How do you build a future-ready boardroom? For Mie Krog, the answer lies at the intersection of strong business acumen and a deep appreciation for the human side of business.
A Chair and former executive with over 20 years of leadership experience at companies like LEGO and JYSK, Krog has spent her career driving transformation. As the co-founder and Ambassador of SelectionF, she has also been instrumental in championing female executives across the Nordics. We sat down with Mie to discuss her unique approach to strategy, the enduring importance of professional networks, and why a genuinely open mindset is a modern leader’s greatest superpower.
1. You were instrumental in building SelectionF in Denmark from its early days. What problem did you set out to solve and why is that mission still relevant today?
The Danish private business sector is predominantly made up of SMEs and MMEs. Tracking the numbers and the development of female representation on boards and in management positions within this sector has shown us time and again that enacting change here takes even more time and requires stronger business relationships between competent female board profiles, founders, and private equity (PE) companies.
We set out to make the growing cohort of female CXOs known to these sector boards. We initially used a digital platform; however, this approach proved to be too reactive. We later pivoted the concept to empower these women to build stronger relationships with boards and networks themselves. This pivot made a significant difference. Learning about how this agenda is developing across the Nordics has also brought new perspectives to the conversation, which I am very proud of. Denmark and Danish companies have much to learn from their Nordic counterparts.
2. Your career spans senior executive leadership, CEO roles, and a broad portfolio of chair and non-executive positions across very different industries. Which experiences have most shaped the way you contribute in the boardroom today and in what types of strategic situations do you believe you add the greatest value?
I am driven by growth and transformation, and the dynamics of these are more universal than we think. Over the years, I have learned that "culture actually eats strategy for breakfast" and can be the strongest leverage for strategy execution if we take it seriously and develop it carefully.
This, combined with the acknowledgment that most companies are facing radical changes not only in their marketplaces but also within their talent bases, has taught me that we as boards and leaders need to think even more holistically and cohesively than ever before. It takes strong facilitation and listening skills to be part of future-ready executive leadership, and I am very attentive to our role as a board to also prioritize talent development and succession. I bridge sector and functional insights with strong business acumen across multiple business models. It is a unique combination of perspectives, and I deeply value the human side of business together, this forms a powerful combination.
3. You have worked to advance women in leadership and boards for many years. Where do you believe companies still get it wrong when they talk about diversity and what would a genuinely strategic approach look like to secure diverse executive management and boards?
A genuinely open mindset is the core of getting it right. I am amazed by how few executive leaders have truly trained their personal mindsets and are capable of recognizing their own patterns and biases. Leaders who can both differentiate and integrate across diverse perspectives possess a unique superpower. I believe this training should be mandatory in leadership development programs. Personally, I started my training early on as a student, and this has helped me seamlessly bridge both cross-functional and cultural perspectives over time.
4. SelectionF is a network for women who are already highly accomplished. Why do experienced CXOs and board professionals need a network like SelectionF and what can happen when the right people, perspectives, and opportunities are brought together?
Doors and perspectives that have been either closed or fixed remain a hindrance if we do not learn from one another. I truly believe in mirroring other talented leaders both male and female. We all need to be inspired, particularly by professionals we can identify with. Personally, this has helped me tremendously over the years.
5. Looking ahead, what would you like SelectionF to achieve over the next decade and what would you say to a senior leader considering joining the network, or to a company considering becoming a strategic partner?
Join, learn, and help multiply this important agenda you will never regret it. It creates value for so many, and it is so much bigger than any one individual. Young women and men need leadership role models to inspire them and the future demands it.
Fact Box: Who is Mie Krog?
Experienced Chair, Independent Non-Executive Director, and strategic advisor with a broad board portfolio across finance, mobility, hospitality, technology, and other industries.
More than 20 years of senior executive and CEO experience, including leadership roles with companies such as LEGO, JYSK, Salling Group/ILVA, and Kentaur.
Chair of the Scandinavian Executive Institute, Aarhus Letbane, and Ruths Hotel, and Board Member of Forenet Kredit.
Brings extensive experience in strategy, growth, transformation, customer-centricity, digitalization, and organizational development.
Co-founder of SelectionF, now serving as a SelectionF Ambassador.
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