Meet The Leader
IKEA HR chief shares decades of career lessons learned and what’s needed to bridge gender equity gap
Nov 6, 2024
Ulrika Biesèrt, Global People and Culture Manager at Ingka Group (IKEA's parent company), shares her extensive experience from over 27 years at IKEA, emphasizing her journey through various roles. She discusses the strategic initiatives that led to near gender balance in leadership, the importance of accountability in promoting gender equity, and the need to address unconscious bias. Biesèrt also highlights the value of financial independence and self-advocacy for women, drawing on the wisdom her mother imparted to her early in her career.
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Quick takeaways
- IKEA's journey to gender balance in leadership demonstrates the vital role of top management commitment and systematic changes initiated in 2013.
- A positive workplace culture at IKEA, marked by inclusivity and ongoing dialogue, significantly enhances employee engagement and retention rates.
Deep dives
Bridging the Gender Gap in Leadership
The representation of women in leadership roles remains alarmingly low, with women occupying only a quarter of C-suite positions despite making up half of entry-level jobs. Inka Group, parent company of IKEA, has made significant strides towards gender equality, achieving gender balance in leadership across 31 countries. This transformation began in 2002 but took a concerted effort and strategic planning to be realized, particularly after a pivotal meeting in 2013 that catalyzed systematic changes. The commitment from the top management was crucial, as they recognized not only the ethical implications but also the importance of diverse representation for business resilience.
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