IWD 2026: Key takeaways on leadership that works
Our International Women’s Day event on May 5, 2026, was a resounding success. Under the theme "Leadership that works, now and next," we explored how to build inclusive organisations and high-impact careers in an era of rapid change.
The event kicked off with updates from Berglind Tulinius, Secretary of the Board, Women in Tech Gothenburg, and Mamtha Pullat, Lead for the Rewrite the Code initiative. They shared our focus areas and progress for this year and, more importantly, the "why" driving our mission forward.
Our first keynote speaker, Zenseact CEO Ödgärd Andersson, provided an unfiltered look at authentic leadership. From driving the mobile revolution to her current mission of eliminating road accidents through autonomous software, here are the key insights from her journey:
Transparency on roadmaps: Don't just identify the destination; share the reasoning behind the journey.
Own the "hard core": Stay tethered to the core business, engineering, sales, or AI. Real influence lives where the most difficult decisions are made.
Follow the "change": Don’t just watch the shift; go where the change is densest. Growth happens at the heart of the action.
Zenseact CEO Ödgärd Andersson
Our second keynote speaker, Oddbird founder and CEO Moa Gürbüzer, shared how she challenged the status quo to tackle alcohol-related harm. These were our top insights from her session:
Purpose is fuel: Success comes from solving a systemic issue, not just selling a product.
Subvert the norm: True leadership is about changing social standards, not merely following them.
No compromise on quality: You can prioritise health and quality without losing your "premium" edge.
Oddbird founder and CEO Moa Gürbüzer
A powerful panel discussion with Exona Granlund (Techledarna), Ödgärd Andersson, Holly Innocenti (WirelessCar), and Johanna Turesson (Kollmorgen) centred on a vital truth – Women don’t leave organizations; they leave environments.
Here are some other nuggets of wisdom from the discussion:
AI can be an equaliser: Stop seeing AI as a threat. Master it to level the playing field and amplify your potential.
Step out of your comfort zone: Don't wait for the perfect opportunity or a 100% match with your skills. Say yes to learning new things and to projects that position you at the centre of the action.
Self-awareness is key to building trust: When we acknowledge our biases and lead with transparency, we create a space where everyone feels safe to do their best work.
Panelists from left to right: Exona Granlund (Techledarna), Ödgärd Andersson, Holly Innocenti (WirelessCar), and Johanna Turesson (Kollmorgen)
We are immensely grateful to our speakers, attendees, partners, and volunteers for joining us – your energy and insights were invaluable!