In the final and special ‘People & Purpose’ episode of 2025, Tarja Takko sat down with Dr. Jenny Seder for a reflective conversation on leadership, humanity, and what truly matters when organisations are under pressure. As the year came to a close, the discussion offered space to pause, not to search for quick answers, but to reconnect with the fundamentals of leadership.
Dr. Seder brings decades of experience from global strategic HR, organisational transformation, and humanitarian leadership at UNICEF. Across sectors and cultures, she has worked where complexity, uncertainty, and human consequence meet, giving her a grounded perspective on what leadership requires today and what it must carry forward into the year ahead.
Below are some of the key insights from the conversation.
Purpose is shaped through presence
For Dr. Seder, purpose is not something leaders discover once and then carry forward unchanged. It is shaped continuously through daily actions, behaviours, and choices. “Purpose isn’t something you find. It’s something you create in how you show up every day,” explains Dr. Seder.
Whether working in corporate environments or humanitarian settings, she has seen leaders face moments where clarity is incomplete and certainty is unavailable. In those moments, purpose is expressed not through answers, but through presence, empathy, and the willingness to stand with people through uncertainty and change.
Confidence as a gift leaders pass on
Reflecting on defining moments in her own journey, Dr. Seder shared an experience from her early years at the United Nations. As a respected leader was preparing to leave a demanding assignment, concern spread through the team. His response, however, was grounded in trust rather than control. “He looked at me and said, ‘Sky is the limit. Go for it,’ and that moment gave me the confidence that shaped who I am as a leader today,” recalls Dr. Seder.
For her, the lesson was enduring. Leadership is not about holding authority tightly, but about enabling others to step forward with confidence and belief in themselves.
Learning to slow down and let go
As her leadership evolved, Dr. Seder also had to unlearn deeply ingrained habits, particularly the instinct to always add more. “I’ve learned to subtract rather than add, to say ‘no’, to simplify,” reflects Dr. Seder.
In a culture that rewards constant motion, slowing down can feel uncomfortable. Yet space for reflection and recovery allows leaders to respond with maturity rather than urgency. For Dr. Seder, this remains a continuous practice rather than a finished achievement.
Cultural expectations are shifting faster than organisations
A recurring theme in the discussion was what Dr. Seder refers to as cultural velocity, the growing gap between how fast societal expectations are changing and how slowly many organisations adapt. “People’s expectations around work, leadership, and purpose have shifted significantly, but organisational culture often struggles to keep up,” notes Dr. Seder.
The traditional idea of deferred reward no longer resonates. If leaders cannot explain why someone’s work matters now and how they are developing now, people will choose to leave. Addressing this gap requires a shift in mindset, not simply new policies.
Young people want to be co-creators
Dr. Seder’s work with younger generations has reinforced her belief that leadership must become more inclusive and participatory. “They want to be counted. They want to be part of creating change, not just executing decisions,” emphasises Dr. Seder.
She encourages senior leaders to invite younger voices into decision-making through reverse mentoring, shared responsibility, and genuine dialogue. Cross-generational collaboration, she believes, brings renewed energy, creativity, and perspective for organisations navigating complexity.
Leadership fatigue and the weight of transition
Reflecting on 2025, Dr. Seder spoke candidly about the emotional toll leadership has taken, particularly in organisations undergoing restructuring and transformation. “I’ve seen fatigue, loneliness, and leaders becoming unpopular overnight,” says Dr. Seder.
Downsizing and transition place leaders in difficult positions, often forcing them to balance organisational survival with human consequence. In these moments, leadership is revealed not only by decisions made, but by how those decisions are carried out.
Human-centered change
For Dr. Seder, human-centered leadership becomes most visible during moments of exit and transition. “I always want people to leave with dignity, feeling that their contribution mattered,” explains Dr. Seder.
Even when roles end, respect and recognition shape how people remember an organisation and how they move forward into their next chapter. This, she stresses, is a responsibility rather than a sentiment.
What technology cannot replace
While Dr. Seder sees technology as a powerful enabler, she is clear about its limitations. “What technology cannot replace is the human moment, picking up the phone and asking, ‘Are you okay?’” says Dr. Seder.
Systems and tools should never become a substitute for courage, judgment, and connection. Instead, they should free leaders to focus more deeply on the human work of leadership.
Leading with a bigger heart
Throughout the conversation, one theme returned consistently, leading with heart. “Leading with a bigger heart means recognising people as whole human beings, not resources to optimise,” reflects Dr. Seder.
For her, organisational performance and human wellbeing are inseparable. Leaders who care about outcomes must care equally about the people who create them.
Carrying courage forward
Looking ahead, Dr. Seder hopes to see a shift from compliance to capability, from administering systems to truly building organisations that can adapt and grow.
“To stay humble, to stay human, and to let go of ego takes courage,” says Dr. Seder.
Hope grounded in people
When asked what gives her hope, Dr. Seder points to people, particularly younger generations. “They are impact-driven, socially conscious, and optimistic, and they remind me that we can do this together,” concludes Dr. Seder.
As ‘People & Purpose’ closes the year, this conversation serves as a reminder that leadership is not defined by speed or certainty, but by presence, humanity, and the courage to lead with heart.
Watch the full episode below to hear the complete discussion and all of Dr. Seder’s insights.
