Lauri.co

28/02/2025

As DEI faces rollbacks in the U.S.—with governments and companies retreating— and the have an even greater responsibility to lead.

But this isn’t just a regional challenge. It’s global. The issues we face—poverty, energy access, climate change, education, and health—are not gender-neutral. Bias knows no borders.

If we want solutions that truly work for everyone, gender must be at the center of how we invest, innovate, and lead.

On March 12th, I’ll be at Norrsken House in Stockholm, sharing key insights from Acumen’s latest report, Pathways to Growth: Gender-smart business actions that work. I’ll then be joined by an inspiring panel of leaders from politics, business, startups, and research.

Together, we’ll tackle what it takes to drive lasting, impactful change—and highlight bold entrepreneurs who are already proving what’s possible.

If you’re in Stockholm and committed to building a more inclusive future, you won’t want to miss this.

06/02/2025

Given the events of the day, in Sweden and the world, this is for all of us—especially my daughter.

Right now—
someone is laughing, loud and unapologetic.
Someone is dancing wildly, without a care.
Someone is pushing past fear, past doubt,
into a version of themselves they've never known before.

Right now—
hugs are being given, fingers intertwined.
Mother to child, friend to friend,
stranger to stranger—human to human.
Someone is listening like they’ve never listened before.
Someone is speaking truth to feelings once swallowed.
Someone is showing up, doing the work—
no applause, no spotlight.

And you?
Are you still waiting for permission?
For the perfect moment?
For someone to tell you it’s time?

The moment is here.

Move. Create. Love.
The world needs you.

27/01/2025

What happens when 80 brilliant minds in STEM gather to reimagine equality, leadership, and inclusion?

Magic.

Last week, Lauri.co hosted an inspiring evening at Chalmers University of Technology with , bringing together PhD students, former university leaders, and gender equity advocates to explore the past, present, and future of inclusion in STEM.

Most of the participants were individuals who had been part of Lauri.co’s women’s or inclusive leadership programs. For many, it was a chance to reconnect—with the community, with themselves, and with their leadership aspirations. One participant shared how important it was to come back to this space—to be inspired, to laugh, and to reconnect with the leader she aspires to be, and in doing so, she can also encourage others to do the same.

The evening was full of powerful moments. Another participant reflected on the major changes she’s made in her life since realizing that leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about how you show up every day. These stories remind us why this work matters: creating spaces where individuals feel seen, supported, and empowered to lead.

Together, we tackled big questions by reflecting on the past, present, and future of gender inclusion:
➡️ What are we doing to move beyond quotas to achieve real equity?
➡️ How do we address the subtle barriers women face in leadership?
➡️ How do we build trust, foster belonging, and hold ourselves accountable for lasting change?

While (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) may feel like a buzzword, and in some parts of the world, a dying phrase, the work itself is centuries old—rooted in the timeless pursuit of equal opportunity, fairness, and respect.

This set of values, regardless of the term, will continue.

Because it’s not about labels; it’s about a mindset and a commitment to creating environments where diverse perspectives can flourish, grounded in values of freedom, respect, and opportunity. Chalmers University has made progress, and the journey continues. It’s about peeling back the layers to uncover what works, what doesn’t, and why.

As Margaret Mead said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.”

To everyone who joined us: thank you for your energy and ideas. Let’s keep building spaces where diverse voices fuel groundbreaking cultures, research, and innovation. Together, we can shape a future where equity isn’t just a goal—it’s a reality.

04/09/2024

Six years ago, I piloted and launched a Women's Leadership Program. Now, in 2024, I'm incredibly proud to share that women's leadership has continued to expand and impact women in the US, Asia and now the Nordics.

Below are highlights from a recent article that captures the essence of the Women’s Leadership Program at Chalmers University of Technology, which I have the privilege of directing. Supported by hashtag - Gender Initiative for Excellence - this initiative is more than just a leadership course—it’s a transformative journey for women in STEAM academia.

Here’s what some of our participants have shared:

- the program is “life-changing,” noting how it helped her redefine leadership on her own terms and build confidence in her abilities.

- Another participant shared that the program enabled her to discover her own leadership path: “I’ve learned to lead myself first, which is key to leading others effectively.”

- A third participant highlighted the profound impact of our supportive community: “We’ve formed a tribe of women who empower each other, and that sense of belonging has been invaluable.”

Our focus on self-awareness, values-driven leadership, and building strong support networks - a tribe - has empowered these incredible women to step confidently into leadership roles. They are now leading research teams, driving innovation, and making significant impacts in their institutions.

Leading this program has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Seeing these women - all women - thrive fills me with pride and optimism for the future.

As we prepare for the next cohort this autumn, I’m filled with excitement and hope. The work we’re doing is not just changing careers—it’s changing lives. I’m dedicated to growing this program so that even more women can overcome barriers and step confidently into their future, backed by a strong and supportive community.

We are stronger together.

Interested in learning more or getting involved? Reach out.

Leadership WomenInAcademia

14/08/2024

In 2008, I embarked on an inspiring journey with Acumen.org as an intern in its water portfolio, deeply moved by their visionary approach to addressing poverty.

Today, I’m thrilled to return as the Nordic Lead for Development and Partnerships, driven by my profound belief that patience is a revolution.

Philanthropy and social impact investing are gaining significant momentum in the . While the strong welfare state and social safety nets have long been central to addressing social issues, we’re now witnessing a surge in private philanthropy and impact investing. Visionary entrepreneurs are stepping forward, eager to complement state efforts with innovative solutions across the Nordics and beyond.

This brings us to a vital question: How can we harness our current economic and political systems, our shared values, our "moral leadership" to effectively combat poverty?

At Acumen, we wholeheartedly believe in the power of doing just that. We invest in visionary entrepreneurs who are building a more inclusive world. Guided by the inspiring leadership of CEO Jacqueline Novogratz, Acumen has evolved into a global powerhouse of entrepreneurs, investors, foundations, and social innovators, all dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty. We invest not only capital but also in people, ideas, and enterprises that create lasting, meaningful change.

**Acumen’s remarkable impact so far:**
- 648 million lives impacted.
- 1,600+ alumni in our Acumen Academy.
- $250-million initiative to expand energy access in 16 African nations.
- 4,036 new jobs created, 31% for women.

In my new role, I’m deeply excited to build and strengthen partnerships across the Nordics, merging Nordic values with modern innovations to drive positive change and tackle poverty.

Alongside my work with Acumen, I’m also thrilled to continue leading initiatives through Lauri.co, where we are passionately committed to women’s leadership, social impact, and innovation—both in the Nordics and globally.

I’m eager to embark on this journey and be part of the incredible impact we’ll create together!

Acumen revolutionizes poverty solutions with Patient Capital, training leaders, investing in businesses, and impacting 648M lives globally.

24/10/2023

20/10/2023

18/10/2023

"your life is your life
don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.
be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can’t beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvelous
the gods wait to delight
in you."
Charles Bukowski

Diego Rivera

05/10/2023

Official book tour dates for EVERYTHING IS NOT ENOUGH with links to register for each event in the US, UK, and Sweden -> October 22 - November 24, 2023 https://lolaakinmade.com/travel/official-book-tour-dates-for-everything-is-not-enough/

01/09/2023

Voting for the Nordic Diversify "Spark" award ends Sunday, September 3rd and I would greatly appreciate your vote if you haven't done so already.

I even made a silly video for you. Do I look sparky? 🙂

Click here: https://blaze.diversify.no/
Thank you!

29/08/2023

A good friend asked me yesterday what I would do if I won the Diversify award for the Nordics.

And it really got me thinking. What would I do?

When I moved to Sweden five years ago, one thought was to take the work that Sweden, and the Nordics, do really well (and they really do some of this well), and share it with the world, from a normative perspective.

Like gender equality.

Even though Sweden can be very critical of itself on gender, it still does a great job. Some of you may debate this, and that’s fine. (But right now, I’m not going to debate.) Because part of this is how much a country believes or perceives that there is an issue. A challenge. A problem. And if we believe there is an issue, people will take action around it.

Like Stockholm-based The Case for Her and Ownershift. Intersectional gender equality. Inclusive gender equality. Global gender equality.

What’s been equally fun is to bring my work to Sweden, the Nordics. My leadership and social innovations programs at Chalmers University of Technology and Halmstad Högskola’s school of Innovation, Business and Sustainability. Speaking engagements (spontaneous dancing included) at TEDx Wilmington Women (now on TED), Storytel and the Fe:Male Nordic Invest Summit. Advising and collaborating on the Women and Girls Africa Summit and Urban Challenges, a multi-country project sponsored by the Swedish Institute and Impact Hub.

So when I look at the other people and organizations who have been nominated for the various Diversified awards, my dream is that by winning this award, we expand on the work that we’re doing, individually and collectively. And we could have a greater impact together.

Because we are stronger together.

You can vote for me here, by September 3: https://blaze.diversify.no/

(And really, can we start with a together?)