Leading through change: how Swedish and Finnish JPOs are building leadership for today’s United Nations

Today's United Nations (UN) is evolving rapidly. From ongoing reforms and shifting global priorities to increasingly complex humanitarian, development and peace contexts, Junior Professional Officers (JPOs) are expected to navigate uncertainty while making meaningful contributions from the very beginning of their careers. In this environment, leadership is no longer defined by seniority alone. It is about adaptability, collaboration, resilience and the ability to create positive impact at any level within the Organization. 

To support JPOs at this pivotal stage of their professional journey, the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC), in partnership with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, brought together Swedish and Finnish JPOs for the Emerging Leadership Programme. Combining online learning with an immersive residential week in Turin, the programme offered participants the opportunity to strengthen the leadership capabilities needed to thrive in today's UN. 

As Thao Do Jörgensen, Senior Programme Manager at Sida, reflected: 

"Sweden and Finland are very keen on our collaboration with UNSSC to provide this training for the Swedish and Finnish JPOs. The programme provides JPOs with the tools, the mindset, and the awareness that leadership actually requires."

Understanding leadership in today's UN 

Working in the UN today means navigating complexity every day. Whether based in headquarters, Resident Coordinator Offices, regional bureaux or field operations, JPOs work in environments shaped by change, collaboration and increasingly interconnected global challenges. 

The programme encouraged participants to explore what leadership means in this context. Rather than focusing on formal authority or future management positions, discussions centred on a more immediate question: how can I make a meaningful contribution and lead from where I am today? 

Participants explored how effective leadership is grounded in self-awareness, integrity and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances while staying connected to the values and mission of the United Nations. 

"It was a great opportunity to engage directly with senior UN leaders. I also enjoyed hearing from people with different backgrounds and experiences across the UN system."— Anonymous participant, 2026 Emerging Leadership Programme evaluation survey   

Learning together through experience 

Leadership was not taught through lectures alone. Throughout the programme, participants engaged in experiential learning that encouraged them to practise leadership rather than simply discuss it. 

Through peer coaching, behavioural assessments, theatre-based exercises, collaborative challenges and facilitated reflection, JPOs explored how they communicate, make decisions and respond to uncertainty. Working in diverse teams allowed them to experience different leadership styles while receiving feedback from both faculty and peers. 

"I loved the theatre session because it combined movement and self-reflection while giving me practical tools I could bring back to my own team."— Anonymous participant, 2026 Emerging Leadership Programme evaluation survey   

These practical experiences demonstrated that leadership develops through continuous reflection and action. Participants strengthened their confidence, experimented with new approaches, and discovered how adaptability and learning agility become essential when working in rapidly evolving environments. 

"I especially appreciated all the creative activities: the vision board, paper tower, and games during the theatre session."— Anonymous participant, 2026 Emerging Leadership Programme evaluation survey

Growing through collaboration 

“The best thing about the programme was the time spent connecting and discussing with peers.” — Anonymous participant, 2026 Emerging Leadership Programme evaluation survey

Bringing together Swedish and Finnish JPOs from different UN entities created a unique space for exchanging perspectives, discussing common challenges and building relationships across agencies and duty stations. Although participants worked in very different contexts, many recognized similar experiences of navigating organizational change, collaborating across cultures and contributing without formal authority. 

“I most enjoyed all the peer exchanges and gained a lot from them, both within the sessions and in the breaks.” — Anonymous participant, 2026 Emerging Leadership Programme evaluation survey

These conversations reinforced that leadership is fundamentally relational. Building trust, listening actively, creating psychological safety and supporting colleagues are not skills reserved for managers; they are everyday leadership behaviours that strengthen collaboration across the UN system. 

Beyond the formal sessions, participants developed a strong peer network that will continue long after the programme, creating valuable connections across organizations, countries and future careers. 

Leadership starts before the title 

Throughout the programme, one message remained constant: leadership begins long before someone manages a team or receives a promotion. 

In today's United Nations, leadership is demonstrated through resilience, curiosity, empathy and the willingness to bring people together in the face of uncertainty. These qualities are developed through experience, reflection and continuous learning—not simply through seniority. 

As one participant reflected: 

"I can be a leader despite not being the most senior person in the office. It's a lot about who I want to be in the workplace and what values drive me and drive my work." 

Through the long years of continued partnership between the Governments of Sweden and Finland and UNSSC, the Emerging Leadership Programme continues to invest in the next generation of UN professionals. By equipping JPOs with the mindset, relationships and practical capabilities needed to navigate complexity, the programme prepares them not only for future leadership responsibilities, but also to make a meaningful contribution to the United Nations today.