67 - Jarmo Suominen: Drop the Idea That Everyone Thinks Like You

Nordic Leaders

In this episode of Nordic Leaders: Fail Smart, we welcome back Jarmo Suominen, CEO of Rejlers Abu Dhabi, marking his second appearance on the podcast—our first returning guest! We explore leadership lessons from one of the UAE's fastest-growing professional services firms, diving into resilience, growth, and adapting to an ever-changing business landscape.

Key Takeaways:

1. Focus and Learning from Failure:

🎙️ Focus on the task at hand and avoid over-planning.
🎙️ "When you’re somewhere, focus on what you’re doing. When you’ve had enough, start looking for something else."

2. Leading Through Crisis:

🎙️ COVID-19 Strategy: Despite the market shutdown, Jarmo kept his team intact
by cutting salaries across the board instead of laying off staff. This decision
helped preserve the company’s core talent.
🎙️ Rejlers Abu Dhabi emerged stronger post-pandemic, growing from 45
employees to 300 and becoming the most profitable unit in the global Rejlers
group.

3. Building Trust in a Diverse Organization:
🎙️ "What we’re selling in consulting is trust."
🎙️ How to Build Trust:

• Be genuinely interested in people.
• Lead by example—be present, listen, and engage.
• Avoid imposing personal ideologies or assumptions on others.

4. Leadership Evolution:

🎙️ From Manager to Coach: Jarmo’s leadership style evolved from directive
management to coaching through listening and asking the right questions.
🎙️ "If the house is on fire, it’s not time to discuss what’s for dinner." Coaching
works best in non-emergency scenarios.

5. Cultural Intelligence:
🎙️ Leading a team of 24 nationalities requires cultural sensitivity, curiosity, and genuine interest.
🎙️ Advice for Leaders Moving Abroad: "Drop the idea that everyone thinks like
you."

Memorable Quotes:

• "Don’t plan too far ahead—you’ll be disappointed."
• "Be honest, but remember that most people say they want the truth—until they hear it."
• "Let people discover solutions themselves; nothing works better than a self-made realization."

Podcast Team Reflections:

• David: "The best time to leave a party is when you’re enjoying yourself the most."
• Nick: "Focus and adaptability stood out as essential leadership traits."
• Stefano: "Selling trust defines good consulting—a guiding principle for any leader."

Closing Thought:

Jarmo’s enduring lesson resonates beyond business: Success isn’t about imposing one way of thinking but about fostering trust, enabling growth, and embracing diverse perspectives. His journey through challenge and transformation exemplifies leadership resilience and the power of learning minds.

Thank you for tuning in to Nordic Leaders: Fail Smart. Stay curious, keep learning, and see you next time!