Before coming to Sweden, I would have described my leadership style as collaborative but somewhat cautious. I liked to involve everyone in decision-making, to make sure voices were heard and a consensus was built before taking action. While this approach made me approachable and supportive, it also meant I sometimes hesitated to make quick decisions without full agreement. I saw leadership as something you did alongside people, helping guide the group rather than standing out in front.
My time at GreenIron has challenged me to rethink this balance. Working in a new country and culture means that sometimes consensus isn’t immediately possible, especially when communication styles differ or when the group is made up of people from very different backgrounds. I’ve realized that good leadership isn’t just about making sure everyone feels included—it’s also about knowing when to step forward, take ownership, and make decisions that move things forward, even if not every detail is perfectly agreed upon.
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned from my colleagues here is that leadership isn’t confined to group settings. It’s just as much about how you lead yourself as it is about how you lead others. If you aren’t personally invested in a project, how can you expect anyone else to feel invested? A wise person once told me, “The world is an ocean of possibilities.” That idea has stuck with me—just because you’re on one trajectory now doesn’t mean you’re stuck on it forever. Part of being an effective leader is staying open to change, being willing to redirect when something isn’t working, and pursuing the paths that truly inspire you.
This mindset shift has been gradual, and it’s often happened in small, everyday moments. There have been times when a task or project plan seemed unclear, and instead of waiting for someone else to clarify, I’ve learned to step up and help define the next steps. That doesn’t mean abandoning my collaborative instincts—it means pairing them with decisiveness. I still check in with others, but I’m more willing to outline a plan and say, “Here’s what I think we should do,” rather than wait for someone else to take the lead.
I’ve also been observing how leadership works in Swedish workplace culture. Here, hierarchy is flatter, and leadership is often quiet, more about trust and autonomy than about direct instruction. That’s been both inspiring and a little challenging for me. It’s pushed me to lead in a way that respects independence while still offering guidance. I’ve started to think less about being “in charge” and more about creating the conditions for others to succeed, which sometimes means stepping back entirely and trusting that things will get done.
Outside of work, this week was a mix of exploration, adventure, and—unfortunately—illness. I spent some quiet days wandering around Stockholm, enjoying the chance to slow down and notice details I might have missed before. Then over the weekend, my friends and I set off for Tallinn, Estonia—a city that felt like stepping straight into a storybook. The old town was a maze of cobbled streets, pastel-colored buildings, and spires reaching into the sky.
Unfortunately, the peak of my illness occurred the day of arrival, which meant Saturday was almost entirely wiped out for me. It was frustrating to be in such a beautiful place and not feel well enough to fully enjoy it, but my friends and I decided to make the most of what we could. We tried our hand at archery, which turned out to be a hilarious mix of skill, luck, and friendly competition. We also visited a medieval-themed restaurant, where the dark wooden interiors, candlelit tables, and hearty dishes made it feel like we’d stepped back in time. Between mouthfuls of elk and reindeer and the sounds of traditional music in the background, it was easy to forget we were in the 21st century.
Even though I wasn’t at my best physically, wandering through Tallinn’s old town was still magical. The combination of ornate architecture, hidden courtyards, and centuries-old stone walls gave the city a unique charm. I found myself thinking about how leadership sometimes looks like this trip: things don’t always go as planned, but you adapt, make the most of the circumstances, and keep the group’s morale up.
In fact, that’s one of the lessons I’ve been taking away from both my internship and my travels: leadership isn’t only about grand decisions or big moments—it’s also about how you handle the unexpected. Whether it’s a miscommunication in a meeting, a delayed project deadline, or a sudden illness on a weekend trip, the way you respond sets the tone for everyone else. Remaining calm, positive, and solution-focused in those moments is just as important as having a vision or a strategy.
As I head into the final stretch of my internship, I can feel my leadership style evolving. I’m becoming more confident in taking initiative, more aware of when to step forward and when to step back, and more comfortable with making decisions in uncertain situations. I’ve learned that a good leader doesn’t need to have all the answers—they just need to be willing to take responsibility, keep communication open, and support the team in moving toward a shared goal.
Tallinn may not have gone exactly as planned, but in its own way, it reflected the bigger journey I’m on here in Sweden: sometimes things unfold differently than you imagined, but with flexibility, humor, and a willingness to keep going, you can still create something meaningful out of the moment. And maybe that’s the most important leadership lesson of all.