Jette Jørgensen & Thomas Olofsson on Culture, Togetherness and the IKEA Way

Jette Jørgensen is Managing Director for Ingka Group Multifunctional Hubs, responsible for global offices across 32 countries. Thomas Olofsson is Multi-Functional Hub Manager at IKEA's Ingka Group office in Bangalore — and, as it turns out, a man who only discovered coffee at age 55, courtesy of a guy named Kiran who runs a garage coffee operation. There is no better origin story.

Ram met them both during Jette's visit to Bangalore toward the end of 2025, and the conversation that followed was one of the most grounded, warmhearted episodes yet. Thirty-eight years at the same company. A forklift driver turned global HR leader. A chance wrong turn on an Australian highway that launched an entire career. This one had it all.

What stood out

Their IKEA origin story is wilder than you think.

Jette didn't plan to join IKEA. She took a wrong exit on a highway in Australia in 1987, drove into a construction site, and was asked on the spot if she was there for the interview. She wasn't. She went back that afternoon anyway. Thirty-eight years later, she's still there.

"Someone gave me the chance once when I was in Australia. They gave me the opportunity to do what I can do, with a hand on my back saying: yes, you can do it. We believe in you. That's what it's all about."

Togetherness isn't a value on a poster.

Both Jette and Thomas came back to this again and again. At IKEA, the cultural glue is real and it's enforced. Three days minimum in the office, and Thomas was blunt about it.

"I do definitely see us, for IKEA, it will never be less than three days. Because then I will quit for sure. Because then I don't think it's fun, and I don't believe in it."

Activity-based working, done properly.

Thomas walked through how IKEA's global offices have moved away from assigned desks toward neighborhoods and activity zones: focus areas, collaboration spaces, soundproofed rooms for sensitive conversations. The logic is simple. When you move around the office, you bump into people you wouldn't otherwise meet. That's where things happen.

Speed dating for managers.

One of the more unexpectedly brilliant ideas in recent Fika Friday memory: Thomas gathered 30 managers for a structured speed dating session. No agenda, just people meeting colleagues they'd never properly spoken to. Personal friendships formed. Business problems got solved on the side.

Danish versus Swedish, settled once and for all.

Jette (Danish) and Thomas (Swedish) gave the most entertaining breakdown of Scandinavian cultural differences heard on this show. The Danes are direct, move fast, make the call. The Swedes want one more round of consensus. Neither is wrong. Together, apparently, they're quite good.

"The Danish are a bit more straightforward. Coming to the point. And in Sweden, sometimes we take one more turn. That is not always for the bad. That can actually be for the good."

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One thing I'll keep thinking about

Jette described how IKEA started inviting coworkers and their families into the office for family days. The kids played together, people met colleagues they'd never crossed paths with, and when it was time to go home, nobody wanted to leave.

A workplace policy can mandate three days in the office. It takes something deeper to make families stay past closing time.

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