"It is almost 35 years that I’m working at IKEA, where I can leverage my great passion for business and people, my ability to connect dots, simplify things and build bridges among different people in order to reach common goals.

 

I’m curious, with a lot of energy, always on the way, optimistic and resilient. I like to be a role model and show that everything is possible, leading by example. I would like to continue to create value and a positive impact on the business and the planet building on my strengths, team working, and network."

Buks is the Group Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Manager at Ingka Group, the biggest IKEA franchise, representing more than 90% of the total IKEA sales.

His career spans over 15 years working in the private and public sectors at the intersection of business, public policy, sustainability, and inclusion. He joined Ingka Group’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion team in September 2021 and is helping to accelerate how Ingka uses its vision, ambition, and investments to create a more fair, equal, and inclusive society.

"I have been with IKEA for approx 30 years. Having the fantastic opportunity to split my time between Retail, (worked as a sales mgr, logistic manager (SO), etc and IOS where I worked in Supply, and my latest assignment as a Business Leader for Home Textile and Rugs. I returned to Retail, being the deputy Commercial Manager global and now leading Retail sustainability."

"I started my career as a lawyer in private practice in Amsterdam and London, then worked both for the government and many different companies (from start-ups to listed companies) on compliance and legal matters. Having been a volunteer for and/or board member of several NGOs/philanthropies."

Experienced leader specializing in digital platform transformation, innovation, and business development, Pia's expertise drives circular transformation at Ingka, leveraging consumer insights to deliver impactful results.

Leader and manager in different businesses as CEO, Managing Director, and board member across diverse industries, Pia also has a background in marketing, advertising, and project management. 

Kirsten is 42 years old German/Belgian, living in Sweden with her husband and 3 daughters. She has a passion for Interior Design and building houses, sports, and the outdoors.

Kirsten has worked 14 years at IKEA (IKEA of Sweden & Ingka) in assignments focused on Strategy, Development, and Transformation. Prior to IKEA, Kirsten worked for Carlsberg and Sony in the areas of Business Development and Marketing in global and country positions.

Born in 1972,  Mikael holds a M.S. in Business Administration, Gothenburg School of Economics. Currently, he is working at Ingka Retail Markets Manager since 2018, and he has experience working in various le­ading positions in Ingka Group. Mikael holds several board assignments within Ingka Group, both in leading IKEA Retail Countries as well as at IKEA IT AB and Ikano Bank AB.

Dennis Balslev started his 45-year IKEA career at IKEA Denmark in 1979 as a trainee. During his time at IKEA Dennis has held various assignments, among others, in the IKEA Denmark and IKEA The Netherlands retail organizations. In his current role as Retail Concept Manager, Dennis is, together with his team, leading the assignment to protect, develop, and expand the IKEA Concept, and ensure its implementation and follow-up in all markets.

Dennis is Danish. He is married and has two children.

Born and raised in the Netherlands, Judith is a mother of two boys. She defines herself by her curiosity, the will to discover new things, shape new things, get things done, bring people and interests together, and leave something of value for people is what drives her.

"I'm working for Inter IKEA and have a strong focus on strategy creation across the value chain ensuring that we strive for consistency and strengthening the work we lead for our many co-workers and customers."

As a professional involved in partnerships and equity investments for Inter IKEA's innovation agenda, Robert is dedicated to making sustainability affordable and accessible. With a passion for supporting start-up and scale-up entrepreneurs, Robert recognizes the critical importance of cross-industry and cross-company collaboration to drive meaningful progress.

"My work is focused on fostering innovative solutions that align with IKEA's commitment to sustainability and responsible growth."

"I am Danish and have been working for IKEA since 2002. People & Culture is my area, and I have been P&C manager for IKEA Denmark, IKEA UK&IE. Since 2018, I have worked in the global functions as Competence & development manager and Equality, diversity and Inclusion leader."

Oskar is Swedish and lives in South Asia with his family (wife, 2 kids, 1 dog). He works as a Development Center Manager for IKEA and has been at IKEA for 21 years. 

Mercedes is the new Business and Innovation Circular Economy Manager at Ingka Group (IKEA); he has more than 20 years of experience in sustainability, ESG, social Entrepreneurship, social audits, circular and climate.

Mercedes is Spanish, and she is based in Malmö (Sweden). She has 16 years of experience as an IKEA co-worker.

"I am a kind social entrepreneur who wants to make people happy and safe and make the world a little better every day. I do that by meeting people where they are. I also do it by gathering people in the forms that are best adapted to the Why that we want to strive for together. Mostly as a company, but also as a foundation or association if it suits better."

Fernanda Drumond is a Strategy at the H&M Foundation. She has led the change in the strategic direction of the organization, which now seeks to support the textile industry in halving its greenhouse gas emissions every decade until 2050 while promoting a just and fair transition for people and the planet. She believes that collective action is key to creating systems change, and strives to create holistic initiatives to drive that transformation that the world needs to go through to become socially inclusive and planet-positive.

A serial social entrepreneur in the field of wellbeing, disability, and mental health. He started his first outfit in 1978 and has conceived of and launched approximately 13 organizations since that time of which he has managed five. The first outfit still going today www.thrive.org.uk and, coming up to date, cofounder of www.elderscouncil.net.

Chris runs his own business www.mentorservices.org.uk and manages a mentoring practice of some 30 clients at any one time. An Ashoka Senior Fellow, recognized by both the Skoll and Schwab Foundations as an awardee Social Entrepreneur, a Fellow of the RSA (Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Culture), and made an MBE by HRH the Queen in 2000 for services to international disability, mental health, and development.

"I have been faithful to the legal profession for more than 25 years now. The predominant reason must be that I have always worked with great and brilliant colleagues, but I have also had the privilege of encountering fantastic Swedish and international entrepreneurs and investors who dare to think big and create meaningful change. Inspired by those who persevere to bring their visions to life, I am dedicated to fostering innovation and determination. I truly believe in people and that their abilities are greater than what meets the eye."

"Currently, I am the Family Functions Manager at A. Ahlström Oy, where the main focus is nurturing the intellectual and social capital of the family, the family company, and the Ahlström sphere.

 

Besides my operational duties within the family business, I focus on expanding the family legacy and the significance of the third sector in societal development. I also act as vice-chair in the Eva Ahlström Foundation and was part of initiating the Ahlström Collective Impact, a collaboration model which brings together the companies, foundations, and family members in the Ahlström network to invest in the well-being of children in selected UNICEF projects under the UN’s principles of sustainable development."

Bert-Ola is the Chairman and co-founder of Social Capital Forum. Bert-Ola Bergstrand is a system – entrepreneur and global action facilitator. He is an initiator, founder, and co-founder of a number of international platforms and networks in the field of “crowd-impact economy”. For example, Social Capital Forum, Impact Journey, SoCap Network, Katapult Future Fest, and Katapult Learning. All of them are focused on amplifying the human potential through crowds and thereby solving global challenges.

Samantha Veide is the Managing Director of the Americas at Forum for the Future, a leading international sustainability organization. Under her leadership, her team is currently focused on several strategic initiatives supporting Forum's vision of realizing a just and regenerative future: Growing Our Future, a pre-competitive collaboration aimed at accelerating regenerative agriculture; American Climate Futures, a partnership with B Lab U.S./Canada that emphasizes community needs in the private sector's response to the climate crisis; and FeedBack Nashville, a community-driven effort in collaboration with the city of Nashville, Tennessee, to create a just and sustainable local food system.

Before joining Forum for the Future, Samantha spent 20 years in the food and beverage sector, working with companies such as Mars Incorporated in roles related to learning and development as well as sustainability. She holds a diverse educational background in Organizational Communication, Psychology, Gender Studies, and Sustainable Business Leadership.

"My mission is to harness the power of business to make a positive impact in society. I have more than 20 years of international experience in building and leading sustainable teams and brands across various sectors, including consumer goods, e-commerce, banking, and real estate. I also have experience from working at the World Bank and with corporate philanthropy."

Elisabet is the Founder and Director of Future Navigators. She is a trusted strategic advisor, consultant, and executive coach on a mission to support and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable, circular, regenerative, and equitable world.

"I help business leaders navigate a VUCA world, build future literacy, envision the futures we want to see, and become impactful change-makers within their organizations and ecosystems."

"I'm a forestry engineering with post-graduates in Business Administration, LEAN Manufacturing, and Six-Sigma, I support others as a professional coach. I have had the privilege to contribute to the journeys of different social entrepreneurs thanks to the collaboration between IKEA Social Entrepreneurship and our partners.

 

I am moved by personal and professional growth, for individuals and enterprises, who want to get challenged and provoke movement in others."

Bjarke is a Strategy and Programme Manager at the Entrepreneurship, Solutions, and Venture Team at EIT Climate-KIC. In this role, Bjarke works with partners around the world to support and grow climate entrepreneurship in cities around the world. Bjarke's goal is to empower local organizations to be able to drive impact on the ground.