September was a month of movement for me – trying new things, meeting new people, and being reminded that leadership often shows up in the most unexpected places.
It started with a spontaneous idea from a dear friend in Copenhagen and suddenly, I was being carried through the city in a Christiania bike – wind in my face, laughter in my chest, my hair a total disaster. For those few minutes, I wasn’t in control. And that was the gift: the reminder that leadership isn’t always about pushing the pedals harder. Sometimes it’s about letting go, trusting the ride, and remembering that joy is part of the journey too.
A few days later, another gift appeared. I stopped by my favourite little treasure near Nørreport – Maduro, the shop run by Jeppe and Rikke.
Out of genuine human connection and thanks to Jeppe’s openness and generosity, I magically landed in the atelier of my favourite Danish artist Ditte Sørensen who spontaneously agreed to meet me in the midst of her creative workday. We sat together, talking about life, art, and the positive impact she creates – often more than she realises in her humble heart.
Ditte’s collages, made of hundreds of stitched fragments, are unique. Up close, they look like scraps – random, rough, mismatched. But when you step back, the bigger picture emerges: surprising, vibrant, alive.
It reminded me that leadership, like collage, is created piece by piece. Most days, we only see the fragments: back-to-back meetings, a decision we question, a conversation that shifts something, an emotion that surprises us. But stitched together, they become the story of who we are becoming and what kind of impact we leave behind.
So, take a moment to reflect: What picture are you stitching right now?
The heavy stitches
Not all pieces are always light and playful. In Copenhagen, I also met colleagues going through reorganisation and layoffs in the company where I had worked for 15 years. The heaviness was real, and it touched me deeply.
I know the feeling. In 2016, I went through a reorg that knocked me flat. Back then it felt harsh, it put me on the floor literally and metaphorically. Only later did I see it as a dragonfly moment – that fragile stage of pushing out of the water, wings still wet, before learning to fly. Transformation rarely feels graceful in the moment. But it does reshape you.
The question is: How do we lead ourselves through those rough rides, when the picture is still messy and the wind feels too strong?
Become the CEO of your reactions, decisions and system dynamics!
In those moments when the ride feels rough, I turn to a tool I created for my ‘Human Touch in Digital World’ workshop, my coachees, and, honestly, for myself.
I call it CEO Tool: Check – Emotions – Outcome.
Check → Pause. What’s really happening here? What are the facts? What assumptions or beliefs might I be adding?
Emotions → What am I feeling? What are others feeling? Notice them, normalise them, process them.
Outcome → What conscious choice can I make that aligns with my values and creates the best next step – for me and for the system I’m part of?
It’s not about fixing everything. It’s about pressing “pause” in the chaos, so you can lead yourself and others with more clarity, courage, and purpose. Think of it as stitching one intentional thread into the bigger picture of your leadership.
The ride continues
September reminded me that leadership isn’t about titles, speed, or control – it’s about how we show up. A bike ride taught me trust and playfulness. Jeppe’s shop and Ditte’s atelier reminded me of generosity, curiosity, and the magic of human connection. Conversations with colleagues facing layoffs showed me the courage it takes to lead through change.
Leadership, like Ditte’s collages, is stitched together from all these fragments – the light, the heavy, the surprising. Piece by piece, they shape the bigger picture of how we lead with purpose and impact.
So I leave you with this: From the fragments of your current ride, what is emerging? And who are you becoming?
I dedicate this article to all creative, openminded and generous leaders I met in Copenhagen!
You can see Ditte’s inspiring art here: madstitch.com
And if you’re ever in Copenhagen, visit Jeppe and Rikke’s shop, also online here: maduro.dk