When the corona pandemic struck, Amref’s management in Nairobi was quick to create a digital platform for learning and leadership development. With over a thousand employees in 35 countries in Africa, it was important for Amref to keep up with the digital development during the pandemic in order to be a flexible health organization where the coaching leadership has a central role. I was contracted to be involved in producing a foundation for a series of leadership workshops and I also participated as a presenter and workshop leader.

As the owner of the governmental investment company Swedfund, it was important for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) to show that Swedfund’s portfolio companies in development countries not only created economic growth but also social and environmental sustainability. Development effects became a new concept that came to characterize not only how Swedfund communicated its business, but how the entire investment process needed to change. My role was to work with Swedfund’s management to maintain a dialogue with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ensure that internal working methods changed and communicate this to the media and other stakeholders.

A crisis, which has also been widely communicated in the media, can be a trauma for the person or persons involved. And even if an organization or company, or perhaps a personal brand for a long time has had both a crisis and a media crisis plan, it is not possible to fully imagine what it means to be in the middle of heavy media attention. I have coached many clients where I provide support to process the trauma that follows negative and unwanted media attention. Together we re-build self-esteem, make a plan for recovery by creating new positive targets and framing negative emotional memories.

For not so long ago, it was not easy to talk about the benefits of the private sector and at the same time talk about development in poor countries. It was a bit like swearing in church. Locating operations in low-wage countries was viewed with skepticism, especially by actors in civil society. My assignments have many times been about communicatively managing the balance in promoting commercial business opportunities for Swedish companies, and defending this incentive against other interest groups in government, politics and actors who work with human rights issues. 

In connection with an overall organizational change within the Swedish Defense Forces, the Swedish National Defense College (FHS) would go from being a secluded military educational institution to a general, accredited education. Leadership programs, in particular linked to international UN peacekeeping operations, would be opened to the public. In connection with this, I was contracted as a consultant to conduct various activities, seminars, roundtable discussions and courses in civil-military cooperation. These initiatives among others then became the basis for a new authority – – Folke Bernadotte Akademin.