Mette Johansson

Mette Johansson is a professional speaker and author whose confidence radiates in her personality, and she showers her positivity wherever she goes and the lives she touches. She is a PCC-accredited coach and an MBA graduate with over three decades of experience. Her most powerful traits are deep listening coupled with business acumen, which allows her to foster meaningful change, helping leaders achieve clarity, alignment, and measurable success in their organisations and personal growth. For Mette, what truly fills her with pride is not the accolades themselves but the moments when someone tells her that her work has made a meaningful difference in their life.

Starting her entrepreneurial journey 11 years back, Mette left her corporate role where she felt that she couldn't be herself and took a path that would lead to a more fulfilling career. She says, “That decision shaped my journey profoundly, leading me to explore the importance of authenticity in leadership—not just for myself, but for countless others facing similar challenges.” Her experience influenced and inspired her to embark on a mission to empower individuals and organisations through authentic leadership. It also drove her to refine her expertise through continuous learning, building meaningful relationships, and writing and speaking about what she has learned.

While she primarily works with corporate clients, her expertise significantly impacts both organisational and personal trajectories. She excels at creating a trusted, psychologically safe environment where individuals feel comfortable sharing concerns, collaborating openly, and exploring new ideas—key drivers of progress and innovation.

She recalls an incident, “I recently facilitated a session with a leadership team struggling with misalignment and trust issues. By creating an open and supportive environment, we not only resolved immediate conflicts but also helped the team develop strategies that aligned with their broader business goals. Moments like these are a testament to the power of empathetic coaching and strategic facilitation.”

Mette describes herself as a blend of casual yet professional, someone who values authenticity and connection in every interaction. Her communication style is direct and honest, as he believes in addressing the elephant in the room whilst always ensuring tough news is delivered diplomatically and respectfully. Being an active listener, she truly understands the perspectives and concerns of others. This helps her create a balanced dialogue where people feel heard and valued. She is also skilled at fostering an environment where open communication thrives—whether in one-on-one conversations, team discussions, or leadership meetings.

Her most memorable experience was a leadership intervention he facilitated for a senior leadership team facing severe collaboration challenges. The leaders were not just misaligned but actively working against each other and barely speaking in months. But after a day of facilitation with her, which put emphasis on fostering trust and open dialogue, they were able to voice their frustrations and clear the air. Her proudest moment came when he saw them hug each other at the end of the session. 

She also wants to highlight her work on diversity and inclusion with a consumer goods company. She and her team have helped them become a leader in the field, earning prestigious awards for their initiatives. 

Mette believes that impactful advisory work doesn't require the expensive or overly complex tools often provided by large consulting firms. Instead, she focuses on straightforward yet highly effective methods that deliver quality outcomes. Her approach relies on keen observation, active listening, and pattern recognition—it’s not magic but a methodical way of uncovering meaningful insights.

She cites an example and says, “In one meeting, I noticed how frequently performance was mentioned and observed a senior leader taking the input of someone who had only graduated two years earlier very seriously. These observations revealed that the company prioritised efficiency and respect for people regardless of hierarchy—critical cultural insights gained without surveys or formal tools.”

One of the most significant challenges for Mette is helping clients move beyond immediate issues or interpersonal conflicts to focus on the bigger picture. For example, she has worked with a leadership team whose energy was so consumed by operational disagreements that their focus on broader strategy was lost.

She says, “To address this, I guided the conversation toward what they were ultimately set out to achieve. I asked thought-provoking questions like, What does success look like for this team in three years? How can your strengths align to get there? This shift helped them step back, see their shared purpose, and reframe their discussions around long-term objectives.” 

Being an insatiable learner, Mette always seeks opportunities to expand her knowledge. Presently, she is reading ‘Radical Candor’ by Kim Scott, which reinforces principles that she has been teaching for years with special emphasis on honesty and transparency. She is also reading Amy Edmondson’s ‘Right Kind of Wrong’, which highlights the value of allowing the right kind of mistakes—those that encourage innovation and exploration. She also listens to TED Talks, reads Harvard Business Review articles, and has candid conversations with business leaders.

Whether coaching, training, or facilitating leadership offsites, Mette’s superpower lies in creating a supportive and inspiring environment where real insights and clarity emerge. Clients have often told her that she creates a safe space for them to express themselves, explore challenges and collaborate better. 

This supportive environment paves the way for a sense of empowerment and accomplishment when individuals and teams can tap into their full potential, which creates endless possibilities for them. She continues, “I combine inspiration with practical guidance, helping clients gain clarity, build confidence, and take meaningful steps forward. The insights generated in these sessions often lead to transformative breakthroughs, making the experience both impactful and memorable.”

She shares a piece of advice she consistently gives to leaders: the most powerful leadership comes from authenticity. She says, “You don’t need to mimic the leaders before you—what worked in the past may no longer apply. The real impact comes when you tap into your own strengths and lead in a way that is true to you.”

“This principle is at the core of the ‘Women in Leadership’ programs I run, where participants often describe the experience as transformational. But it’s not just women who benefit from this approach. In my coaching, I’ve seen firsthand how this shift also empowers top male leaders to show up authentically in town halls and high-stakes meetings, connecting with their teams in a way that feels natural to them.”

“The reason is simple: I create a supportive environment where everyone can explore and embrace their authentic leadership style, building the confidence to lead as the human beings they are—not as copies of others."