Jens Heitland's Linkedin Analytics

Looking for the Link? 👉 https://www.jensheitland.com/links In 2019, I held the prestigious position of global Head of Innovation at IKEA Centres. One evening, after a late flight, I found myself on a packed train from Copenhagen, Denmark to Malmo, Sweden, eager to be reunited with my family on the other side. As I stood there, restless and anxious, I decided to tune into a podcast by Seth Godin. Godin spoke about the education system and how society has become adept at collecting information but often fails to connect the dots. In that moment, a sudden realization hit me. I couldn't help but question my own purpose and the direction my life was taking. That night, I made the difficult decision to step down from my high-profile role at IKEA Centres. This was the beginning of a new journey for me, one where I was determined to follow my passions and make a meaningful impact in the world. Earlier. In 2004, redundancy from my first job after seven years of hard work changed my life. I felt betrayed, I vowed never to leave my destiny in someone else’s hands and committed to rewriting my story. As I climbed the corporate ladder, human leadership captivated me. I studied Leaders, the inspiring, the indifferent, and the detrimental and uncovered the secret to innovation: empowered teams flourish under empathetic leaders. My mantra became: empower to be empowered. In 2019, a train ride and Seth Godin’s words reshaped my perspective. Leaving IKEA Centres wasn’t the end; it was the beginning. My mission crystallized: to connect innovative leaders with their dreams, blending systems thinking, leadership and innovation. This led to HEITLAND Innovation, a consultancy for human innovation. It wasn’t just about process improvement; it redefined how organizations empower teams to drive sustainable innovation. I co-founded XYZ-Playground a Reverse Mentor Lab and launched WeAreSucceed a leadership Assessment Platform. To amplify my Thought Leadership, I mastered social media, video production and website design, sharing my insights through my podcasts which inspired Heitland Media Group, an agency helping CEO's to make their credibility visible. Public speaking has taken me across 30+ global stages, from Moscow to Barcelona, including events like Mobile World Congress and Berlin Fashion Week. From my construction site beginnings in 1997 to international stages, my journey has been about building ladders for others. That train ride wasn’t just a trip; it marked my commitment to reshaping innovation—one human at a time. Let's innovate the human way