Susanna Sjöberg, founder of INNER WORK
Susanna Sjöberg offers consulting, coaching and training services designed to create dynamic and supportive work environments. With diverse international management experience and a degree in psychology, she combines practical experience with an in-depth knowledge of psychology. Drawing on her experience acquired in different cultural and professional contexts, she integrates psychology and nervous system regulation to promote well-being and resilience in the workplace. She also gives occasional lectures at the Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences, where she shares her knowledge by challenging conventional wisdom. In this interview, Susanna shares her holistic approach and gives advice on cultivating the right mindset for success while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Which step of your career would you chose as a turning point that has defined the leader you are today, and why?
After having travelled, worked and lived around the globe, I did a 180 turn in my career when I decided to pursue studies in psychology on the side of a 24/7 hectic job as a General Manager in China. My studies were more in alignment with my values and my core identity, and I realized that another much more meaningful career was possible.
Understanding the concept of nervous system safety, also known as autonomic agility, has been life changing for me. It had a considerable impact on my own mental health, my ability to stay present, to lead, to learn, to love, to relate, to innovate and to live my own life with a new peace of mind. Inspired by my own development, autonomic agility has become the foundation of my work with clients and in my lecturing assignments in various parts of the world.
It is more and more common to see women in leader positions in various fields: what changes do you see in leadership thanks to that?
When women are in positions of power, they are more likely to implement legislation and policies that promote inclusion. Female leaders often adopt a transformational leadership style, inspiring and motivating their teams through communication and personal influence rather than hierarchical power or transactional relationships.
Sidenote: Finland was the second country in the world to grant women the right to vote (1905, compared with 1971 for Switzerland) and made history in 2003 by having a woman president, a woman prime minister and a woman parliamentary speaker.
Sidenote: The OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) has estimated that over 75% of women in the five Nordic countries have full-time jobs. This figure is 20% in Switzerland.
We often assume women are more connected to their « inner world », which gives them an advantage in the leadership techniques you recommend: how does reality confirm it?
Research shows that women score higher on emotional intelligence or empathy tests than men, and there is a common belief that women leaders are more inclusive, caring and kind. Women have been socialized to operate more collaboratively than men and therefore show less overt aggression. But this does not mean that women leaders are connected to their inner world by default. It is the cultural norms of expected behavior for both sexes, not deep personality differences, that create many of the differences.
What are the characteristics and qualities of the leaders of tomorrow?
The most important aspect for tomorrow’s leadership is the practice of inner work. Inner work refers to self-reflection, emotional awareness, and personal growth. It refers to becoming aware of one’s physical reactions, and exploring one’s thoughts, emotions, beliefs and behaviors to gain deeper self-understanding and cultivate physical mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being for themselves and in their organizations. These competencies are important for both women and men in leadership positions, as they have a tremendous impact on others; 85% of the younger generations look for leaders with such attributes.
Many women, even in leadership roles, are conditioned to prioritize external validation and caregiving. Inner work empowers them to set boundaries, embrace their worth, and redefine success on their own terms. With men, traditional masculinity often discourages vulnerability and emotional expression. Inner work helps men develop emotional depth, process feelings in a healthy way, and cultivate stronger connections with themselves and others.
