EIGHT TRIDENTS
Consulting | Interim | Advisory | CoActive Coaching
Trust the Process - Evoke Transformation
At Eight Tridents, I provide tailored consulting and coaching services for the hospitality industry, helping visionary leaders, investors, and businesses realize their ambitions. My mission is not just to consult but to serve as a trusted sparring partner—bringing industry expertise, leadership guidance, and a unique perspective shaped by 25 years of global experience and passion.
The hospitality landscape is more interconnected than ever. Guest expectations, fierce global competition, and rapidly evolving trends transcend borders, creating a market filled with opportunity yet brimming with complexity. Thriving in today’s environment demands innovative strategies, deep expertise, diverse perspectives, and the agility to adapt. None of us can know everything—but together, we can achieve more. Faster.
Every partnership I build is fully customized to align with your specific needs and ambitions. Whether we first connect to revitalize and future-proof your business strategy, launch a hospitality concept, or drive a critical performance turnaround, my goal is to create genuine, lasting partnerships. Whether stepping in hands-on, or by acting as your sounding board, creative collaborator, and strategic advisor, I aim to walk alongside you as you bring your vision to life and grow your business or investment.
While my work spans internationally, I have a deep connection to Scandinavia—a region with extraordinary, untapped potential for hospitality growth. With its vibrant cities, breathtaking natural landscapes, strong commitment to sustainability, and authentic cultural appeal, the Nordics are uniquely positioned to captivate a global audience seeking immersive and meaningful travel experiences. From chic urban to boutique, nature-based, and experience-driven destinations, demand here is rising rapidly, making it one of the most exciting markets for the future.
Why I Do It
I’ve always been drawn to moments of change—those pivotal times when something new is ready to emerge. What excites me most is the ambition, courage, and curiosity that individuals and organizations show when they’re ready to explore what’s possible. Whether it’s reshaping culture, setting a bold new direction, or reimagining the future, I thrive in these spaces of possibility and creation.
My journey spans 25 years across flagship properties, industry-leading brands, and cultures on four continents. Grounded in leadership principles from the Officers Academy, honed through decades of senior leadership roles, and enriched by Co-Active coaching, I bring a blend of practical experience and transformative insight to every partnership.
For me, it’s never been about maintaining the status quo. My passion lies in exploring new paths, guiding change, and turning bold ideas into real, lasting transformation. It’s about partnering with those who dare to dream big and embrace the challenge of stepping into something new.
This commitment to growth and evolution inspired me to create Eight Tridents—a space where ambition meets action, and together, we bring visions to life.
Let’s Connect
I invite you to explore my website to learn more about what’s available—services, expertise, and a bit about me too. But the “what’s possible” emerges best through conversation. Let’s connect—I’d love to hear about your ambitions and explore how we can work together to bring them to life.
Christian
Values
I believe values should be expressed as actions rather than abstract qualities. For me, this makes them concrete behaviors that can guide my real-life decisions and hold myself accountable to.
These are four values that drive me in order to build a trustworthy partnership with you
Integrity = I prioritize your best interests, guiding you with honesty and objectivity
Authenticity = I strive to keep you set on your North Star, true to purpose and values
Perpetual Progress = I challenge boundaries and comfort for renewed momentum when called for
Endurance = I aspire to engrain value that resonates beyond our time together
Hospitality Consulting | Tailored Solutions
At Eight Tridents, I offer flexible consulting services tailored to the specific needs of businesses across the hospitality and service industries. Whether you’re looking for strategic development, operational improvements, commercial repositioning, or a complete business turnaround, my approach is customized to your unique goals.
My priority is to collaborate closely with you, ensuring a seamless integration of strategic vision and operational execution to drive long-term, sustainable growth.
Each engagement is scalable—whether for short-term support or a comprehensive business transformation.
Let’s connect to explore how we can move your business forward.
Sparring Partnership - Advisory & Management
Executive and leadership sparring is a powerful catalyst for growth, boosting leadership effectiveness and decision-making through collaborative exchange. Studies show 71% of executives who engage in external coaching or sparring report significant improvements in leadership and team performance.
This service is invaluable as a trusted partner in guiding your business strategically, especially during major transformations, turnarounds, or repositionings. The most impactful leadership decisions are not made in isolation, but by leveraging diverse expertise, perspectives, and insights to design the best possible course of action.
Strategic Board Advisory
The global hospitality market is projected to reach USD 8 trillion by 2030, offering countless opportunities for businesses to engage with this thriving industry. To bridge your entry, I provide a unique combination of strategic advisory and hands-on partnership for businesses entering or developing solutions within the hospitality sector.
Without a deep understanding of the complexities of hotel operations, many miss critical opportunities to create solutions that truly integrate and add value. Drawing on global experience and a proven track record of succesfull sparring partnerships, I help companies navigate these challenges, sparring innovative ideas and delivering actionable insights to drive operational excellence and sustainable growth.
Impactful Leadership Programme (ILP) for hotel leaders
In today’s hospitality landscape, leaders must navigate VOHAC: volatility, uncertainty, hyper-connectivity, ambiguity, and competition. Thriving requires adaptability, clarity, and strategic impact, with change embraced as a core element of organizational culture. Success relies on more than just a solid strategy—it demands impactful execution.
The 12-week Impactful Leadership Program is a 1:1 development and coaching journey tailored for senior roles. Designed to drive real-time change in your organization, it focuses on addressing actual business challenges and aligning leadership growth with measurable goals. This isn’t a theoretical retreat with fictive scenarios. Instead, it’s a step-by-step process through weekly online sessions, where you’ll actively spar and apply proven frameworks like Covey’s Four Disciplines of Execution and Kotter’s Leading Change. The result? Enhanced, sustainable leadership capacity ready to meet today’s demands.
International Interim
With over two decades of hands-on experience, frequent relocations across 4 continents, have provided me with a practical education in conducting holistic business performance reviews, translating them into actionable growth strategies, and leading multi-cultural teams through execution and growth. I have successfully revitalized, repositioned, and turned around over a dozen hotels and organizations in diverse markets and economic conditions.
This journey has sharpened my interpersonal skills and ability to connect with people from all walks of life. Thanks to my multicultural background, it feels second nature to create common ground in new teams and foreign cultures, allowing us to focus on building strong relationships and tackling the matters at hand to drive sustainable success together.
Co-Active Coaching
As Søren Kierkegaard said, “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” Co-Active Coaching helps you reflect on your past while intentionally shaping your future.
Blending inner awareness with purposeful action, Co-Active Coaching empowers you to realign your values and move forward with clarity.
In midlife (ages 35-60), leadership, career choices, values, and fulfillment are all deeply connected. Leadership is value-driven—your desire to make an impact ties directly to what brings you purpose. These elements can’t be separated, and by embracing this holistic approach, you align both personal and professional growth for authentic success.
Christian Madsen – Globetrotter, Strategist, and Leadership Enthusiast
A globetrotter and explorer, my life has revolved around travel, people, and leadership. At 48 years old, I have lived in 12 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and North and South America.
My first real job was as First Lieutenant and Platoon Leader in the Danish military. This was followed by a few years of hotel school, and then it was straight into a managerial role from the onset. Twenty-five years later, I still haven’t had a job that wasn’t in a leadership capacity. Leadership has always been an integral part of my professional journey and life.
I vividly recall a captain’s words during my early days as a platoon leader: “Leadership is a choice and a privilege. Nobody told you to be a leader; it is something you chose to take upon yourself. Act accordingly.” This guiding advice has stayed with me, and I share it with every leader willing to listen. Because I feel it underscores where the responsibility of leadership lays. I guess this is also why Simon Sinek’s popular “Leaders Eat Last”, resonates in a similar fashion.
I use the word “leadership,” but truth be told, despite great officer training, my first roles were clearly more “managerially” executed. However, the more experience I gained, the clearer the distinction between managing and leading became. I started to love everything about leadership. I actively sought to learn and experience more about leadership, and so much opened up—about human nature, cultures, generations, vision, communication, inspiration, strategy, execution, change, collaboration, resilience, loneliness, adaptability—and the list goes on.
But perhaps most importantly, I sought to understand myself better. It became evident, and I firmly believe this today, that leadership is a direct reflection of who we are—our values, beliefs, character, and habits. This actually, quite unintentionally, was fully solidified in my pursuit to become a Co-Active Coach. What started as an expectation to acquire more skills and tools to strengthen my capacity to empower others turned into a self-exploration in defining my values, beliefs, and direction, ultimately strengthening my own understanding of the kind of leader I strive to be.
This all ignited an inspiration to launch Eight Tridents, where I can engage with what I love and excel at the most, strategy, organisations, change, innovation and enabling leaders!
So thank you kindly for visiting my website. I have tried to keep my text personal in relation to what I can offer, and I hope the information provides some insight into the types of services and expertise I can bring to the table. But it’s just a website, so if something catches your interest, I encourage you to connect so we can talk. Then we can explore what you are looking for and whether I am the right match for you and your business.
Sincerely,
Christian
20+ years executive leadership
With 25 years in international hospitality, including 20 in executive leadership, my experience spans boutique and large operations across cities, resorts, and remote areas. As a former officer in the Danish military, combined with a diploma in business, hotel school training, and Co-Active coaching, I bring a unique leadership approach and well-rounded expertise, enriched by global inspiration.
International Destination & Brand expertise
I’ve learned from renowned brands like InterContinental (IHG), Fairmont (Accor), and Hilton, while repositioning and redefining standalone properties such as the ultra-chic At Six and the countryside luxury Smådalarö Gård. Drawing from experiences and vibrent influences across 12 countries, I passionately specialize in revitalizing destinations and brands through innovative visions, bold commercial strategies, and transformative guest experiences rooted in their UVP and storytelling
My Leadership style
My leadership style focuses on coaching and mentorship, driving growth through guidance and feedback. I build trust, ensure accountability, and boost performance with clear direction. This creates resilient, high-performing teams that deliver lasting, self-sustaining results and adapt to evolving challenges.
Leadership in Large, Complex Operations
Over a decade leading landmark properties: InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut, InterContinental Bali, InterContinental Dubai Festival City, Fairmont Banff Springs. Led large, complex teams of 1000+ staff and multifaceted executive teams. Managed revenues of CAD 125M and multi-million dollar CAPEX projects, including renovations, openings, and design initiatives.
Holistic Performance Deep Dives
With two decades, 12 relocations, and extensive practice, I’ve developed proficiency in conducting holistic business performance reviews across diverse markets. By building comprehensive understandings of operational, commercial, financial, and organizational aspects, I specialize in translating these insights into sharp, actionable growth strategiesthat drive real impact through revitalizations, repositionings, and turnarounds.
Navigating Challenges and Change Leadership
Key milestones include navigating the complexities in Lebanon, a major turnaround at InterContinental Bali Resort, positioning Salalah, Oman, on the global leisure map, and launching Southeast Asia’s first DoubleTree by Hilton. I have led through pandemics, financial crises, and natural disasters. These experiences reinforced the importance of strong analytics, decisive strategy, and flexible execution—critical for navigating recent market turmoil.
Office Location
Stockholm, Sweden
Virtual Services