Mette Johansson
Mette has spoken in dozens of countries across five continents and in five languages, engaging diverse audiences around the world. She connects with people just as easily in Tokyo, Beijing, Singapore, Dubai, Munich, Paris, or Perth.
Having lived in twelve countries and travelled to ~65, she truly embodies the spirit of an international speaker. Her prestigious designation as a Global Speaking Fellow further underlines her global perspective and credibility.
Engage Mette to speak at your next leadership offsite or all-hands event and inspire your teams with purpose, presence, and authenticity.
Authentic
Leadership
Mette’s signature talk
In today’s volatile world, organisations face constant disruption – from pandemics and geopolitics to supply chain shocks. The real challenge isn’t just surviving change, but enabling teams to thrive through it.
Traditional leadership models no longer suffice. Instead, organisations need leaders who lead with authenticity and purpose. Authenticity is magnetic. In uncertain times, employees look for leaders who are real, not scripted. Authentic leaders build stability and trust, keeping teams aligned and adaptable under pressure.
For employers, the payoff is clear. When employees believe their leaders’ words and actions align, they give more discretionary effort, driving performance. Authentic leadership also reduces costly turnover by creating trust, belonging, and loyalty. And it provides the clarity that cascades through the organisation, ensuring strategy execution is consistent and credible.
In this talk, Mette shares principles and practices of authentic leadership that equip leaders in your organisation to navigate disruption with confidence and grace. She shows how leaders can identify their own North Star – a compass that anchors decisions in clear values and purpose – and demonstrates, through real-world examples, how authentic leaders inspire commitment and deliver results.
By engaging Mette, you bring your organisation a fresh perspective that challenges conventional leadership models. Her insights strengthen leadership impact, amplify team performance, and position your company for lasting success.
Inspirational Leadership
Be Inspired to Inspire
Are you inspired – truly inspired? Because only then can you ignite others to perform at their best.
At the heart of leadership lies a simple truth: you cannot inspire others unless you yourself are inspired.
A common misperception about inspirational leadership is that it is purely charisma and grand speeches. However, probably even more important is having the courage to live your values, articulating a compelling vision, translating meaning into everyday action – and above all, inspiring through how you lead and the results you deliver.
And it matters more than ever: younger generations demand purpose, and organisations excel when people are motivated by inspiration rather than obligation.
In this keynote, Mette Johansson reveals the surprising daily leadership habits that spark enthusiasm, unlock passion, and turn teams into powerhouses of performance.
Because when you’re inspired, you don’t just lead – you ignite others.
Be inspired.
Inspire others.
Deliver results.
"Thank you!"
The Power of a Simple “Thank You”
Transforming Workplace Culture Through Appreciation
In today’s fast-paced workplaces, a simple “thank you” can be one of the most powerful drivers of engagement, trust, and performance. In this heartfelt and practical session, Mette Johansson shows how genuine appreciation transforms teams – boosting morale, strengthening collaboration, and even improving business results.
Backed by research and real-world stories, Mette shares why appreciation isn’t “soft” leadership; it’s smart leadership. Participants explore common barriers to expressing gratitude and learn how to embed a culture of recognition that uplifts individuals and fuels high performance.
This is more than a talk – it’s a transformative experience. Participants leave inspired, energised, and ready to turn everyday interactions into opportunities to build stronger, more engaged workplaces.
If you're looking for a session that doesn’t just teach leadership skills but profoundly shifts team dynamics through one of the simplest and most powerful leadership tools, this one will leave a lasting impact.
This talk works wonders as an endnote at your conference or leadership offsite.
Narratives
The Stories that Hold Women Back at Work
Speech based on the book with the same title published with Penguin Random House internationally in 2024.
Every organisation has them – myths that gain life and truth by being told and retold.
“Women are too emotional,”
“Women cannot work together,” and
“We hire the best person for the job, regardless of gender.”
We like to think we are rational beings, but our brains are often lazy. Instead of questioning contradictory facts, we accept many stories at face value.
With humour and professionalism, Mette challenges workplace myths as discussed in her latest book, Narratives – The Stories That Hold Women Back at Work, published internationally by Penguin Random House in 2024.
Invite Mette Johansson for a thought-provoking talk in which she inspires everyone to act.
International Women’s Day Event 2019
INSEAD
“Mette and I first spoke in 2020 in Singapore when I was looking for a speaker at our South East Asia IWD event. Mette took the brief and delivered beyond expectations, her ability to engage the audience, share personal stories and leave thought provoking messages is a true strength."
Jennifer Gillespie, Human Resources Director Middle East & Turkey, Xylem Inc.gth.
“Mette joined us for on our International Women’s day event as a keynote speaker on authentic leadership and left the Women’s network spellbound with her profound insights and narratives. We received great feedback and the cohort’s earnestness to attend Mette’s workshop on Authentic leadership!"
Meenakshi SP, Director Digital Strategy and Client Engagement, Citibank
