On this episode of Adapt or Die: Transformative Leadership Conversations, former tech CEO–turned–executive coach Andreas Pettersson reconnects with Janne Jakobsen—Senior Vice President, mentor to rising leaders, and co-author of Power Without Permission. A results-oriented executive with over 25 years of international experience, Janne has led across product and portfolio management, brand strategy, global marketing, and customer experience. Her leadership centers on customer focus, strategic vision, and building inclusive, resilient teams that can scale insight into impact. But in one of her biggest roles, she found herself increasingly silenced in an all-male executive room—where real decisions happened before the meeting even began. From burnout and imposter syndrome to rediscovery and reinvention, Janne shares how losing her voice helped her find her power again—and why no culture is worth shrinking for.
Challenge → The only woman on an executive team, Janne realized she was being excluded from key decisions and slowly shrinking into silence—trying to mimic the “masculine” traits that seemed to dominate the room.
Adaptation → After being let go, she worked with a coach to redefine her non-negotiables, rebuild her confidence, and prioritize values-aligned cultures where she could thrive as herself.
Success → Today, she leads enterprise-wide change with emotional intelligence and strategic clarity, mentors the next generation of leaders, and holds two board seats—thanks to a push from her daughter who reminded her why representation matters.
🔥 60-Second Hot Seat:
Janne retired the belief that she had to be like everyone else to be heard, and broke her own “never give up” rule—learning that walking away isn’t failure, it’s freedom. Power Without Permission means taking your shot before someone says you can.
📘 Power Without Permission
Janne is a featured co-author in Power Without Permission. Grab the book at leadersadapt.com/book to learn from women leading without compromise.
Visit www.leadersadapt.com/adaptordie for show notes, free resources, and coaching programs.
Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/andreas-pettersson
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