Thank you to everyone who joined us on 23 January for the Young Professionals New Year’s Reception at Handelsbanken. It was a fantastic evening and a wonderful way to kick off 2026 together with our YP community.
We were delighted to be welcomed by our hosts at Handelsbanken and to bring together young professionals from across the network in a relaxed and festive setting. The evening featured welcome drinks, great food, and plenty of opportunities to connect and exchange ideas.
A highlight of the night was the much-loved Swedish classic “På Spåret” quiz, which sparked friendly competition, laughter, and team spirit throughout the room. Congratulations to all participants for making the game so engaging and fun.
After the quiz, the evening continued with pizza, drinks, and networking — the perfect ending to a successful start of the year.
A big thank you to Handelsbanken, the organisers, and everyone who attended and contributed to the great atmosphere. We look forward to seeing you again soon at our upcoming events.
📸 Photos from the evening can be found if you scroll down.
We extend our deepest gratitude to Stromma for opening their doors and hosting this memorable evening, complete with songs, candlelight, a Lucia performance by the Swedish Festivities Choir and a Christmas raffle. We would also like to thank our patron member IKEA for sponsoring with mulled wine and gingerbread, making it a true Lucia Celebration.
It was amazing to end this year with the Young Professionals before we all head off for the holidays and a big congratulations to all the winners of the Christmas Raffle.
From all of us at the Young Professionals, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
About the Swedish Lucia Tradition: The annual candlelit Lucia procession on December 13 is one of Sweden’s most beautiful and cherished traditions. Boys and girls dressed in long white gowns sing together in a harmonious celebration of light in the midst of winter’s darkness.
According to tradition, Lucia wears “light in her hair,” symbolised by a crown of candles, while her handmaidens also hold candles. The star boys, dressed in white, carry stars on sticks and wear tall, pointed paper hats — together creating a glowing and unforgettable procession.
Thank you to our sponsors:
Date: November 20, 2025
Time: 17.45 – 20.00
Venue: Pestana Amsterdam Riverside
Young Professionals x SKF – Sustainability & Leadership in Action
Last Thursday’s Young Professionals event with SKF was filled with insight, inspiration, and great conversations. With Pestana Hotel as our host, the evening brought together curious minds and meaningful discussions.
Ellis-Jan van den Hout delivered an engaging presentation on leadership, sustainability, and his own career journey. A talk that sparked many thoughtful questions from our YP community. We were also glad to hear from Hari Vadivel and Mohamad Amin Al Hajj, who shared what life as a Young Professional at SKF can look like.
A big thank you to SKF for sponsoring the event, and to everyone who joined us and helped create such a warm and energising atmosphere.
We look forward to seeing you at our next YP event on 12 December: Lucia with Young Professionals — a few spots are still left!
Foto credits: SKF
Date: October 16, 2025
Time: 18:30 – 21:00
Venue: Hotel Pestana Amsterdam Riverside
Adress: Amsteldijk 67, 1074 HZ Amsterdam
“Mastering Leadership for the Future – Business Culture followed by Final Dinner and Evaluation”
Last week, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce and Young Professionals network held the final session of the Mentorship Program 2025, Mastering Leadership for the Future – Business Culture, followed by the closing dinner and evaluation.
We were delighted to welcome Candida Snow, Director at Snow CC, who led an inspiring and interactive session on intercultural management and cultural intelligence. Through engaging discussions and reflections, participants explored how cultural perspectives shape communication, leadership, collaboration, and how developing cultural awareness and adaptability can enhance effectiveness in an international business environment.
The evening concluded with the program evaluation, certificate ceremony, and a two-course dinner at Archive by Pestana, offering mentors, mentees, and alumni the chance to reflect, connect, and celebrate a successful program year.
A warm thank you to all mentors and mentees for their dedication, insight, and participation throughout the year. Your contributions continue to strengthen the Swedish Chamber community and inspire future leaders.
Stay tuned for information about the Mentorship Program 2026!
About the Swedish Chamber Mentorship Programme
The Mentorship Program was launched in October 2012. Since then, more than 100 Young Professionals of the Swedish Chamber have followed the program and benefited from their future personal and professional growth. The many Mentors have benefited from meeting the new generation leaders of the future and learning more about their insights and values. Read more here
Date: October 9, 2025
Time: 17.45 – 20.00
Venue: Polestar Showroom in Amsterdam
Van Baerlestraat 2, 1071 Amsterdam
A big thank you to everyone who joined us for the Young Professionals visit to Polestar in Amsterdam on October 9!
We had a fantastic evening filled with inspiration, innovation, and great conversations. Willem Baudewijns, Managing Director of Polestar Netherlands, delivered an excellent presentation where he shared valuable insights into Polestar’s strong sustainability focus, cutting-edge performance, and bold vision for the future of electric mobility.
Participants also had the opportunity to explore Polestar’s stunning models up close in their Amsterdam showroom and enjoy networking with fellow Young Professionals over drinks and bites.
A heartfelt thank you to Willem Baudewijns and the Polestar Team for their warm welcome and for sharing the story behind one of Sweden’s most forward-thinking brands.
We look forward seeing you at our upcoming business event on November 20, Young Professionals x SKF – Sustainability & Innovation In Action. Be sure to Secure your spot!
Willem Baudewijns, Managing Director Polestar Netherlands
Date: September 18, 2025
Time: 18:30 – 21:00
Venue: The Swedish Chamber of Commerce
Fred. Roeskestraat 115
1076 EE Amsterdam
Mastering Leadership for the Future – Mindfulness and Work-Life Balance
On September 18, 2025, we held the fourth session of the Swedish Chamber and Young Professionals Mentorship Program 2025: Mastering Leadership for the Future – Mindfulness and Work-Life Balance.
We were delighted to welcome keynote speaker Cole Groom, Co-founder of Balance Breathing, who shared his expertise and guided us through practical breathing exercises. Together, we explored:
- How mindfulness can support mental well-being and resilience
- Strategies for balancing work and personal life
- The role of culture in shaping healthier workplaces
The session also encouraged engaging discussions among mentors, mentees, and alumni, creating a space for reflection and shared insights.
Looking ahead, the Mentorship Program will conclude with its final session and evaluation on October 16, followed by a two-course dinner, hosted at the beautiful Pestana Hotel. We are very pleased to welcome Candida Snow, who will share her expertise on culture and business culture.
Keynote Speaker: Cole Groom, Co-founder of Balance Breathing
Cole Groom is the co-founder of Balance Breathing, helping teams reduce stress and prevent burnout through science-backed breathwork. Originally from the US, he moved to the Netherlands to study at the University of Amsterdam and went on to build a career in educational technology.
After discovering breathwork as a personal tool to manage stress, he founded Balance Breathing to make mental well-being simple and accessible at work. A former mentee in this program, Cole returns to share his journey and lead a session on the power of breathwork for focus and resilience.
About the Swedish Chamber Mentorship Programme
The Mentorship Program was launched in October 2012. Since then, more than 100 Young Professionals of the Swedish Chamber have followed the program and benefited from their future personal and professional growth. The many Mentors have benefited from meeting the new generation leaders of the future and learning more about their insights and values. The Mentorship Program is made possible by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce. Read more here
A sincere thank you to everyone who joined The Young Professionals Season kick-off last week!
A very special thanks to Forvis Mazars for their generous collaboration, and Strand-Zuid for hosting us at their beautiful outdoor venue.
We are grateful to kick off this fall with such excitement and energy alongside all of you in the Young Professional community! It was fantastic to see both familiar and new faces coming together, sharing insights, and building valuable connections that set the tone for an exciting season ahead.
We look forward seeing you at our upcoming business event on October 9, Young Professionals x Polestar. Dont forget to secure your spot here: https://swedishchamber.nl/events/30405/
Date: June 14, 2025
Time: 14.00-16.00
Location: Vondelpark
Young Professionals’ Midsummer Celebration!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined our Young Professionals’ Midsummer Celebration on June 14! It was the perfect way to wrap up the spring season — with prosecco, strawberry cake, kubb, and classic Midsummer tunes.
Whether you’ve been with us all season or joined for the first time, we’re so glad you came to connect, celebrate, and share in this beloved Swedish tradition.
This festive day wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors. A huge thank you to Einar & Partners and Markedly for making the celebration a reality.
Midsummer Strawberry cake and Prosecco are generously sponsored by:
