Carl-Fredrik Thörnholm

Every #Architect should read this post by #MIT Professor Deborah Ancona and relate it to our baseline practice of understanding Stakeholder Concerns in developing complex systems. The technical aspects of Sensemaking and Task Coordination come naturally to the #Solution Developer and #SystemsEngineer when reasoning about a system, it’s elements, and it’s properties within an environment- however that missing element of Stakeholder engagement (what her research broadly addresses as Ambassadorship) is where the real work of Architecture is done - applying quality attributes, capturing architecture rationale to meet the business objectives, and developing value streams that go beyond the pure performance requirements. Big fan of this work. X-Teams should be required reading for senior architects and engineering leaders, certainly for C-Suite teams looking to transform their culture.

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🌟 Klarna’s Resilient Evolution: Banking Expansion and AI Innovation Set the Stage for Future Growth 🌟 Klarna is making waves in the fintech world with its strategic evolution and resilience. Let's dive into the key elements driving its success: 🚀 Banking Services Expansion: Klarna Bank AB's approval to offer credit and payment products in the UK in 2023 marks a significant milestone in its global strategy. Founded in 2005 and fully licensed as a bank since 2017, Klarna is expanding beyond its hallmark BNPL loans, opening new revenue streams and reinforcing its position as a versatile financial services provider. 💡 AI Cost Savings: AI has been transformative for Klarna, driving substantial cost savings and enhancing customer service. In Q1 2024, Klarna cut sales and marketing spend by 11%, saving approximately $10 million annually. AI tools like Midjourney, DALL-E Open Ai, and Adobe Firefly have expedited image production and reduced costs significantly. These AI initiatives have also enabled Klarna to resolve two-thirds of customer service queries with a chatbot, resulting in a 25% drop in repeat inquiries. 🇺🇸 USA Growth and Profit: Klarna's US market is booming, achieving its fourth consecutive quarter of gross profit and boasting over 37 million users. In FY23, Klarna turned a gross profit, delivering SEK 1.4B and surpassing a record month with over SEK 100B Gross Merchandise Value. The imminent launch of Klarna's credit card in the US further solidifies its position, offering flexible payment options and integrating AI for a seamless user experience. 💼 Potential IPO: Klarna's strong financial results in 2023, achieving its first month and quarter of profitability in four years, reflect its readiness for public markets. With a gross profit margin of 50% and a 95% improvement in its adjusted operating result, Klarna is poised for an IPO, setting the stage for future growth and innovation. Klarna's journey in banking expansion and its move into an AI-driven model is reshaping the future of fintech. Witness strategic milestones unfold and explore how Klarna is positioning itself as a leading player in the digital banking landscape. 👉 Keep reading on the C-Innovation blog by JOSE GUEVARA to dive deeper into Klarna's dynamic journey and strategic milestones! https://lnkd.in/eWVX_Hzc #Fintech #Klarna #Banking #AI #Growth #Innovation #IPO #DigitalTransformation #cinnovation #bnpl #financialservices #banques #banca #bankingindustry #startups #DigitalBanking #valuation

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Yesterday we met to discuss leadership and talent development in the third Uncharted Leadership by SEB event 🔥 It uncovered inspiring stories, wise insights, different approaches and principles that lead to better talent-related decision-making. Some of the questions we discussed: 👉 Risk vs. Reward: How do you balance the risk of investing in employee development, only to have them leave, versus the risk of not investing and having them stay and underperform? 👉 Retention Strategies: What innovative strategies have you implemented to retain top talent who have gone through extensive development programs within your organization? 👉 Business vs. Individual: How do you ensure that the development opportunities you offer align with both the company’s direction and the individual aspirations of your employees? 👉 Leadership Styles: In what ways do you think leadership styles need to evolve to better support talent development in today’s rapidly changing work environment? We covered everything from emotions and gut feelings to chess analogies and strategic risk management. So much gratitude for the amazing panellists Arturas Navickas, Dovile Endriukaityte, Martynas Paškauskas 🙌 The main advice from experienced managers to aspiring leaders:  ⚡️ always be open for growth 🔭 think long-term 🫀 know & trust yourself 👑 be bold in your decisions and actions Easier said than done, but often we forget that the hard part is not the lack of information, but the lack of behavioural change.

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Here's a new demo from OpenAI text-to-video model Sora. Watching these AI-generated clips is a “holy crap” moment. The world just changed. It’s only a matter of time before we have AIs that dream up a brand-new movie idea in seconds… and then tailor-make it just for you. I’ll be able to type, “Make me a new Tarantino-style thriller starring a young Denzel Washington, set in 1950s LA…” … and watch the movie that evening. This will also transform education. Why read about ancient Greece from a dull textbook when teachers can show you what it was like with photorealistic videos that only take 10 seconds to make? Game-changer. Hollywood is in real trouble. Movie execs are essentially trying to ban #AI in filmmaking, as they’re worried about machines taking all the jobs. Listen up, Hollywood: You can’t put the genie back in the bottle. As AI expert Zvi Mowshowitz told me, “Any industry that doesn’t use AI is finished. You either adopt it or die.” If Hollywood doesn’t change, it will get steamrolled by some AI startup that can make 10X more movies for 10% of the cost. --- Prompt: photorealistic video with the view from a motorcycle of a futuristic mountain city road at sunset Credit: #OpenAI

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This is interesting, if you are into Fintech or AI. Even if you are not, it’s another data point on the rapid adoption of AI and what it can do for you or to YOU!

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 👍🏽  "Follow up, follow up & follow up. 80% of the framework is endurance in weekly check ins. This is where the habit is built." - Jesper Ejenstam, Kanthal  👉🏽  One of the reflections from VP & Head of R&D Jesper at Kanthal, when implementing OKR framework.  🌟  Read the full article: https://bit.ly/3QGVfM0 --------------- What to read & view more interviews with leaders who have implemented OKR? Hit 🔔 in my profile to follow for more insights and inspiration about OKR // Daniel Mälsjö - The OKR Coach

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Change leadership plays a pivotal role in guiding organisations through transformation. To achieve the intended outcomes, every organisation must develop solutions that are both strategically sound and human-centric. In this article, Anders Richtnér, Partner at Navigio, and Felix Carlsten, Engagement Manager at Navigio, emphasise the critical importance of mastering both change management and change leadership—two distinct yet interconnected disciplines essential for business success. Read the full article here to discover how expertise in change management and inspirational change leadership can help your company grow: https://lnkd.in/dHfhaemZ #ChangeLeadership #ChangeManagement #Leadership #Growth #Transformation #UnleashPotential #LeadershipGrowth #Organisation #Strategy #Business #HumanCentric #BusinessSuccess

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At ENABLING CHANGE we are always current to learn and to share. Every quarter we have our 'Talking change' topic, where we ask for your input on a change topic. Then we collect the inputs and share the learnings back. . Over the summer we're discussing "What recent changes have had the most significant impact on your workload, work environment and stress levels? Were these impacts positive or negative?" Please share your view in the comments below or send me an e-mail on lef@enablingchange.eu We will share all our learnings on 'The everyday impact of Organisational Change' shortly. #enablingchange #learning #givingback #change

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TA 41: Only one out of 10 M&As succeed. This is a popular yet largely true statement.   I have been part of some M&As in my career - some very successful and some not. The successful ones are a combination of many factors. I remember one leader AB, who led the acquisition of an overseas company.   The basics were sorted: 1.    Have a long-term growth plan (organic and inorganic) for the organisation with a stated mission. 2.    Hunt the inorganic opportunities 3.    Check opportunities for business fit 4.    Complete due diligence 5.    Acquire company   AB showed an even greater commitment to the less emphasised success factor - cultural integration. The opportunity was in a faraway land, completely alien to us. The differences were stark. The language, food, weather, political style, religion, legends and culture. But, the similarity in the business - products, processes, markets - was what gave the team comfort.   AB got the integration going through deep immersion. Teams from multiple levels visited India and the factories here interacted with the local teams and gained a level of comfort. The exposure to the organisation’s culture and the country eased collaboration. He then got cross- border teams to work on synergy projects that gave both sides a chance to learn from each other and jointly succeed. All this, while setting out stretch goals – painful when set, delightful when achieved. It was clear to the acquired company that the operational freedom that they were experiencing came with the responsibility to deliver the results.    AB would visit the factory for a week every quarter and spend time with the teams - at the office and on the shop floor. This helped teams be aligned with the organisation's goals and promoted a better understanding of the Indian arm. Soon after the acquisition, global economic conditions worsened and the new entity was in trouble. Supporting them through this time and ensuring that all employees kept their jobs dramatically increased their faith in the Indian leadership. The empathy shown during their difficult times, keeping the welfare of the employees at the centre, went a long way to building trust.   This trusting relationship needed hard work and long years of effort. Over the next few years, this entity turned out to be among the fastest-growing and most profitable of the businesses in the Group.   My learnings from this experience is that to make an M&A successful, one must: ·  Have the conviction to make the acquisition a success ·  Build trust across boundaries ·  Lead with empathy ·  Consistently engage and support - no "absentee leadership" ·  Respect each other ·  Approach the acquisition from a "learning opportunity" and not an "acquirer mindset"   What are your thoughts about an M&A? #thinkingaloud #fridaynote #stories

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For Solo Tech Consultants - Solo Consultants - Solo Interim Managers or Contractors: How to Create a Selling Consultant Profile I get lots of questions from Solo Tech Consultants at the moment on how to start your own solo consulting business, how to get clients and how to position yourself, your story, pitch and offers in the best possible way. One foundational document that is always useful to create and improve is your Consultant Profile. To take inventory of all your skills and experiences. And to create a "master document" which you can adapt in a flexible way for different purposes or clients. This document is one I have used myself to sell my own solo consulting services. But it is also a template profile that we developed working in Certus Executves with Interim Management and recruiting Tech Consultants in all fields. So it is "battle tested" we might say. It has worked well for me, and others I have helped. Perhaps it can be useful for you too. I have attached a short video walking through: # Some basic principles when creating a selling Consultant Profile # The Structure of such a document - making you stand out conveying your strenghts and unique skills and abilities # An Example that has worked for me in the past. NOTE: I am trying to help as many Solo Tech consultants as I can. And anyone else who might have use for this document. And since one of our current offers of client acquisition is not a fit for everyone - this is our way to help out in other ways. SO, if you want to help me "spread the word" AND you are very lazy (which is good!) - and want me to SEND YOU THE ACTUAL WORD TEMPLATE shown in the video. You can get a copy of that document by: # Liking this post # Share it # Comment "I want the template" And I will send it to you. NOTE: In order for me to send it EITHER CONNECT WITH ME and I can PM, OR insert your email adress in the Comment and I can email it to you. Hope this helps. #SoloTechConsultant #SoloConsultant #ConsultantProfile

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Bankrupt. Small. 6 hours away. These are a few of the characteristics of the business that today's guest Jens Grudno bought. Those were the bad. But there were also the good: * 117 years old * Strong brand * Differentiated, high-quality product * And cheap — Jens didn't pay much for the business This is the story of how Jens worked his way through finance and startups, and arrived as the owner of DOVO, an old business manufacturing an old product: straight razors. This is a turnaround story, and Jens acknowledges that he chose for himself a very difficult task for someone who'd never bought a business before. But as you'll hear, he is drawn to outsized challenges, to proving the haters wrong. But it wasn't just an emotional decision. This is a guy who read Benjamin Graham's The Intelligent Investor as a teenager, so he thinks like an investor, always seeking value, risk-reward asymmetries. And he thought the downside here was limited, while the potential to restore this centenarian to its former glory represented big upside. Now of course, there's theory... then there's reality. This has ended up being extremely difficult, and everything has taken longer than predicted. But Jens has survived and stabilized DOVO, and he's gearing up for the launch of a new product that he's optimistic will dominate its category and catapult its revenue. Enjoy this rollercoaster ride with Jens Grudno, owner of DOVO. ( 👉 link to interview in comments below)

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🌟 Danish Fintech, Ageras, Ready for Acquisitions🌟 Ageras, under the leadership of CEO Rico Andersen, is poised to make significant acquisitions, aiming for pan-European consolidation within the fintech and SaaS industries. This strategic initiative aligns with their potential IPO in 2026. They reported a 53% revenue increase and achieved their first profitable EBITDA of EUR 1.2 million in 2023. Rico Andersen recently commented, "This is a unique platform for consolidation and further growth... we believe there is both supply and demand for a pan-European consolidation on our platform for accounting and banking software; together we can own the niche." Ageras's approach underscores the growing consolidation trend within the fintech space, leveraging financial stability to capitalize on market opportunities. At 733Park, we observe these strategic moves with interest as they reflect broader trends and shifts within the industry. At 733Park, we not only represent successful fintech, payments, and SaaS companies, helping them to target and unlock acquisition opportunities that aren't on the market, but we also represent many of these companies when they do decide to go to market. Reach out anytime to have a private conversation about your developing your growth and exit strategy. #Fintech #MergersAndAcquisitions #SaaS #Payments #Innovation #Growth #Ageras #733Park #RicoAndersen #AccountingSoftware #BankingSoftware #BusinessGrowth #IPO #Leadership #EuropeanFintech #BostonBusiness

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Open Banking is the Open Blue Ocean yet to be fully tapped by European Fintech Startups. How do we really get open banking in people's hands - in their apps, digital shops and service providers? Meet the CEO and Founder of Neonomics - Christoffer Andvig who's steering the company into a provider of its own league. 💪 Chris is a serial entrepreneur with worldwide expertise in finance and the credit industry. He's is a thought leader in #Blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) in banking. Neonomics is charting a path of progress and innovation with several strategic milestones: 👉 By partnering with PERX Folkefinans, Neonomics is revolutionizing peer-to-peer lending with secure, efficient open banking payments. 👉 In collaboration with Worldline, Neonomics is expanding its data aggregation and payment services across the Nordic region and Europe. 👉 The innovative strides at Neonomics were recognized with the Fintech Finance 2022 Open Banking Award. 🗓️ Meet Christoffer Andvig for his keynote presentation and top-notch insights at the #NordicFintechSummit on May 16 in Helsinki, Finland! 🎟️ Tickets and partnerships - link in comments: #OpenBanking #Fintech #DigitalBanking #DigitalPayments #HelsinkiFintech

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When are two trustees better than one? LNW’s Kristi Mathisen explains why a co-trustee can sometimes be a great addition to a trust, and how we make the co-trustee relationship work for the benefit of all involved. #trusts #estateplanning #financialplanning #wealthmanagement #trustweek

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Feeling stuck in your leadership journey? 🤔 ❌Do you often feel your leadership skills are reaching their limits with some team members? ❌Do you feel you need to explain far too much far too often? ❌ Can you feel frustration in your team rising and people tend to get things done by themselves rather than in the team? It's time for a change! My upcoming Masterclasses support leaders to feel confident with their skills and bridge the cultural gaps in their teams. Join the Inclusive Leadership Alliance and discover a supportive community dedicated to growth. By enrolling in my Masterclasses you can unleash your leadership potential. Sign up now! From these Masterclasses you will learn: ✅ How to lead with clarity and sensitivity. ✅ How to take your team to the next level and enable them to communicate and set expectations clearly. ✅ How you can identify your own and your team members’ values. ✅How you can honour those values in your daily actions and behaviours. Please click on the link below and I look forward to seeing you soon! https://nuel.ink/1GRBcd Mark your calendars: Masterclasses will take place on April 16, 23, 30 and May 7 at 6 pm CET. #HeikeGeilingCoaching #InclusiveLeadershipAlliance #LeadershipDevelopment

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Feeling stuck in your leadership journey? 🤔 ❌Do you often feel your leadership skills are reaching their limits with some team members? ❌Do you feel you need to explain far too much far too often? ❌ Can you feel frustration in your team rising and people tend to get things done by themselves rather than in the team? It's time for a change! My upcoming Masterclasses support leaders to feel confident with their skills and bridge the cultural gaps in their teams. Join the Inclusive Leadership Alliance and discover a supportive community dedicated to growth. By enrolling in my Masterclasses you can unleash your leadership potential. Sign up now! From these Masterclasses you will learn: ✅How to lead with clarity and sensitivity. ✅ How to take your team to the next level and enable them to communicate and set expectations clearly. ✅ How you can identify your own and your team members’ values. ✅ How you can honour those values in your daily actions and behaviours. Please click on the link below and I look forward to seeing you soon! https://nuel.ink/YmhvnL Mark your calendars: Masterclasses will take place on April 16, 23, 30 and May 7 at 6 pm CET. #InclusiveLeadershipAlliance #CulturalAwareness #GlobalLeadership

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Feeling stuck in your leadership journey? 🤔 ❌Do you often feel your leadership skills are reaching their limits with some team members? ❌Do you feel you need to explain far too much far too often? ❌ Can you feel frustration in your team rising and people tend to get things done by themselves rather than in the team? It's time for a change! My upcoming Masterclasses support leaders to feel confident with their skills and bridge the cultural gaps in their teams. Join the Inclusive Leadership Alliance and discover a supportive community dedicated to growth. By enrolling in my Masterclasses you can unleash your leadership potential. Sign up now! From these Masterclasses you will learn: ✅ How to lead with clarity and sensitivity. ✅ How to take your team to the next level and enable them to communicate and set expectations clearly. ✅ How you can identify your own and your team members’ values. ✅How you can honour those values in your daily actions and behaviours. Please click on the link below and I look forward to seeing you soon! https://nuel.ink/i8PwXL Mark your calendars: Masterclasses will take place on April 16, 23, 30 and May 7 at 6 pm CET. #HeikeGeilingCoaching #InclusiveLeadershipAlliance #LeadershipDevelopment

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