At today’s lunch, we received a warm welcome from Linda Fagerlund, CEO of Danske Bank, who shared insights from her journey at the bank. She spoke about being promoted to her first leadership role just three months into her maternity leave—six months before her return.
This was followed by Barbara Stewart, CFA, who presented key insights from her latest research report: What’s the Smartest Thing You’ve Ever Done? The discussion focused on the theme of change—whether it’s changing careers, shifting mindsets, or relocating.
Interestingly, more men than women cited moving to a new city as one of their smartest decisions. One key takeaway from the presentation was that small changes add up quickly and can lead to significant long-term benefits. Additionally, smart decisions are not always solely about financial gain.
Following the presentation, a panel discussion took place on the theme”Smart Decisions – Key Moments That Shaped Your Journey!” The panel featured: Ingrid Albinsson, Vice Chairman of the Board, AP2 Emmy Sendow, Managing Director, Gain Sweden Anna Erman Ojde, Head of Marketing and Communications, Danske Bank Sweden Susanne Spector, Chief Economist, Danske Bank Sweden
During the panel, the speakers shared their thoughts on what constitutes a smart decision:
- Follow your heart—sometimes the smartest thing is simply having fun and not always focusing on direct results. The key is to trust your instincts without feeling completely lost.
- Small things you might not initially think are important will turn out to be significant. For example, small actions—ones you didn’t initially recognize as significant—can turn out to be life-changing.
- Think twice before making major decisions. Stay open to opportunities that come your way. Listen when someone approaches you—you never know where a conversation may lead.
- The importance of networking—your network is essential for growth and new opportunities.
- Learning-oriented organizations—in today’s fast-paced world, continuous learning is key to staying relevant and growing professionally.
- For women, backing other women and closing the confidence gap were emphasized as critical steps to foster empowerment and career success.
The panel also acknowledged that failures are part of the journey. One panelist shared a personal experience of taking a new role that looked perfect on paper—good salary, great benefits, etc.—but realizing only after a few weeks that the company culture was not a good fit. This failure became an important lesson in understanding the value of aligning with the right organizational culture.
Additionally, the panel discussed the concept of mistakes. Sometimes, not following established norms or making decisions that go against the grain can feel like a mistake in the short term. However, those choices can turn out to be valuable in the long run, teaching important lessons and leading to unexpected opportunities.
Thank you Barbara Stewart and Danske Bank!
Established in 2013, Kvinnokapital is the leading network for women in asset management in the Nordics, boasting over 400 members in various roles within asset management and beyond. Since September 2019, Kvinnokapital has been registered as a non-profit organization in Sweden.
