Theme(s): Management & Leadership, Just Work
What does it really mean to lead with humility, trust, and presence in today’s workplace?
In this episode of The Creative Tension, host Mark Jørgensen Chaudhry sits down with Vaida Hingeberg Pedersen to explore Vaida’s view that context is key in leadership and that the best leaders are those who are humble, listen first, speak last, and act with honesty and curiosity.
Vaida shares her reflections from more than 20 years working in transformation and leadership roles. She challenges the tendency to overcomplicate strategies and frameworks, and instead calls for simplicity, clarity, and conversations that build trust across organizations.
Summary
In a world where management narratives are often polarized – leaders are often either celebrated as heroes or condemned as villains. Vaida offers a more nuanced and human perspective. She emphasizes that leadership is about being present, listening deeply, and creating the conditions where people can co-create better ways of working.
She shares practical gifts for any leader or aspiring leader: enter new roles humbly, tailor motivation to individuals, and view leadership as facilitation rather than authority. The conversation highlights how meaningful work comes not from titles or recognition but from creating value and trust together.
Gifts & Key Takeaways
- Listen more, speak last — remember “two ears, one mouth.”
- Be human before title — humility, honesty, and curiosity build trust.
- Leadership is a mirror, not a megaphone — reflect, don’t dominate.
- Arrive humble, not guns blazing — first learn what already works well before initiating changes.
- Treat everyone individually — tailor motivation and support to each person.
- Act as facilitator/coach — be a vessel that amplifies the ideas of your team.
- Context is key — no one-size-fits-all approach works in leadership or organizations.
Guest Bio – Vaida Hingeberg Pedersen
Vaida Hingeberg Pedersen is a forward-thinking innovator and holistic problem solver with over 20 years of experience in leading transformation and change. She views organizations as interconnected systems and creates environments of trust where teams can question, challenge, and co-create better ways of working. Her leadership philosophy combines clear goals with freedom to innovate, bridging strategy and execution across IT and business.
Currently reflecting on her next professional steps, Vaida is seeking meaningful work with “her right people” – organizations and colleagues who share her values of humility, honesty, and curiosity. She is passionate about reducing over-complication, aligning technology with business outcomes, and enabling truly human leadership.
How to Reach the Guest
Company website: Metamorfera
LinkedIn: Vaida Hingeberg Pedersen
