Award-winning CEO with a vision

In recognition of this success, Samhall was named the most sustainable company in Europe in May 2015. Among 24,000 other companies from 33 different countries, Samhall won the European Business Awards in the Environmental & Corporate Sustainability category and Monica was named CEO of the Year and was nominated for Change Leader of the Year the same year. Interim Search had the pleasure of discussing change management, leadership and the future of the CEO role with one of Sweden's most prominent business leaders.

What do you consider to be the main reasons why Samhall and you as CEO have received several prestigious awards this year?

In recent years, Samhall has undergone an extremely large change. This can be seen not least in our employee survey, where we see a positive development linked to commitment and employee satisfaction. It is also visible in external brand surveys where Samhall today is not only well known but also a well-liked and reputable brand. A brand that, compared with our competitors, is very well placed. I believe this is the result of a very consistent and well-executed change process that I have been working on with my management team since 2011. In order to offer all our employees stimulating work, we have built up a competitive and proactive sales organization and an offer that appears very attractive to our clients. We have secured 15% growth in our priority business areas. We have also been very focused on our culture, values, leadership and behaviors. All with the aim of achieving our goals and building pride and commitment in the company.

I believe that my leadership, my ideas, my commitment and my ability to clarify where we are going, why it is important and how it should be done have made me an appreciated CEO and good leader for Samhall. A company that is important not only for our own employees but also for society at large.

What advice would you share with managers stuck in a rut?

To be able to think in new ways, be creative and dare to try out new ideas, you need to be influenced by your surroundings. An excellent way is to be out in your own organization and business and listen. At Samhall, with our 23,000 employees, there are many views and ideas. Meeting these employees provides energy, new ideas but also a sense of importance.

We can neither afford nor have the time to get stuck in old ruts, but must move forward to succeed in our mission

Another way is something as simple as listening to your customers. Clear requirements and hopes for a delivery with a development focus require suppliers to be on their toes and find new solutions and new ways to streamline. Nothing is as stimulating as a tough and clearly demanding customer.
My third tip is to give yourself some time and opportunity to look up. I usually use both the Christmas holidays and the summer months to try to lift my gaze. No meetings in the calendar for a couple of weeks. Time for reflection and new ideas.

What is the main challenge facing young CEOs today and what are your tips for overcoming that challenge?

Each generation has its own expectations and requirements for professional life and career. On the positive side, the younger generations today dare to challenge and make demands on their employer and their work content in a way that older generations did not. But it also presents a leadership challenge for a CEO. It can be just as tough when employees dare to challenge authority on a daily basis. For many employees, the purpose of the business is also extremely important.

Making money for a venture capitalist is not a good engine for engagement

As a CEO, you must be good at clarifying why it is important for the business to exist and how everyone can contribute to this urgent goal fulfillment. Being a good communicator and working actively to build a culture and a set of values that create commitment and motivation will be crucial to success in the CEO role.

Diversity and sustainability are high on the agenda today. What future topic is forgotten today that CEOs should give more attention to?

I think both sustainable business and diversity as a means of competitiveness are still in their infancy. Sustainable business will be high on the agenda for some time to come. Still, many people talk in terms of letting their employees volunteer during working hours as a way to fulfill their social responsibility. This is of course honorable, but I see sustainable business as something else, a fully integrated part of the company's operations and business model.

Businesses should make money but in a way that builds well-being and adds value to both internal and external stakeholders

There are challenges in running commercial activities in a way that does not limit the opportunities for future generations to also have their needs met. As a CEO, you have a duty to run your company in a responsible, resource-efficient and long-term manner. Here I see great challenges but also fantastic opportunities.

How will the CEO role change in the coming years?

I believe that leadership, communication and values will become an increasingly important part of the CEO role. The ability to build structure, establish competitive strategies, processes and products will be a task for employees and teams. As a CEO, you need to be skilled at establishing a clear vision and then attracting the best employees through an attractive and long-term value base, have the ability to see and develop talent, dare to build teams where difference and diversity become an important component to create innovation and new thinking. In a fully global and digitized world, you must understand the possibilities of technology, see opportunities where others see threats and have the courage and ability to work with constant change.

Monica Lingegård took over as CEO of Samhall in 2011. She was previously CEO of the world's largest security company, G4S Security Solutions, and before that CEO of the outsourcing company Prenax. She sits on a number of boards, including 4C Strategies, Wireless Maingate AB, Almega, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, Saab Automobile Parts AB, Sida, Maingate Enterprise Solutions.