Panel Discussion Event

Navigating Economic Turbulence: Strategies for Organisation in a Changing Landscape

The current economic environment presents numerous challenges for organizations across several industries. To thrive and succeed in this dynamic landscape, it is crucial for enterprises to adapt and implement effective strategies. 

On Thursday February 8th, the INSEAD Alumni Sweden organized an event featuring the esteemed Professor of Economics at INSEAD, Antonio Fatas Ph.D. Alongside industry leaders, Professor Fatas shared valuable insights and engaged in discussions on the intricacies of economic turbulence, its impact on organizations, and provided practical experiences for successfully navigating these challenges. 

The event was hosted by the largest Nordic law firm Schjødt in central Stockholm.  

Professor Antonio Fatas Ph.D delved into likely scenarios regarding finance, trade and geopolitics. Industry leaders such as Jaan Jaanimägi, Head of High Risk Workout at Nordea, shed light on Nordic trends, types of companies facing distress and drew comparisons with previous crises. Diego Bergheim, a member of the Finance team at Schjødt, shared insights on Corporate Governance and highlighted common pitfalls companies may encounter. Anders Kjellberg, Managing Partner at Implement Consulting Group, provided valuable perspectives on company strategies and resilience tactics in the evolving business landscape. The event was moderated by Liselotte Engstam, a Professional Board Member.   

Following the presentation, approximately 50 participants, including members of the INSEAD Alumni Association Sweden, mingled and discussed the topics further. 

The Board of the Swedish INSEAD Alumni Association extends its sincere gratitude to the presenters, our host, as well as all participants for their active engagement and contribution to the event’s success.

Global INSEAD Day 2023

Global INSEAD Day 2023

On September 12th, 2023, the Swedish INSEAD Alumni Association hosted an unforgettable gathering to celebrate the Global INSEAD Day. INSEAD alumni from across the globe reunited at the breathtaking rooftop bar, “Stockholm Under Stjärnorna,” located 50 meters above the heart of central Stockholm. This delightful evening provided a perfect opportunity for alumni to reconnect, reminisce, and toast to the remarkable impact that INSEAD has had on their lives and achievements.

Here is a photo taken during the event: Förhandsvisning av bild

About the INSEAD Alumni Association Sweden:
About our Members:
We like to make sure that members and others know who we are in the INSEAD Sweden Network.
To all of our Members – go ahead and share your story! Here is the guide:https://blogs.insead.edu/sweden-iaa/member_intro/
Read about some of our other members:

Alfonso Paradinas (previous INSEAD Sweden President): https://blogs.insead.edu/sweden-iaa/2021/06/

Generative AI and ChatGPT with Aniket Shende

Generative AI and ChatGPT with Aniket Shende.

In May 2023, the Swedish INSEAD Alumni Association hosted their Annual General Meeting (AGM), featuring a presentation on Generative AI and ChatGPT, delivered by Aniket Shende. The following blog post has been authored by Liselotte Engstam, Board Member of the Swedish INSEAD Alumni Association.
About Aniket Shende:

Aniket Shende graduated with an MBA from INSEAD in 2019. He currently serves as the Digital & Business Transformation Manager at Ericsson, where he plays a pivotal role in supporting the Strategy and Digital Transformation Leads in managing the enterprise-wide transformation portfolio. Aniket is an experienced strategy consultant with a background encompassing Accenture, Schlumberger, and research assistance roles. Throughout his career, he has been managing multi year digital transformations like Data and AI Factory Scaling, Agile and SAFe transformations, Cloud Strategy, Automation and modern workplace solutions for Nordic and American companies in different roles like product owner, scrum master, data scientist, cloud engineer, business analyst and strategy manager.

Aniket holds certifications as a Microsoft Azure Solution Architect and AI Associate Engineer, as well as a Yellow Belt in Six Sigma. He is renowned for his ability to forge ecosystems by collaborating with CSPs, small and large ISVs, and innovative startups, all in the pursuit of creating holistic value. His approach extends beyond financial KPIs, encompassing areas like ESG, D&I, Corporate Governance, and Change Management priorities.

 

About the speech:

We have made a summary of the content of the speech below.

There was some audio challenges during the recording, but it can still be enjoyed in its majority here: https://www.youtube.com/live/4YxlgCuMZZ0?si=VmipeRU9xxHNndm4&t=354

Summary of the speech: 

Evolution of Generative AI 05:50

Generative AI has evolved over the years, with its roots dating back to the creation of neural networks. Researchers realized that using two neural networks in a system, known as adversarial generative networks, could significantly enhance the accuracy and performance of AI models. These networks engage in a game of improving each other’s abilities, leading to better results. OpenAI capitalized on this approach, training models on vast amounts of text data from the web, resulting in the foundation of large language models like GPT.

Foundation Models and their Capabilities 11:19

The concept of foundation models lies at the core of generative AI. These models, like GPT, have pre-trained on massive amounts of data, including books, articles, and websites. This pre-training enables them to understand complex relationships in language and generate human-like responses. While they can excel in tasks like writing Shakespearean novels or composing poems, it’s important to note that these models are probabilistic and rely on patterns learned from existing data. They can’t create entirely original content beyond their training data.

Advancements in Natural Language Processing 16:18

The advancements in generative AI, particularly in natural language processing, have significantly expanded its applications. While early AI models were proficient in image processing, they lacked capabilities in text processing. Generative AI, represented by models like GPT, has bridged this gap, making strides in understanding and generating human-like text. This has led to improvements not only in various professions but also in creating new content, including articles, poems, and more, by leveraging the large language models’ ability to comprehend and mimic human language.

Value Chain and Applications 26:58

The generative AI value chain comprises infrastructure, foundation models, and applications. Established cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud dominate the infrastructure layer. Foundation models, such as GPT, can be used via APIs, but maintaining data quality and security is challenging. Startups opt to train their own models for accuracy. Applications include content writing, code generation, image processing, audio creation, and personalized content. Plugins integrate generative AI into existing businesses, while diverse use cases exist across various sectors.

Diverse Use Cases and Opportunities 32:06

Generative AI finds diverse applications across text, image, and multimedia domains. It assists in content creation, generates code, processes images, creates music, and offers personalized content. Applications extend to drug discovery, product design, and content integration. Plugins are being developed for various platforms, enabling seamless integration with services like Instacart and Coursera. While risks like hallucinations, biases, and potential hacking exist, efforts are being made to improve model transparency and ethical practices.

Risks and Ethical Considerations 36:54

Generative AI introduces risks like hallucinations, misinformation, and biases due to the vast and sometimes skewed data it learns from. The potential for hacking and malicious use is also present. Efforts to address these concerns include ethical boards, improving model transparency, and setting up guardrails against malicious use. Inherent biases in AI models and data need careful handling to ensure fair and equitable outcomes, particularly when decisions impact human well-being.

Content Creation and Personalized Learning 41:50

Generative AI offers concise and comprehensive content generation across various domains, catering to different learning styles. It can create poems, images, emails, and even personalized learning plans. The versatility extends to various educational levels and communication styles. However, challenges remain in guarding against misuse, security breaches, and biases. This technology’s rapid development requires ongoing ethical considerations and adaptation of established software security practices.

AI Tutor and Learning Process 50:58

AI chatbots function as personalized tutors, catering to different learning needs and expertise levels. They can create customized learning plans, break down complex subjects, and adapt content to different learning styles. While AI-driven learning has potential, users must adopt a unique perspective and engage actively for effective understanding. As AI models refine their outputs through iterative processes, it’s important to align expectations and remember that AI-generated content is a tool for learning rather than a substitute for genuine understanding.

Learn More:
Related Insights from INSEAD Knowledge:
About the INSEAD Alumni Association Sweden:
About our Members:
We like to make sure that members and others know who we are in the INSEAD Sweden Network.
To all of our Members – go ahead and share your story! Here is the guide:https://blogs.insead.edu/sweden-iaa/member_intro/
Read about some of our other members:

Jennifer Lipes: https://blogs.insead.edu/sweden-iaa/1575-2/

Alfonso Paradinas (previous INSEAD Sweden President): https://blogs.insead.edu/sweden-iaa/2021/06/

Sugandha Mahajan Story

Get to know Sugandha Mahajan, one of our INSEAD Sweden Alumni members.

Sugandha is a transformation-focused management consultant at McKinsey & Company, with a strong commitment to workplace diversity and personal interests in yoga and swimming.

* What has taken you to your current position? Any defining moments?
Most career trajectories are rarely linear, and my journey is no exception. From following the textbook career path to making bold pivots amidst uncertainty and lack of personal clarity, I have been fortunate to experience several industries, topics, and countries in the process. One such pivot was the decision to leave the professional, financial, and social security of my 4-year investment banking role to navigate my 55+ year old family business, which introduced me to the opportunities and challenges of a manufacturing set-up. Another defining pivot was the decision to pursue MBA at INSEAD amidst a global pandemic – a decision that eventually took me to my current position in Sweden.

* What do you do in your professional life?
I am a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, with a focus to develop and
transform heavy manufacturing industries both in Sweden and globally. Being at McKinsey is almost an extension of life at INSEAD:

  •  I solve business problems with structure, while maintaining room for innovation.
  • I have the fortune to collaborate with some of the biggest organizations in private and public sector, while helping grow organizations that will transform our future.
  • I work side-by-side with brilliant people from a variety of cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, and professional histories, each bringing their dynamic perspectives and lived experiences to the fore.
  • I maintain a fast-paced lifestyle, while keeping balance and personal authenticity at the center.

* What do you think we need to develop for the future of work and in our leadership?
I believe the future of work and leadership will be strongly influenced by some of the current trends we are seeing today:

  • Sustainability: As governments and companies around the world are setting net-zero targets, there will likely be a continuing push for green businesses and enablers of decarbonization. Sweden is a fantastic case study for the world on how to build and enable an ecosystem that values sustainability at the same level as economic profits.
  • GenAI: Generative AI has substantially increased the ambition and solution space across industries. It has enabled us to expand, optimize, and re-think our approach to work, collaboration, and life. Additionally, it has also sparked discussions on regulations, policy frameworks and legal boundaries.
  • Collaboration and compassionate leadership: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the world to rethink global collaboration, working models and importance of mental and physical health. While we continue to navigate power shifts in socio-political landscape, more countries and companies will emerge in the dominant trade
    space. This will likely impact the cross-border collaboration efforts we will see in the future, while building local resources. Additionally, the shift to adopting holistic and flexible working models is expected to build more human-centric companies and leadership in the future.

* Any particular pointers for books, podcasts or articles you think would be valuable for others to explore?
Two of my all-time favorite and highly recommended books are The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg and Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi. I find myself going back to these books anytime I’m in transition or feeling uncertain. Currently, I’m reading Chip War by Chris Miller in an effort to understand the semi-conductor industry better.

* When you get some spare time, what do you like to do?
In my spare time, I engage in practicing yoga and swimming – two interests that I can continue to pursue irrespective of which country I’m in. I’m also passionate about cooking new cuisines and have been establishing a more plant-based diet for the last couple of years.

* What are you particularly good at, that others in the network can contact you about?
I am deeply passionate about encouraging more diversity in the workplace. Growing up in a highly diverse country like India and later living in the UK, France and Sweden, have helped me appreciate the value of multi-cultural perspectives. I’m an entrepreneur and problem-solver at heart and always up for vibrant discussions and opportunities to build, improve and sustain. I’m also a coffee and wine enthusiast and always keen on learning more on the topics.

Connect with Sugandha here

This post is part if INSEAD Sweden Alumni Membership Stories. We welcome you to share yours! Share your story – read more on how to here 

The Immense Value of Networking and Lifelong Learning

By INSEAD Sweden Alumni Board Member, Digoshen Founder and Professional Board Member Liselotte Engstam

The importance of networking 

Networking is crucial to building your business and career, learning new insights, and having sense-making feedback buddies. You might have them in your family or from childhood, you might have them from junior school, from university, from an interest group, from an MBA, Executive, or Board program.

The network, however, is not static. Many have some base groups, some networks that others help facilitate, and some that present themselves as opportunities. Unfortunately, many people go to their networks first after they are in deep need themselves, which might prove much more challenging to benefit from.

INSEAD Professor in Organizational Behavior Noah Askin has studied networks and has some great tools and tips you can find in this article “Networking in the New Reality”, and a recent presentation by Prof Askin held in June 2022 at INSEAD.

Prof Askins key takeaways are that time, money, and relationships are the currencies that run our lives. For networking, we need to consider

  • Building a community is more than a network
  • Think long term and develop a habit
  • Be specific about yourself and your needs
  • Mentors are crucial
  • Be the connector

Helen Pitcher OBE, the President of The INSEAD Board Directors Network, has written an article targeting board members outlining “10 networking strategies to a board role“, which is highly relevant. The networking strategies include

  • Build your networking muscle – it takes time and effort, but it is worth it
  • Develop a thick skin – you might not get the thing you ask for directly
  • Be nice to everyone you meet – basic courtesy
  • Be giving – When you reach out to someone in your network, start with offering to support that person in something that would be valuable to them before jumping into the asks.
  • Grow your relationship database – get yourself into new networks
  • Communicate – share your insights, and help others learn
  • Keep it simple – is it easy to understand what three things you are known for?
  • Build rapport – engage and show empathy
  • Set goals – gives you focus
  • Access available resources – go via your current networks to expand. Don’t always expect something back.

How do you contribute to and benefit from your business networks? You will find that the best networkers are giving in nature and act as connectors. They are training their curiosity and seeing that serendipity will also come into play.

 

The INSEAD Alumni Network

In a combination of thirst for Lifelong Learning and Networking, the INSEAD Alumni Network has proven invaluable. The Alumni Network is a great network with top leaders and entrepreneurs worldwide, providing many opportunities to get and stay connected.

The network opportunities are available locally in person in different countries, including the Swedish INSEAD Alumni Network, with many opportunities. If you are INSEAD alumni – ensure to invite colleagues with a guest ticket. If you are not alumni, contact us to inquire about joining our events.

There are also network opportunities with local and international meetings with several INSEAD global clubs (such as INSEAD Directors Network, Energy Club, Tech Club, Women in Business Club Indevor etc). In addition, there are events arranged by INSEAD Academic Centers (as INSEAD Corporate Governance Center and INSEAD Family Business Center, INSEAD Private Equity Initiative), and there are also yearly regional Forums in Europe, America and Asia. In addition, INSEAD provides many webinars and digital dialogues from INSEAD and the INSEAD Lifelong Learninginitiative. The networking naturally expands also to many business collaborations across the world.

Experiences of INSEAD Alumni Network

As many business leaders, I am a member of several business networks, including friends from university, alumni networks from executive courses, and networks related to some of my focus areas as art and culture, startup investments, coaching, innovation, sustainability, and board work.

Let me share some of the connections and benefits I have gained and contributed to via INSEAD and the INSEAD Alumni Network.

Coming from an international career with Executive and CEO positions at European, American, and Indian technology and services companies, I was approached to join board positions and decided I needed to gain international board education. After evaluating the board programs at the top international universities and business schools, I settled on the INSEAD International Directors Program, based on its content with a focus on the international side, the human side, and the opportunity to join the INSEAD Directors Network, IDN, as well as becoming an INSEAD Alumni.

After I went through the INSEAD International Directors Program 2014-2015 and became a certified International Board Director IDP-C, I became a grateful INSEAD Alumni and member of the broader INSEAD Alumni Network as the Global Club IDN.

 

 

In 2015 I was elected to the IDN Board and worked for six years as their Chair of Communication. That led me to start, among other things, the IDN global webinars, which meant that during 2015-2021 I organized and ran more than 75 webinars with INSEAD Alumni and faculty members and learned so much about international board work and grew my network immensely. Some of the webinars are summarized via the INSEAD IDN Blog.

Another opportunity to contribute and network has come from becoming a mentor to other international board members via the excellent IDN Mentor Program, professionally led by Board Member and Coach Helen Wiseman.

Additional education and alumni forums related to INSEAD, as programs in Strategy, Digital Disruption, Sustainability, Board Dilemmas, and networking events with a focus on Purposeful Leadership, Technology for Good, allowed me to share and interact with many of the experienced INSEAD Alumni and faculty.

All this benefits many leaders and companies across the globe, including my board assignments on both public and private boards, and gives me many new colleagues and friends.

It also led me to collaborate on Academic Research with INSEAD, including

In addition, I have been invited as returning presenter to INSEAD Corporate Governance Centers Board Programs and the Nordic IN-Board Program, hosted by INSEAD Alumni Norway led by President Susanne Hannestad. Both allow me to continue to meet and network with many engaging leaders.

 

 

As Chair of Boards Impact Forum in Nordic, and Board member at the Climate Governance Initiative in collaboration with World Economic Forum, we have linked up with INSEAD.

We have arranged a partnership with INSEAD Corporate Governance Center led by Sonia Tatar as a knowledge partner, and we collaborate on surveys and run joint webinars. The next webinar on September 7 with the topic of “Rising to the ESG challenge, Routes towards effective governance ” together also with BCG, is open for all to join and includes INSEAD research and a fantastic panel.

On October 12, we will collaborate with INSEAD Wendel International Center for Family. We will run a webinar with them, including Professor Morten Bennedsen and with top European owner board members, two of them INSEAD alumni, on the topic of “Strategic integration of sustainability, accelerated by engaged and active owners” as part of the CGI Global Summit.

 

The INSEAD Alumni Network Sweden Board, then led by Carl Magnus Norden, and now led by Alfonso Paradinas, invited me to join them. I meet many new business colleagues and friends in different settings and help arrange events, webinars, and communications.

At the INSEAD Sweden Alumni Network board, we have organized several webinars, which is available in recordings and blog posts via the Blog

 

Many INSEAD alumni and faculty have truly impressive backgrounds and engagements, and we have been fortunate to interview some of them for the podcast Exploring Leaders which is part of the Think Tank Digoshen, that I founded 7 years ago.

Sharing their immense insights and providing an additional opportunity for Lifelong Learning, we welcome all to listen to the podcast episodes and read the blog posts that includes INSEAD Alumni and INSEAD Professors listed below;

  • How Coaching benefits Board Work with Helen Wiseman (INSEAD Alumni) > Podcast Episode and Blogpost.
  • Create and believe in the future – with INSEAD Professor Nathan Furr > Podcast Episode and
  • Popping the founder’s age myth of successful ventures with serial entrepreneur Carl Magnus Norden (INSEAD alumni) > Podcast Episode and Blogpost
  • Experienced board chair Helen Pitcher OBE, Inspiring boardroom excellence (INSEAD Alumni)  > Podcast Episode and Blogpost
  • Why all leaders should include design thinking in their toolbox with Fennemiek Gommer (INSEAD Alumni) and Anne Mieke Eggencamp > Podcast Episode and Blogpost.
  • Learn From Experienced Digital Non-Executive Board Director Denise Koopmans (INSEAD Alumni) >Podcast Episode and Blogpost.

We have also run webinars, including several INSEAD Alumni members, and created related blogposts, as for example

 

Conclusion

  • Networking is the social capital and knowledge capital, where you can add value and which will contribute to yourself and your business.
  • Networking takes time and effort and is a well-worth investment.
  • INSEAD Alumni Network is an excellent example of a valuable source of connections, inspiration, and friends.

For all INSEAD Alumni, we welcome you to engage and contribute to our outstanding network.

  • Share some of your insights in person or at a virtual event.
  • Share more about yourself and your business at our INSEAD Sweden Blog- find out how here.

For all business colleagues and alumni, we welcome you to check out and join our upcoming events and collaborate with us.

“Networking is like an investment. If you invest well in networking, it will grow in value over the years” – Liselotte Engstam

 

 

 

Learn more

About INSEAD

Follow

INSEAD Alumni Sweden Website and INSEAD Alumni Sweden at LinkedIn

INSEAD Directors Network at LinkedIn

INSEAD Alumni Association at LinkedIn

INSEAD Knowledge

For Master Programmes

For Executive Education

About Networking

Haven’t networked in a while? Here’s How to jump back in. by Dorie Clark

Learn to love networking with Gino et al

Get better at Networking: Our favourite Reads by Paige Cohen

10 networking strategies to a board role By Helen Pitcher OBE

 

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This blog post was originally shared at the blog INSEAD Alumni Sweden, at the blog of Digoshen www.digoshen.com,  and at the blog of the Digoshen founder www.liselotteengstam.com

#BreakTheBias: Experiences of Increasing Inclusiveness for a more Competitive Business

We need to look upon what kind of company are we and how are we attracting talent in the views of these tensions as environment, aging population, increasing technology adoption etc. And tensions, as you know, are usually a force of opportunities.” – Anne Årneby

If you’re looking only for culture fit in recruitment candidates, then you will not get diversity”- Jakob Stengel

Many businesses and executive boards are experiencing increased competition for talent, which is hampering company growth. Leaders are looking to diversify their teams to increase competitiveness and increase business value. But how do we break the bias to increase diversity in organizations? The INSEAD Alumni Association Sweden and Denmark organized an event to answer just that; Jakob Stengel, CEO & Managing Partner at Case Rose InterSearch and Global Head of Board Practice at InterSearch, and Anne Årneby, Ex-CEO Nordic Morning Group, Board Member Svenska Spel & Rolling Optics, gave their current perspectives on this business imperative topic on International Women’s Day.

To start off the event, our Women in Business Association Leads, Jennifer Lipes and Tamara Fiona Wennecke, set the scene regarding the diversity and inclusion figures in global and Nordic businesses, and particularly how it relates to being an attractive employer for top-talent.

The following slide was shown highlighting most importantly how more businesses need to see that diversity & inclusion is not just a moral obligation, but that it drives business value.

Zooming in particularly on the lack of females in senior positions and on boards, Tamara called out specifically the fact that Denmark is the only Nordic country not in top 10 according to the Global Gender Gap Report, and has remained stagnate the last 5 years.

Anne Årneby then took a zoomed-out approach to show us how diversity plays a role in terms of the five big megatrends impacting our future, showcasing Sitra’s Big Picture of Megatrends. The important call outs were also the tensions between the megatrends, such as how new communities are coinciding with relational power and the diversifying population. She stressed that sometimes these tensions can serve as a force of opportunity, and that companies are increasing looking to build partnerships or joint ecosystems in the future.

We have had centralized decisions, mainly over the last 150 or 200 years. But now we can see that we need a broader engagement when it comes to taking on business challenges.”- Anne Årneby

We then moved onto Jakob who zoomed into a diversity matrix showing the practical tools, steps or actions to take to improve inclusion and retain talent, depending on how formal versus cultural you look on the spectrum. One important call out that was made was in regards to KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). Jakob stressed that if you’re looking for diverse profiles, you should not use the KPIs you’ve used historically, that companies need to think more creatively regarding performance matrixes and bonuses or other company policies, or utilize external legislation to move the dial. He also sparked discussion by describing how if companies are looking for a cultural fit, they will not get diversity, but instead “companies should be looking for cultural add not cultural fit.”

If you are really looking for diverse profiles when recruiting, you shouldn’t use the KPI sets that you have used historically, because you will be getting what you what you’ve always gotten.” – Jakob Stengel

To read more of the material or hear the live discussion you can find the full slides >> here and the recording will be added >> here.

Special thanks to Andrew Kristensen for opening and closing remarks and Liselotte Hägertz Engstam and Andrea Wilczynski for their support.

Sources:

BCG “Finding the Value in Diversity”

WEF “Global Gender Gap Report 2021”

Sitra “The Big Picture of the Megatrends”

Nils Bohlin Story

Get to know Nils Bohlin, one of our INSEAD Sweden Alumni members

Nils is an experienced international management consultant working as an executive coach and passionate about good listening and outdoor adventures.

 

* What has taken you to your current position? Any defining moments? 

Following a 40 year career in the Global Management Consulting Industry I am now engaged in professional coaching working with leaders of entrepreneurial companies supporting them through the never ending challenges of growing a small high potential company into a global force. What I learnt about the power of shared vision, team learning, dialogue, personal mastery and systems thinking during the 1990s when I worked with co-workers of Peter Senge has had a defining and propelling impact for me.

* What do you do in your professional life? 

Today I work through my own company; Venac AB (Venture Accelerator). I engage with leaders to support their efforts in building successful entrepreneurial companies.

* What do you think we need to develop for the future of work and in our leadership? 

The human capacity for compassion, collaboration, co-creation and team work will remain key. Courage, vision and the focus on execution is essential.

* Any particular pointers for books, podcasts or articles you think would be valuable for others to explore?

Most recently I have enjoyed reading the perspective creating book of Bill Gates; “How to avoid a climate disaster” and the reflective book of Jan Carlzon “Se Människan!”.

* When you get some spare time, what do you like to do? 

The outdoors; walking, hiking, cycling, skiing and spending time with my family and friends.

* What are you particularly good at, that others in the network can contact you about? 

I believe that a well-structured problem is half the solution. I am good at listening, organizing the mind and finding a way to frame complex problems; making them actionable in a flexible and pragmatic manner.

Connect with Nils Bohlin here

This post is part if INSEAD Sweden Alumni Membership stories. We welcome you to share yours!

Read previous stories shared, here are some about Jennifer Lipes and  Alfonso Paradinas 

Share your story – read more on how to here 

Jennifer Lipes Story

Get to know Jennifer Lipes, one of our INSEAD Sweden Alumni members

Jennifer is a business development and brand consultant in the food industry, passionate about cross-cultural leadership and inclusion strategies.

 

* What has taken you to your current position? Any defining moments? 

Earlier in my career, I applied to a global young development program at my engineering consulting firm and was the only colleague selected in a non-commercial facing role (in my case HR) which not only exposed me to a working with colleagues from all over the world, but also taught me how my diverse perspective was unique yet necessary. Additionally, it gave me a network that later led me to live 3,5 years in Antwerp, Belgium, which was my first exposure to working in Europe.

* What do you do in your professional life? 

I work for Sweden’s leading tofu producer in a global business development role focusing on internationalizing our brand but also expanding our products beyond Sweden. From attending trade fairs to engaging in conversations with potential partners, I work in an agile team with our vegan products in what is now an exciting time for the vegan and organic market.

* What do you think we need to develop for the future of work and in our leadership? 

Flexible and empathetic leadership – with the increase and popularity of remote working, leaders need to re-think how they engage and motivate individuals to contribute to their strategic goals, focusing more on how to align and partner with what’s important to people (as opposed to focusing on medium/short term profitability and relying on compensation purely as motivation). Leaders also need to cultivate compassionate leadership in a remote working setting; this includes changing communication styles to be an attentive and empathetic leader towards employees or audiences.

Aligning personal values to company values – I think people are recognizing the need to become more involved and accountable for the companies and industries we’re working for: e.g., understanding our company’s environmental impact; driving gender and racial equality in how employees are treated, compensated, etc.; making sure companies are working on projects that align with core values (see: facial recognition tech); utilizing the power of a company’s voice (e.g., standing up to political changes)

* Any particular pointers for books, podcasts or articles you think would be valuable for others to explore?

I love the podcast “How I built this” with Guy Raz as I find it fascinating to learn about the perseverance and journey that founders go through to start companies. It is encouraging hear how it’s not that founders are overly smart, it’s more so that they are passionate and quick learners, skills that I believe anyone could use to start something great. 

I also love the podcast “We can do hard things” with Glennon Doyle as it recognizes the challenges in daily life and the importance of communicating openly, finding support systems, and taking care of your mental and physical health.

* When you get some spare time, what do you like to do? 

You’ll typically find me cooking for a crowd, trying the latest craft beer at the local brewery, or doing something outdoors like running or skiing in my spare time. I also volunteer as a career mentor for two veteran organizations, consult for women in business advocacy groups, and serve as a learning coach for INSEAD’s Advanced Design Thinking programme.

* What are you particularly good at, that others in the network can contact you about? 

My expertise is fundamentally within people strategies. I’m particularly good at developing diversity & inclusion strategies for companies or utilizing active listening to make individuals feel included. I am passionate about cross-cultural leadership, including how to use cultural awareness to communicate messages in the intended ways. Overall, I have a diverse network and serve as a great connector to those looking to find contacts outside of their personal circles or communities.

Connect with Jennifer Lipes here

This post is part if INSEAD Sweden Alumni Membership stories. We welcome you to share yours!

Read some previous stories shared, here is one about Alfonso Paradinas

Share your story – read more on how to here 

Lifelong Learning as a driver for a Sustainable Future

In today’s rapidly changing environment, lifelong learning is required for the continued development, growth and success of individuals, corporates, academia, our societies and countries. It’s a responsibility both for us as individuals and all stakeholders.

  • How can Corporates encourage and create a platform for lifelong learning?
  • How are Business Schools like INSEAD developing the topic of lifelong learning?

INSEAD Alumni Association Sweden arranged a webinar on the very current topic of “Lifelong Learning as a driver for a Sustainable Future” in late August 2021.

We we fortunate to have Britta Börjeson, Vice President Learning Expertise at Volvo Group and Anne-Ev Enzmann, Director of Lifelong Learning at INSEAD sharing their vast insights and perspectives on this very current topic.

The webinar was hosted and introduced by INSEAD Alumni Association Sweden President Andrew Kristensen, the discussion is moderated by board member Liselotte Engstam, and Board member Alfonso Paradinas will conclude the webinar.

The presenter bios and a link to the recording can be found below

Andrew Kristensen introduced the webinar with some facts regarding INSEAD

 

Followed by a highlight by the moderator Liselotte Engstam, why the topic was indeed very current:

The first Presenter Britta Börjeson, Vice President Learning Expertise at Volvo Group shared insights first about Volvo Group as a company

and the how the company has adjusted its vision and strategy to achieve its new future

Britta followed that by generously sharing about the transformation journey the company has been going through and the important role of Lifelong Learning in that journey

She followed on with highlighting various ways of learning the the enablers to the journey

And concluded with how important the lifelong journey was for Volvo Group

 

The second presenter Anne-Ev Enzmann, Director of Lifelong Learning at INSEAD, continued enlighten us with her perspectives on what Lifelong Learning means, and what focus it has taken at INSEAD

And shared some insights into some of the key dimensions that is changing as

And on the topic of skills Anne-Ev referred to a McKinsey report highlighting 4 areas of 56 foundational skills needed to thrive in the Future of Work. Find the study here

Alfonso concluded with thanking our presenters and some more things to look forward to

Find the recording here

Link to the recording can be found on Youtube here

 

Presenter bios

Britta Börjeson, Vice President Learning Expertise, Volvo Group

Britta Börjeson has a background from senior management positions within Organizational Change Management, Finance, Business Control and IT from globally leading companies within both consumer goods and industrial businesses as Essity, SCA and Volvo Group. Her ability to formulate a compelling vision and organize assignment and lead people with a high level of transparency and involvement has proven critical to reach the goals. Britta led the largescale project of establishing a corporate university to support business needs and to secure future competence development for the main professional target groups in the Volvo Group, creating economies of skill and scale. Today Britta is the Vice President of Learning Expertise at Volvo Group. Britta has a Bachelor of Business from the University of Gothenburg and is an alumni of the Executive Program Ruter Dam.


Anne-Ev Enzmann Director of Lifelong Learning INSEAD

Passionate about the future of work and learning, Anne-Ev is a curious and entrepreneurial leader focused on delivering impact and results. Anne-Ev started her career in management consulting at AT Kearney, followed by 12 years in the retail industry where she developed an international corporate career culminating in the role of Vice President Marketing and Communications and Member of the Executive Board in Thailand at BigC Supercenter, a publicly-listed company and part of French Casino group then. Pursuing her passion for education, innovation and technology, she joined edtech start-up Gnowbe in Singapore as Chief Growth Officer and helped win the first 20 clients and build partnerships, including KPMG Digital Village and Temasek Polytechnic.

Today, Anne-Ev is the Director of Lifelong Learning at INSEAD, where she has defined and set up a programme of easily accessible learning experiences for alumni and friends. She has been serving on the Board of Governors of the German European School in Singapore and on the ExCo of the INSEAD Alumni Association in Singapore.

Anne-Ev holds an MBA from INSEAD, an MA in European Studies from the College of Europe and has passed the (German) State Exam in History, Political Science, German literature and Pedagogy with Highest Honours.

Host & Introduction: Andrew Kristensen, President INSEAD Alumni Association Sweden

Andrew Kristensen is an experienced Managing Director/CEO/Board Member with a solid track record of leading companies through business transformation, turnaround, and international expansion, having led manufacturing entities in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, UK, USA, and Malaysia.

Andrew has an Executive MBA from INSEAD and M.Sc. from DTU (Technical University of Denmark), and is board member at Svensk Byggtjänst, Industriarbetsgivarna, and President of INSEAD Alumni Association Sweden.

Andrew is a firm believer in the power of diversity, digitalization, and business as a force for good.

Moderator: Liselotte Engstam, Board Member INSEAD Alumni Association Sweden and INSEAD International Directors Network

Liselotte Engstam has a background from leading international positions in the technology industry. She is a chair and board member at three listed and two private companies. She is the Chair at Board Impact Forum, the Nordic Chapter of World Economic Forums Climate Governance Initiative, a board member at the academic foundation IMIT and advisor to the EU Commission on Digitization and Corporate Governance. She is the founder of Digoshen, a think tank and host of international board networks, education programs and the podcast “Exploring Leaders”. She trains chairs’ and board members, including in Swedish academy of Board Directors Chairman Program and runs their Chairman’s Network. She is engaged in academic research, and together with INSEAD she researched modern chairmanship and co-authored the book “Leading a Board, Chairs’ Practices Across Europe”. She researched and co-authored “AI Leadership for Boards”. Research on “Boards’ leadership of corporate renewal and innovation” is to be shared in a forthcoming book. She is a Fellow at the Institute of Coaching, Harvard Medical School, has a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering and Sustainability, is an alumni of the executive program Ruter Dam and is board-certified IDP-C from INSEAD. She is trained as a climate change leader by Al Gore and certified by CDSB to manage climate-related risks and opportunities.

 

Conclusion & Next: Alfonso Paradinas, Board Member INSEAD Alumni Association Sweden

Alfonso Paradinas is the Managing Director of Sikas Sweden. Alfonso is an Experienced Managing Director from the Chemicals, Construction and Renewable Energy Industry with companies like Sacyr, Orsted and Sika. He has been focused on customer engagement and is skilled in negotiations. Alfonso has worked and lived in numerous countries as Ireland, UK, Tanzania, Switzerland and Sweden. Alfonso holds an MBA from INSEAD and a University Degree from Universidad Politecnica de Madrid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Value Beyond the Deal

The transformation of companies is at an all time high, with intense acquisition activity going on in the market. Buyers need to find those extra value creation levers to gain a competitive edge – more detailed focus on strategic repositioning, revenue growth opportunities, changes to the business model and operating model, for example, or putting tax, the balance sheet and working capital under the microscope. This could prove the difference between a mediocre deal and a transformative one.

INSEAD Alumni Association Sweden arranged a webinar on the very current topic of “Value Beyond the Deal” in late May 2021.

During the webinar we explored the approaches companies take on how to plan for and ensure the value creation when the deal is concluded. We listened to the experienced leaders Mikael Ahlström, Founder Procuritas and Sofia Nordenskjöld, Partner PwC M&A Integration and Carve-out.

Introductions were made by Andrew Kristensen, President at INSEAD Sweden Alumni Association and the webinar was moderated by Liselotte Engstam, Board Member at INSEAD Sweden Alumni Association and INSEAD Directors Network.

The presenter’s bios and a link to the recording can be found below.

Andrew Kristensen introduced the webinar with some facts regarding INSEAD;

followed by why M&A and Value Beyond the Deal is a relevant topic to INSEAD Alumni in Sweden

Liselotte Engstam introduced some facts that highlighted why the topic is so current

The first Presenter Sofia Nordenskjöld, Partner PwC M&A Integration and Carve-out shared many insights under the framework of a research done by PwC with key findings under three headlines:

Following that the Second Presenter Mikael Ahlström shared insights on the development of the PE industry and some insightful examples on key items he ensures in order to secure and grow the value of the deal.

Andrew concluded by thanking the presenters and highlighting some upcoming events;

The recording to the webinar can be found here

To Recording 

 

Presenter bios can be found below

Mikael Ahlström, Founder Procuritas

Mikael has 30 years of Private Equity and industry experience, and is the Founding Partner of the first Nordic private equity firm Procuritas.Mikael is the Founder of the investment company Byggmästare Anders J Ahlström Holding, listed on Nasdaq First North. He is additionally the Founder of the non profit organizations Charity Rating, Givarguiden and the CHELHA Foundation.Mikael’s board assignments include Byggmästare Anders J Ahlström Holding AB, CHELHA Foundation and Charity Rating.His previous board assignments include Swedish Match, Gunnebo, Bravida and Lekolar.Upon INSEADs 50th Year anniversary Mikael was named by INSEAD as one of 50 Alumni who have changed the world. Mikael has also been inducted to The Swedish Private Equity Hall of Fame.Michael has an MBA from INSEAD and equivalent of a B.Sc. in Economics from Lund University.

Sofia Nordenskjöld, Partner PwC M&A Integration and Carve-out

Sofia is a Partner at PwC and she is heading the Swedish M&A Integration and Carve-out practice. She has extensive experience from working with carve out and integrations, from due diligence to execution. In addition, she has experience from Commercial, Operational and Financial Due Diligence as well as Strategy and Process improvement.Sofia is a certified project manager, she is used to lead large projects in a multinational setting. Sofia has worked with clients in various industries including, Energy, Industrial Products, Financial Services, Healthcare and Consumer Retail. Before joining PwC, Sofia worked for the A.P MøllerMaersk Group. Sofia has also worked for PwC in Norway, predominantly working with Energy companies.Sofia holds a MSc in Economics, majoring in Macro Economics from Lund University and where she did her exchange studies at Haute École de commerce in Lausanne, Switzerland.

 

Moderator:

Liselotte Engstam, Board Member INSEAD Alumni Association Sweden and INSEAD International Directors Network

Liselotte Engstam has a background from leading international positions in the IT and technology industry. She is a chair and board member at three listed and two private companies. She is a Chair at Board Impact Forum, the Nordic Chapter of World Economic Forums Climate Governance Initiative, a board member at the academic foundation IMIT and advisor to the EU Commission on Digitization and Corporate Governance.She is the founder of Digoshen, a think tank and host of international board networks, education programs and the podcast “Exploring Leaders”. She trains chairs’ and board members, including in Swedish academy of Board Directors Chairman Program and runs their Chairman’s Network.She is engaged in academic research, and together with INSEAD she researched modern chairmanship and co-authored the book “Leading a Board, Chairs’ Practices Across Europe” coming in June. She researched and co-authored “AI Leadership for Boards”. Research on “Boards’ leadership of corporate renewal and innovation” is to be shared in a forthcoming book.She is a Fellow at the Institute of Coaching, Harvard Medical School, has a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering and Sustainability, and is board-certified IDP-C from INSEAD. She is trained as a climate change leader by Al Gore and certified by CDSB to manage climate-related risks and opportunities.

Host:

Andrew Kristensen, President INSEAD Alumni Association Sweden

Andrew is the Managing Director of Weber Saint-Gobain Sweden AB and Board Member at Industriarbetsgivarna BÄF, Byggmaterialindustrierna, Svensk Byggtjänst and President of INSEAD Alumni Association Sweden.
Andrew is an experienced executive with a track record of leading companies through business transformation, turnaround, and international expansion, having led organizations in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, UK, USA and Malaysia.

Andrew is a firm believer in the power of diversity, and importance of digitalization and sustainable development, and has an Executive MBA from INSEAD and M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering and Product Development from Technical University of Denmark.