These shifted our thinking – slow reads for a thinking summer

Summer tends to open up space to breathe, think differently, and perhaps engage with something that challenges, or shifts how we see things. The best insights often emerge in these quieter moments: ideas that reshape how we lead, collaborate, and imagine the future of our organisations.

Throughout the spring, our newsletters shared articles, podcasts, reports, and perspectives that sparked conversations around leadership, strategic renewal, the changing nature of work, and how organisations stay capable of renewing themselves.

We have gathered a few highlights here for you. Not a checklist, but as inspiration for slow mornings, summer travel days, or simply when you feel like exploring a new idea for yourself or your organisation.

Inspiration for the summer

Book: Leading Human-Centered Transformation – Christel Berghäll
“This book combines research on how we think and respond to change with practical coaching experience, offering a clear and accessible perspective on what truly drives transformation forward. A thought-provoking recommendation for anyone living or leading change in today’s working life.”

Book: Solo – Rebecca Seal
“More and more of us are working on our own, but succeeding in it is a skill in itself. This book blends research and practical experience, exploring how to maintain focus, productivity, and well-being without the structures of an office. A practical and thought-provoking read for anyone navigating solo work – from entrepreneurs to remote professionals.”

Doctoral thesis: Managing Planned Organizational Change – Saara Karasvirta
“A recent dissertation highlights a concerning observation: in many cases, large Finnish organisations show weak change capability. The research explores why change initiatives fail, even when strategies and resources are in place. It challenges organisations to reflect on whether structures, culture, or leadership practices are slowing down renewal.”

Global outlook: World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026
“The World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos brings together global leaders to discuss key themes such as collaboration in an increasingly fragmented world, unlocking new sources of growth, investing in people, and building well-being within the limits of the planet. These discussions offer valuable perspectives for anyone working with strategy, leadership, and sustainable growth in an increasingly complex environment.”

Podcast: How do I handle so much organizational uncertainty?
“This podcast episode offers interesting perspectives on essential leadership capabilities.”

Article: Emotionally intelligent leaders are exhausted – Jessica Eley, In Business Madison
“Jessica highlights a phenomenon where high emotional intelligence does not shield leaders from burnout – in fact, it may even accelerate it. At the same time, strong emotional intelligence can lay the foundation for change, enabling leaders to facilitate awareness-building conversations rather than offering ready-made solutions.”

Book: My Traitor’s Heart – Rian Malan
“Rian Malan’s My Traitor’s Heart tells the story of a South African journalist growing up in a society deeply at odds with his own values. To remain true to himself, he leaves South Africa, only to return later to confront the violence, history, and moral questions he once tried to escape.”

Planetary Health Check
“The Stockholm Resilience Institute regularly publishes updates on planetary boundaries. We have now exceeded seven out of nine safe limits – the vital signs of our planet are flashing red. An informative overview of the state of the Earth for all of us.”

Publication: Artificial Intelligence Has Not Impacted Youth Labor Market Outcomes in Finland – ETLA
“This study challenges the dominant narrative of AI displacing jobs and highlights how strong institutions can turn technological change into stability rather than disruption.”

What stayed with us from spring?

Maybe it is time to stop treating transformation of working life as a separate phenomenon. New technologies, geopolitical tensions, and societal shifts are already shaping how we work, lead, and build the future. What working life calls for now is more room for thinking, dialogue, and the ability to see what truly matters in the middle of all this change.

Across our spring conversations, a few themes kept surfacing, ideas that stayed with us long after the discussions ended.

1. Strategic renewal no longer lives in isolated initiatives or projects. It happens in everyday decisions, priorities, and ways of working together. Direction is built through small choices, every day.
2. Leadership is moving further away from individual performance. It is less about what one leader does alone, and more about the capacity to build shared understanding, direction, and action across boundaries.
3. Competitiveness is increasingly tied to how well an organisation learns and renews itself. Not only what we already know, but how quickly we can question, discover something new, and put fresh insights into practice.

Looking for inspiration for the autumn too?

Our monthly newsletter continues through the autumn with timely perspectives, research, articles and conversations on leadership, strategic renewal and the changing nature of work.

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