WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award launches new initiative on gender-equal leadership with regional support
WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award will launch the project Leadership for Gender-Equal Societies in February, supported by funding of more than a quarter of a million Swedish kronor from the Västra Götaland Region. Running throughout 2026, the project aims to identify structural barriers and develop concrete recommendations to strengthen women’s pathways into leadership roles, with a particular focus on young people and emerging leaders.
"Gender-equal leadership is not only a question of fairness, but also of growth. By creating better conditions for women to step into leadership roles, we strengthen innovation, build more sustainable companies and support regional development. That is why the Västra Götaland Region is pleased to support this initiative" says Madeleine Jonsson, Chair of the Environment and Regional Development Committee.
The project will be carried out in Gothenburg, Trollhättan, Borås and Mark, bringing together students, business representatives and public-sector actors through seminars, workshops and round-table discussions. The work draws on research and experience from academia and the business sector and aims to promote knowledge exchange, build networks and develop practical recommendations for more gender-equal and inclusive leadership in the region, at a time when several sectors are struggling to attract and retain talent.
“To move forward, we need both measures that address immediate challenges and a more proactive approach. That is why it is important to bring together insights from both established leaders and those who have their careers ahead of them,” says Carolina Kristell, Project Manager at WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award.
A central part of the project is to engage students and young talents as future leaders and decision-makers. Insights from the project’s activities will be compiled in a digital report with ten recommendations, aimed at actors with the mandate to influence leadership practices, recruitment and organisational culture. The report will be launched in October 2026.
For further information:
Lovisa Ralpher, Head of Communications
+46 73 925 50 89
lovisa.ralpher@winwinaward.org
The WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award recognises and rewards outstanding initiatives that contribute to solutions to some of the most pressing global sustainability challenges. The award, worth SEK 1 million, has been presented annually in Gothenburg since 2000.
To support the next generation of changemakers, the WIN WIN Youth Award was established in 2018. The prize amounts to SEK 100,000 and is awarded to young individuals with great potential to contribute to a sustainable future.
The WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award also serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, bringing together local strengths and international perspectives on sustainability. The organisation operates as a non-profit association funded by partner members. Award recipients are selected by an independent jury comprising representatives from academia, business and civil society.
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