What experiences do you take with you from your role in the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) - what can the commercial business world learn from trade union activities?

The idea-based leadership! It is basically about always starting from the organization's idea and purpose. Why do we exist? What is our higher purpose? How can we live what we teach? For those of us who work in the non-profit sector, the purpose of our work is a guiding star that both motivates and engages. We humans have an interest in being part of something bigger than ourselves, and when you work towards a clear idea and vision that is about improving people's lives, the work feels extremely meaningful.

If we apply the non-profit leadership to the private sector, I am convinced that companies that have a clear purpose and committed leaders who live the company idea, also get more motivated employees. If the company has an idea and a story about what it wants to achieve, it can put its product or service in that context. That creates more meaning for most people than just chasing profits.

You have been both an entrepreneur in start-up companies and worked as a leader in large, more mature organizations. What is the difference in leadership style and corporate culture if you compare the different businesses?

The biggest difference is hierarchy and bureaucracy! Hahaha :-) In start-up companies, methods and solutions are invented when needs arise - for better or worse. Everything is possible and you can experiment, without any bureaucratic obstacles. In larger, more mature organizations, plans, processes and policies are usually in place for all eventualities. I worked for many years at the European Free Trade Association, an intergovernmental free trade organization in Brussels, where all work was done using templates and meeting minutes. Predictable and orderly, but there was little room for creativity. The leadership style is of course characterized by this! The leaders and entrepreneurs I've worked with in small start-ups have been creative "doers" who collaborated with anyone who could help them with the business idea, regardless of rank or background. In large mature more hierarchical organizations, leaders are unfortunately too often preoccupied with status and power hierarchies at the expense of collaboration to achieve the goals.

You grew up in Iceland and have solid international experience. How does Swedish leadership compare?

I feel that Nordic leadership is generally very successful. Our competitiveness is largely based on the unique spirit of cooperation that exists here. In the Nordic region, we have an empathetic and democratic leadership where we emphasize cooperation, consensus, and delegation of power and responsibility. It's a bit like a reflection of the surrounding society, with which leadership is always exercised in interaction.

Iceland stands out a little by having more risk-taking entrepreneurial leaders who make quick decisions, work hard and are happy to go around the formal structures. Sweden would benefit from having a bit more of Iceland's incurable optimism and just-do-it attitude, I think. On the other hand, optimism can go into overdrive with us Icelanders because we always think everything will work out...

If we look a little towards the future of working life, I am convinced that Swedish leadership will stand strong. Why is that? Well, because we have developed empathetic leaders who even sometimes have the ability to show themselves vulnerable and human. Authenticity and the courage to be oneself are what people long for - both in their leaders and in themselves.