Leadership, Trust, and Competence in a Changing Society

How can we create organizations where people can grow and contribute as both society and the workplace are changing rapidly? Issues related to skills, adaptability, and collaboration took center stage at Society Expo 2026.

At Skellefteå Municipality’s most recent management meeting, City Manager Kristina Sundin Jonsson and Helena Helmersson—former CEO of the H&M Group and a Skellefteå native—engaged in a discussion about leadership and talent acquisition.

Helena Helmersson shared her experiences from a long career in leadership within a global and rapidly changing organization. A central part of the leadership role, she believes, is creating space for others to succeed. Good results are rarely achieved by individual leaders who have all the answers, but rather by listening and harnessing the collective expertise within the organization.

She highlighted two things in particular: direction and trust. A clear direction creates energy and focus, while trust gives people the opportunity to grow and contribute to the fullest.

A topic that continues beyond Society Expo

Skills supply was one of the societal challenges in focus during Society Expo 2026. How do we strengthen our collective capacity for rapid adaptation and continuous learning? And how do we retain and develop the skills that already exist in Skellefteå?

Helena Helmersson was also one of the speakers at Society Expo. In a conversation with the podcast “Heja Framtiden,” she discussed, among other things, change, leadership, and the need to build organizations and communities that can adapt as conditions change.

The fact that these discussions are now continuing in other contexts is part of the long-term work that Society Expo sought to contribute to. The Expo served as a place to meet, share experiences, and focus on common societal challenges. The next step involves how this knowledge and these conversations will be carried forward within organizations, through collaborations, and in the continued development of Skellefteå.

Listen to the episode with Helena Helmersson here. External link.