Anna-Maja Henriksson on staying grounded through change
Insights|July 23, 2026
A meaningful career rarely follows a fixed plan. New opportunities arise, priorities shift, and difficult moments test our sense of direction. What helps us move forward is often not a detailed career plan, but a clear understanding of who we are and what matters to us.
At House of Many Voices in Helsinki, Member of the European Parliament Anna-Maja Henriksson reflected on resilience, leadership, and the experiences that have shaped her career. She had not expected to become a member of parliament, a government minister, or later a member of the European Parliament. Her path into politics began closer to home, when she started wondering who was making decisions in her hometown of Jakobstad and why.
For Anna-Maja, resilience begins with staying true to yourself. “It is very important that you always remember who you are and that you are a friend to yourself,” she said. Growing up, she learned from her mother to look for solutions even when circumstances were difficult. That approach has stayed with her throughout her political career.
Anna-Maja Henriksson“People have given me the energy to continue.”
She also spoke openly about the harder days. Resilience does not mean feeling strong all the time. It means allowing yourself to experience difficult emotions while remembering that others believe in you. “There are people out there who count on you,” Anna-Maja said. “People have given me the energy to continue.”
Clear values have also become increasingly important as the world moves faster and information becomes more difficult to navigate. She emphasized the need to recognize misinformation, expect greater responsibility from major online platforms, and actively defend democracy. For her, meaningful leadership is also about listening, including to those who hold different views, and finding ways to build bridges.
Anna-Maja Henriksson“Go out into the forest, go to the sea, listen to the birds, and just take it in.”
The people around her remain an important source of support and perspective. Anna-Maja values working with people she trusts and who care deeply about their work. At the same time, experience has taught her to set clearer boundaries and speak up when something is not acceptable.
When she needs to regain her strength, she turns to nature. “Go out into the forest, go to the sea, listen to the birds, and just take it in,” she said. It is a simple reminder that staying grounded through change is not about having every step planned. It is about knowing what you stand for, drawing strength from others, and continuing to move forward.
Read more:
What builds a city, a career, and a community? Reflections from House of Many Voices Helsinki