Cilla Benkö, CEO of Swedish Radio: The Evolution of Leadership in a Post-Pandemic World

Radio is regarded by many as a trusted source for reliable news, especially during crisis situations. Cilla Benkö, Director General & CEO of Swedish Radio, Sweden’s biggest radio broadcaster says: 

“Radio [has a] very important task of covering the pandemic and informing the public – while also reducing the risks of infection spreading and keeping our co-workers healthy.”  

Not only is Benkö a recurring international speaker for topics such as public service media, she is also passionate about freedom of expression, digital development and leadership. For those reasons, Management Events is thrilled to share her perspective on change management, redefining managerial roles, tech adoption drivers and challenges, and female representation in leadership teams.

Overcoming Change Management Hurdles  

Organizations are going through major changes right now, and change management is often a challenge. Was it a challenge in your organization as well, and how did you address it? 

Well, the answer to that is both yes and no. As a media company, with the journalistic trade at the very core of our organization, our co-workers are naturally interested in changes and trends surrounding the world. A big challenge, however, has been bringing the company together and keeping over 2,000 people, working from places all over the country, updated and aware of which changes in the ever-changing world are going to affect us. But also, to get everyone involved in what we need to do collectively to meet these changes, in order to get as equipped as possible for the future.

Some of the changes include the introduction of remote work for certain employees and the modification of schedules to cover breaking news related to COVID-19. The technical simplicity of radio is an advantage that allows stations to broadcast regularly and is flexible enough to include dedicated programs and podcasts about the pandemic.  

 Redefinition of the Manager Role

Businesses across industries had to adapt a lot in the past year – it’s not only the change in processes and technologies, but also the mental stress. In your opinion, how has leadership changed during and post-pandemic? Has the role and even definition of a manager been redefined? 

I must say that I have been incredibly impressed with the managerial level at Swedish Radio during these very challenging times. All over the company we have seen proof of enormous flexibility and creativity, finding new and smart solutions to new and existing challenges in connection with the pandemic, but also with the digital work environment that has been made a permanent part of everyday life. For managers, this has also meant finding new ways of securing collaboration, social structures and mutual learning within working groups. 

Forward-thinking change managers must redefine the concept of change management for their organizations. Change management initiatives are more likely to be met with clear communication and employee participation from the start. This is supported by Shona Elliot, best-selling author and executive management & leadership consultant, who highlights the importance of leaders prioritizing their employees and building a people-centric culture. 

Key Drivers and Challenges with Tech Adoption

What key challenges do you usually see when it comes to technology adoption, from the change management perspective? And how can these challenges be solved? 

The editorial environment is fast-paced with limited room for practical obstacles – so time is of course a key challenge. It’s therefore important to ensure all technology is adjusted to suit the actual needs of the organization and that the implementation of new technology and ways of working always comes with support and is scheduled, communicated and planned properly. Another key challenge for Swedish Radio is, of course, budget limitations that always makes it a necessity to prioritize.  

Results from Management Events’ survey on COVID-19 impacts on businesses reveal that revisions of budget and business strategy are the top focus areas for organizations in ensuring the smooth continuity of their operations. In addition, 59% of business leaders in Europe are reworking their budget plans and predictions, followed by a revision of business strategies and goals.  

In terms of tech adoption challenges, surveyed CHROs in Management Events’ Executive Trend Survey named the following — lack of the right training and skills, integration with legacy systems, and a culture that does not embrace experimentation.  

In your opinion, what are the key drivers for technological innovation today? How does it reflect in your organization? 

It is most definitely the way of working with multifunctional teams, where many different competences work together to find a solution that best meets the needs of the organization.  Technology must never be developed just for the sake of technology itself. At Swedish Radio, we have made innovation and technical development a priority, and that has equipped us well to cope with the unexpected – like the coronavirus pandemic. 

The need for innovation and technical development has been accelerated by the pandemic, pushing leaders to adopt new approaches for workflow processes in the shortest timeframes. In today’s remote working conditions, businesses need to remain efficient and prioritize quality over quantity. 

Women in Leadership

You were recently listed as one of “The most Powerful Women in Business Sweden”. What advice can you give to aspiring female business executives on growing in leadership roles? 

Never forget to listen, and especially remember to have respect and listen to those not agreeing with you. For me, it is crucial to make sure that an organization is brave enough to have as many perspectives as possible in ongoing discussions. One must never be afraid of debate. On the contrary, it’s key to success. Also, always allow people to make mistakes and learn from them. There is nothing more toxic to creativity than a fearful work environment. 

Did you know that women represent only 19.3% of executives and 7.9% of CEOs in publicly listed companies across the European Union?   

Women in the workplace have been negatively impacted during the pandemic and are more likely to have been retrenched. With closures of schools and daycare centers, women who still had jobs struggled to juggle childcare responsibilities and managing households. It is no wonder as many as two million women considered leaving the workforce in 2020.  

Less women working mean less women in leadership positions, and the financial consequences of this could be significant. Research by McKinsey & Company stated that company profits and share performance can show a 50% increment with strong female representation at C-suite level. 

Fortunately, some countries are paving the way for women empowerment in the workplace. According to PwC’s Women in Work 2021 report, Iceland, Sweden and New Zealand are leading the pack when it comes to closing the gender pay gap and increasing the number of full-time female employees.  

The definition of key leadership roles will continue to evolve as workplaces become more digitalized. Forward-thinking leaders need to embrace and adopt new innovations, provide employees equal opportunities to grow, work on building a diverse and inclusive team and most importantly, be unafraid of change.