Why Potential Matters More Than Experience in 2026
Why Potential Matters More Than Experience in 2026
Jenny Ahlinder
Director People & Culture, Alumni Global
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In many Nordic organisations, we are seeing a clear shift in what good leadership looks like. As organisations navigate talent shortages, accelerating digitalisation and rising expectations around sustainability and transparency, many executive teams are asking a deceptively simple question: what do we really need from our leaders next? Increasingly, the answer is not a longer CV, but a deeper, more versatile form of potential.
Rethinking what makes a leader “ready”
In recent conversations with HR Directors and CEOs across Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark, we often hear the same thing. Technical mastery and long industry tenure remain valued, yet they no longer stand out. As one HR Director recently reflected, “Even our most seasoned leaders are facing challenges they’ve never seen before.” Whilst experience is still valued, we hear more and more about how it is not enough on its own.
From our in-house organisational psychologists and recruitment experts, we hear three qualities rising to the surface:
Learning Agility – Leaders who adapt quickly to shifting conditions, who remain curious rather than defensive, are consistently outperforming peers with more rigid experience profiles.
Cognitive Flexibility – Executives increasingly need the ability to hold multiple perspectives at once, and take responsibility for how their leadership choices and communication affect people differently, across increasingly complex, cross-functional environments.
Values-Driven Judgement – Not in a political sense, but in the ability to take principled, transparent decisions when the data is incomplete, and stakeholder expectations are high.
One CEO that my colleague spoke to recently shared that the most successful transition on her team came from an unexpected internal candidate- less experienced on paper, but with an exceptional capacity to integrate feedback and mobilise people around change.
The Nordic perspective
In the Nordics, leadership is often less about status and more about trust, collaboration and getting people on board. These qualities are becoming increasingly relevant as organisations embed sustainability, resilience and human-centric innovation into everyday operations.
However, these same strengths require leaders who can influence without relying on hierarchy, stay calm when things are unclear, and bring people with them rather than instructing them. Potential—expressed as humility, curiosity and an ability to bring different voices together—aligns naturally with Nordic governance and culture.
Looking ahead
By 2026, we expect leadership evaluation to shift towards potential indicators. Succession planning will be less fixed. We expect more organisations to assess leaders through real situations and behaviour — not only past job titles. And executive teams will place greater weight on an individual’s capacity to evolve, not just their track record.
Experience still matters. But in the years ahead, leaders will be judged more on how quickly they can learn and adapt.
Key Takeaways
Experience remains valuable, but potential is becoming the stronger predictor of long-term success.
Nordic organisational culture emphasises humility, adaptability and consensus-building.
Leadership assessment is moving towards behavioural and values-based indicators.
High-potential leaders often emerge from unexpected places when organisations broaden their lens.
Reflective Questions
Where in your organisation might potential be hiding in plain sight?
How often do you prioritise adaptability over experience in leadership decisions?
What signals do your culture and structures send about what “good leadership” looks like?
How might your leadership team evolve if you invested more in developing potential?
At Alumni Global, we believe that the key to unleash potential in people and organisations is great leadership. Partnering with you, we help equip your organisation to make a difference.
We tailor our wide range of leadership services to your unique requirements, helping your organisation thrive and support your people’s professional development.
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Do reach out for a dialogue about your unique situation and requirements.
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