a year of bold moves and strategic adaptability. With our one-region model (North America, EMEA, and APAC), we are poised to harness the full potential of our global expertise while maintaining a strong local market presence. Businesses that are resilient in the face of change, open to continuous transformation, and capable of uniting expertise across borders will be the ones shaping the future.

Technology will continue to evolve, but people will remain at the core of every breakthrough. Stay curious, stay agile, and most importantly—stay connected.