People

The DNA of Future Leadership

Leadership must evolve towards regenerative models for sustainability. Future leaders need emotional intelligence and self-awareness to thrive.

Karete Kristoffersen

Karete Kristoffersen

Positive Challenger | Business & Leadership Advisor | Culture & Organizational Developer

Karete Kristoffersen is experienced in leadership and business, with a passion for people, culture, transformation, and innovation. She brings over 25 years of leadership experience from organizations like IKEA, EGGS Design, her own business, and Slingshot Accelerator, and today serves as a Senior Advisor at Eager Stavanger.

Starting her leadership journey at just 23, Karete has held roles including Creative Leader at IKEA Norway, as well as leadership development facilitator and Coach all over the world. Then, Director of the Stavanger office at EGGS Design, and part of the leadership team for 120+ designers. Later, she led Slingshot Accelerator as CEO.

As a certified NLP coach and mindfulness instructor, in addition to courses in Regenerative leadership among more, she includes this in her work in building future leadership as a foundation for high-performing businesses. Karete is known for her authentic presence, deep listening, and courageous, constructive challenges.

She combines strategic clarity with human insight to help leaders and teams thrive—always with a sharp head, a big heart, and a genuine passion for building organizations that balance performance, well-being, and positive impact. A lifelong learner and optimist, Karete believes that self-leadership is a part of daily business, together with conscious leaders who understand themself, hold the space for others and what needs to happen.

The future belongs to the organizations that understand that people build businesses, not the other way around.

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The world of business is changing into a new era— and so must leadership. Surronded by complexity, uncertainty and massive change, leadership must evolve beyond traditional models towards regenerative leadership. Future-fit leaders are called to embody new capacities that nurture people, organizations, and the planet.

In this inspiring speech, Karete Kristoffersen explores the emerging DNA of regenerative leadership — a model that prioritizes human flourishing, sustainable innovation, and collective impact.

Karete challenges outdated paradigms, calling for a shift from traditional leadership — focused solely on short-term results and goal settings— to regenerative leadership that cultivates resilience, creativity, and purpose.

Drawing on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Inner Development Goals (IDGs), she highlights the essential inner capacities needed to drive faster, deeper, and more meaningful change: Being. Thinking. Relating. Collaborating. Acting.

Leadership is no longer just about delivering results — it’s about nurturing life. Coach-based leadership, emotional intelligence, and the integration of feminine leadership qualities — such as empathy, intuition, collaboration, and emotional wisdom — are not “soft skills”; they are power skills that will define the leaders of tomorrow.

At the same time, we must not abandon the healthy, masculine leadership qualities: setting clear goals, driving progress, and providing direction remains still in future business The future of leadership demands a conscious balance — where vision, action, and structure (masculine) are harmonized with care, connection, and co-creation (feminine). True regenerative leadership brings these energies together with intention, creating environments where people and systems can truly thrive.

In a world where mental health struggles are rising, especially among younger generations, leaders must meet people with deeper presence: Seeing them. Hearing them. Challenging them constructively with compassion.

True leadership begins within. Leaders who do not want to — or cannot — lead themselves should not be leading others. Self-awareness, emotional maturity, and a commitment to inner growth are non-negotiable foundations for the future of leadership. Learning to be more human and present — while leading and delivering in the realities of day-to-day business.

Expect a session that is both inspiring and practical — one that invites leaders and future leaders to become what the world needs most: Life-stewards, caretakers, and co-creators of a thriving future.