Ten life lessons from ten inspiring years at IKEA

This year I celebrated my ten-year anniversary with the IKEA family.

I remember my first day, many moons ago, back in 2014. It coincided with the opening of our Democratic Design Centre at IKEA of Sweden. I was asked to join the opening festivities and was really looking forward to it as well as the chance to meet many of my new colleagues. At the time, my family and I were living in Hong Kong, having not yet relocated to Sweden.

As I started my trip, there was a T10 typhoon in Hong Kong which meant everything was locked down, including the airport. Once we could finally fly, I arrived in Sweden AFTER the opening party, but it was still a memorable start to my IKEA journey! Despite missing the fun that day, I had the chance to work in the inspiring design and innovation space for five years.

Looking back over the last decade (yikes- it seems to have gone rather quickly), I met so many wonderful people and have had plenty of amazing opportunities and challenges. ?

So, it feels like a good time to think about ten valuable life lessons IKEA has taught me so far:

1. Embrace the non-linear path.

Career paths and roads to success don’t always follow a straight line. Mine is a journey full of twists and turns, peaks, and valleys which has taken me around the world and back. By following a non-linear path, seizing opportunities to stretch yourself and daring to try something new - true growth happens. This is great for building resilience and adaptability, leading in the unknown and unleashing creativity. (As well as making life more interesting and fun!)

2. Stay optimistic and push beyond your limits

My experience competing as an athlete in adventure racing, cycling and kayaking taught me the importance of pushing boundaries, a lesson I apply daily at work not just in high-pressure situations. It’s easy to dwell on what isn’t going right or feel overwhelmed with the challenges facing us today- whether they are big or small.

I had a kayaking coach who used to say after a race that hadn’t gone well “channel your positive dissatisfaction to motivate you to continuously improve and smash it next time.” I apply these words to my work and try and lead with an optimistic outlook based on action and agency. To be part of the solution and a true change-maker.

3. Take a chance on people

Diverse experiences and unconventional backgrounds are a real asset. Seek out people that bring different perspectives and views. Be prepared to give opportunities to people that may not seem an exact fit, if you can see a spark that ignites your interest.

In my first job at IKEA leading the quality agenda, on paper I didn’t have all the pre-requisites for the role. But importantly, I brought the full value chain perspective and deep understanding of and passion for the needs of customers, together with creative problem-solving skills. My manager back then saw something in me that made him believe that I shared IKEA values and could make a difference in the role. I must have done something right as he did the same again when I stepped into the CSO role. (Thank-you Jesper Brodin ??)

Equally, when I became the CEO of Ikano Insights, leading a data insight and analytic company within the IKEA family, Lars Thorsén trusted I could bring the right leadership to that role. My IKEA experience, combined with the expertise of the team complimented each other well. Thank-you to both of you along with Juvencio Maeztu and others who have taken a chance on me.

I try to do the same; providing opportunities to learn and grow and looking at the person beyond their CV, what drives and excites them?

4.?Resist imposter syndrome

Often, we overthink an opportunity and list the reasons why we are not the right fit; convincing ourselves we aren’t capable. In my experience this seems to happen to women more than men. We need to learn to back ourselves. ?Many times, fit is less about specific qualifications and more about leadership capabilities and alignment with culture and values. You need to trust in yourself and your abilities, without being arrogant.

There is no such thing as the perfect CV. Think about how you can apply your previous learnings and skills in new ways, stay curious and listen; before you know it, you will be well versed in the new role. For instance, I bring to my CSO role many things I learnt as a designer, innovator, quality manager and CEO.

5.?Celebrate the small wins and recognise success

Progress is often a series of small steps rather than one giant leap. Every positive impact, no matter how small, contributes to a larger, meaningful change.? In a quest to continuously improve and learn, I sometimes need to remind myself to not forget to appreciate how far I and our team have come. I try to make sure to recognise and share when people have done a fantastic job.

In our busy and complex lives, it is easy to move onto the next challenge without always taking the time to pause, reflect and celebrate a job well done.

6.?The power of storytelling and communicating with purpose

Clear and inspiring communication is essential to leading effectively. I first learnt this as a young designer presenting concepts to clients. It was even more important when I started to lead people. In my role as CEO of IKANO Insights I needed to motivate a team in a newly acquired company and bring them together as we transformed the business.

Storytelling and effective communication creates an emotional connection and helps to inspire action – which is important in any role but essential in my work in sustainability.

7. Live up to your promises

If you have promised to deliver something- ensure it’s done on time and with quality. This sounds like a simple thing, but it goes a long way to build trust with others. At the same time, be prepared to be open and honest when you fail or make mistakes; be prepared to share vulnerability. In my experience people don’t expect perfection but do expect you to be transparent when you aren’t able to deliver; manage expectations and be humble.

8.?Be authentic and stay true to your passions

Passion drives purpose. It sounds cliché but working with your passions for an organisation with a clear purpose makes your work life much more enjoyable. It’s also easier to be true to yourself and lead with authenticity when you care deeply about your work. This love of design, combined with caring for nature and a desire to see a fairer world, inspires my work as a Chief Sustainability Officer. I feel so fortunate to work for an organisation that values this as well and to be in a role where we can really have an impact on things that matter. If your own “why” doesn’t match where you work, then you aren’t being true to yourself, which isn’t healthy in the long term (for you, or the organization you work for.)

9.?Value collaboration and empower others

The importance of collaboration cannot be underestimated. The complex issues we face in the world and our workplace are made much easier with the support of fellow co-workers and external partners and stakeholders. Surround yourself with people who believe in your journey and who are as passionate and dedicated as you are.

At the same time, enjoy being challenged and be open to diverse views; this is not about people always agreeing, but about working together to find better ways to do things. Over the years I have learnt to let go more and empower others to work together to solve problems. ?

Magic happens when we share our varied expertise and experiences and work together.

10.?Lead with empathy

Understanding and compassion are key to any leadership role. It’s about finding the balance between empowering people, understanding what matters to them AND delivering business results. ?This approach builds trust and loyalty, which ultimately drives sustainable success for the organisation and helps co-workers feel valued and listened to. I believe that one of the reasons many people stay at IKEA for a long time is the way people treat each other.

Plenty of learnings and still many more to come. It’s been quite a ride so far! A big thank-you to the many people that have made the last 10 years so rewarding and fun!

I’m looking forward to the next 10!

Thank you/Tusen Tack!

Karen.

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