Redefining Leadership
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we had the pleasure of hosting a panel discussion on the future of leadership, bringing together H.E. Samantha Job CMG, British Ambassador to Sweden, Helene Barnekow, Partner at Gaia Leadership and Chair at Storytel, and Michaëla Berglund, Chair of AllBright and Co-Founder of Michaël Berglund Group. The discussion was moderated by Magdalena Gerger, Chair of the BSCC.
The conversation explored the current state of gender representation in leadership and the pace of change in senior positions. While both Sweden and the UK have made progress toward greater inclusion over the past decades, the panel highlighted that women remain significantly underrepresented at the highest levels of business leadership. In both countries, women still account for roughly 9–11 percent of CEOs, a figure that has seen little change in recent decades.
A key theme of the discussion was the importance of organizational culture. Creating environments where diverse voices are heard was described as essential not only for inclusion, but also for strong governance and better business outcomes. The panel emphasized that diversity in leadership — including different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences — can strengthen decision-making and improve organizational performance.
The speakers also addressed the structural challenges that continue to limit progress. While there is no shortage of talented women, greater willingness from organizations and boards to actively promote diversity was highlighted as crucial. Change was noted to occur more frequently when women themselves hold positions of influence, underlining the importance of representation at senior levels.
The discussion further emphasized the role of allies in advancing inclusion. Support from both women and men — including advocating for colleagues and speaking up when others are not present — was described as an important part of creating lasting change.
Finally, the panel encouraged future leaders to bring their authentic selves to leadership roles. Embracing different perspectives and experiences was highlighted as a key step toward redefining leadership and building more inclusive and resilient organizations.
Thank you to everyone who joined and contributed to this valuable discussion and a big thank you to Bird & Bird for hosting us!
In relation to the event, our panel and moderator wrote a discussion piece regarding the topics discussed that was published in Dagens Industri. Follow the links below to read the piece in Swedish or the english translation!
