Per Gullstrand, CEO of Bjäre Invest, on how decentralised governance, commercial discipline and trust work together in a family-owned group — and why long-term ownership does not mean a slower pace.

CEOs and other CxO leaders are increasingly asking for an experienced sounding board outside their own organisation, someone who asks questions and widens their perspective. Lars Navéus of Alumni Global describes one such match, arranged for a senior leader at one of Sweden's largest listed industrial companies, with board director Anna Ohlsson-Leijon as the sounding board.

Boards put great effort into recruiting the right CEO and far less into helping that CEO succeed once in post. Lars Navéus of Alumni Global argues that the board's work continues after the appointment: clear expectations, structured dialogue with the chair, support with the first priorities and, for a first-time CEO or a turnaround, an external sounding board.

Sandberg Development, a family-owned investment company founded in 1959, invests long term in 19 technology-driven portfolio companies. In an interview with Alumni Global, President and CEO Stefan Persson, recruited with the support of Lars Navéus, discusses leadership, culture, AI and building the right foundations for future generations.

Strategic succession planning looks beyond filling vacancies to the leadership a company will need in the years ahead. Lars Navéus of Alumni Global describes how nomination committees, owners and CEOs use market mapping and benchmarking to prepare for board and executive transitions, sometimes building relationships with future leaders years before a role opens.