Anna Serner at Roschier’s Leadership Seminar: Exploring courage and feedback in leadership
Insights|December 13, 2024
At a recent breakfast event hosted jointly by Roschier and the Agnes Lundell Society at Maxim in Helsinki, Anna Serner and Mikko Manner discussed “The Changing Leadership.” Their engaging discussion tackled themes such as authenticity, courage, and the challenges leaders face in times of change. Anna also reflected on her newly released book Ur djupet av min bakficka, and its significance for her and leaders at the start of their careers.
Anna Serner shared her leadership philosophy, distilled into a simple motto: “Talk less, do more.” For her, authenticity is about being genuine but also about acting. Leaders must back their words with consistent, proactive efforts, demonstrating a real commitment to progress. This, Anna explained, is how trust is built, and teams are reassured that meaningful change is underway.
Mikko Manner emphasized the importance of connecting with the people you lead, noting that feedback is not just theoretical but something you truly learn through practice. He asked Anna how she balances the practical and theoretical aspects of leadership. Anna reflected on her own early days as a leader, when a lack of feedback led to misunderstandings and even chaos within her team. These experiences taught her the value of open communication and alignment, particularly during times of change. Leaders, she emphasized, must create environments where feedback flows freely and issues can be addressed collaboratively.
The conversation touched on the challenges of navigating change in today’s fast-paced world. Anna cautioned against the tendency of new leaders to rush into sweeping changes without first understanding the context. Instead, she advised identifying the core issues and ensuring alignment across the team before taking decisive action. Purpose, she added, plays a critical role in sustaining leaders and their teams through such transitions. She shared an example from Polarbröd, a Swedish bread company that embraced sustainability as a core value. When their facilities burned down, their clear sense of purpose guided their rebuilding efforts, enabling them to return stronger than ever.
Diversity was another highlight of the discussion. Anna referenced studies showing that companies with at least 30% women on their boards perform better. According to her, this has to do with the additional scrutiny women often face, which drives them to be exceptionally prepared and thorough. She stated that whereas men are often chosen based on their potential, women are chosen based on their experience. Anna stressed that diverse perspectives are not just beneficial but essential for driving innovation and achieving meaningful change.
Following the main discussion, Anna took part in a brief Q&A, offering further insights into her leadership journey and philosophy:
What inspired you to write Ur djupet av min bakficka?
“My meetings with aspiring and current leaders. They often realize they’re not alone in their challenges, and that sense of shared experience is powerful. I wanted to offer my learnings to an even wider audience.”
What do you hope readers take away from the book?
“Seek help. You don’t have to do everything on your own. Use your team, your management group, your friends, consultants, or your network.”
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
“Trust the group. When you involve everyone and let them feel they have an impact, they want to contribute. Things may not go exactly as planned, but trust that it will work out.”
What advice do you often give others?
“Trust the process. Even if you can’t see the entire path to the goal, take it step by step. Break it into smaller sections, set a timeline, and celebrate every success. It strengthens the group and builds momentum.”
This breakfast event was part of Roschier’s ongoing leadership series. Stay tuned for more insights and discussions in the months to come.
Read about the previous seminars:
Caroline Farberger and Annie Lööf on value-based leadership
Peter Wallenberg Jr. and Lovisa Cavalli Wallenberg on leadership over time and generations
Hans Stråberg on the ultimate leadership
Ambassador Judith Gough on the art of diplomacy
Ice hockey legend and Olympic gold medalist Mats Sundin on sustainable leadership
Ambassadors Wegger Strømmen, Nicola Clase, and Jakob Nymann-Lindegren on diplomatic leadership
Eija Hakakari and Julia Macharey on outdated leadership
Lena Eliasson and Jessica Häggström continue on outdated leadership