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Swedish Chamber of Commerce Diversity & Inclusion Breakfast – Gender Diversity
November 12, 2024
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce’s Diversity & Inclusion Breakfast, hosted by Patron Member Heussen, opened with a welcoming address from Nils van Dijkman, the event’s host and board member of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce’s Diversity & Inclusion committee. Nils emphasized his personal belief in the importance of gender equality, noting that both his daughter and son should have the same opportunities in life.
H.E. Johannes Oljelund, Ambassador of Sweden, then took the floor, outlining Sweden’s approach to gender equality. He focused on both the legal frameworks and cultural shifts that shape Sweden’s policies, noting that while substantial progress has been made, more work is needed. The Ambassador presented four key areas of focus: access to affordable childcare, individual taxation, equal sharing of parental responsibilities, and the cultural right to ownership and heritage. While these elements are core to Swedish policy, the Ambassador acknowledged that full equality is still a work in progress. He also emphasized that gender equality requires a transformation not only in legal terms but also in societal norms and shared responsibilities. Lastly, Johannes underscored the economic benefits of inclusion, referencing studies that suggest gender equality could add as much as 10% to global GDP.
The event’s keynote speaker, Dr. h.c. Marguerite Soeteman-Reijnen LLM ACII shared her journey, citing Pippi Långstrump as her first role model. She emphasized the importance of diverse teams, which not only promote social good but are also more sustainable and profitable. Marguerite discussed the gender gap in leadership, pointing out that while there has been progress, the representation of women in top corporate roles remains insufficient. She shared statistics revealing that 54-55% of female graduates are still underrepresented in the boardroom, with many companies failing to report on gender diversity. Marguerite stressed the need for businesses to align with values of equality and inclusion, noting that 60% of people today would not want to work for a company that does not uphold these principles.
Marguerite also presented data from the Gender Gap Index, ranking Sweden at 5th and the Netherlands at 28th. While improvements are being made, there is still a noticeable gap, particularly in leadership roles. The challenge of the “pipeline gap” was also discussed—where there is a lack of women advancing to higher levels within organizations, a trend that only worsens over time. She encouraged private businesses to take action, noting that the private sector has a significant role to play in achieving gender equality.
In closing, Marguerite called for a mindset shift, encouraging women to focus on their strengths and believe in themselves. She shared personal anecdotes to highlight the importance of women supporting one another in their professional journeys. Marguerite concluded by emphasizing that companies and individuals must not wait for government intervention but instead take proactive steps to create a more inclusive and gender-equal future.
Thank you to our host, Heussen, our esteemed speakers, and all attendees for contributing to such a meaningful discussion on gender diversity and inclusion.
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The Swedish Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all participants for contributing to the success of the Swedish Chamber Patron Dinner on November 22, 2016. We cordially thank H.E. Ambassador of Sweden and Honorary Chairman of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce Mr. Per Holmström for hosting the Patron Dinner 2016 and Mr. Jeroen van der Veer, ING Keynote speaker and Honorary Guest, for sharing his experiences and introducing the Round Table discussions.
