Nordic
business
diversity
index 2026

Diversity & leaders in the age of AI

Leaders are standing in a defining moment. As artificial intelligence and emerging technologies move from experimental pilots to the core of business operations, the nature of work and leadership is changing faster than at any point in recent history. Entire industries are being reshaped by automation, digital platforms, and new forms of collaboration that cuts across geography and traditional organizational boundaries. The leaders who will thrive in this new landscape are those who understand that the future of work is not simply about mastering new tools. It is about navigating complexity, fostering trust, and building the conditions for people to learn and adapt at speed. It is about strengthening the uniquely human capabilities that AI cannot replicate: empathy, creativity, ethical reasoning, and inclusive thinking. 

As intelligent systems become pivotal in work, diversity takes on new strategic significance. Diverse teams are better at anticipating risks, reducing algorithmic bias, interpreting data through different lived experiences, and designing solutions that work for a broader range of people. In a world where technology both reflects and amplifies human choices, representation and inclusion are not just values, they are risk management, innovation drivers, and competitive advantages. 

What is Nordic Business Diversity Index all about?

What started off as a report focusing solely on the Finnish context, our study has evolved into the largest and most comprehensive insight into the diversity of senior leadership in Nordic listed companies, including over 800 companies from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The Nordic Business Diversity Index project itself was born out of a vision to illuminate the state of diversity in the Nordic senior leadership and to spark actionable change.

As the Nordic Business Diversity Index 2026 reveals, diversity in leadership is not simply about filling roles or meeting quotas—it’s about harnessing the collective power of diverse perspectives to shape a future where people, organizations, and societies thrive together. For businesses, this is not just a vision—it’s a roadmap to sustained success in an era defined by change.

Interested in featuring us?

Behind the Nordic Business Diversity Index, the most extensive business diversity ranking in the Nordics, is a team of professionals from leading sustainability consulting company Impaktly.

Impaktly is a sustainability consultancy that helps clients define and accelerate sustainability transformations. Our advisors are experts in their field of environmental and social sustainability, business strategy, service design and data & technology. By leveraging our expertise, we help our clients embed sustainability at scale across the organization to make core businesses resilient and unlock new business opportunities.

Our social sustainability professionals like to talk about diversity, equity and inclusion and the interconnectedness of these with business and society. Please do not hesitate to reach out, if you need support on your journey!