Karla Lindahl: “Growing as a leader has meant shifting focus from myself to others”
1. Can you describe your journey to leadership?
My journey has been both personal and professional. I transitioned from a specialist role first to a specialist leader, and then on to a broader leadership role. For me, growing as a leader has meant growing as a human being and shifting focus from myself to others.
I believe listening is a core skill for any leader, and in fact, one of the nicest pieces of feedback I’ve ever received was from someone who told me, “You truly listen to understand.” I try to treat people fairly and expect the same in return.
2. How do you envision the future for women leaders?
I’ve seen positive change in diversity, equity and inclusion at KONE over the past five to ten years. But one thing that still needs to develop is that women should go for their dreams without hesitation.
I sometimes see young women reluctant to apply for roles because they’re planning for children. My advice: don’t hold back. Life doesn’t always follow the timeline we expect. I speak from experience: I had my first child at 41 and my second at 42. Looking back, I’m so glad I didn’t put my career on hold while waiting for something I couldn’t control.
3. What actions have you taken to support or accelerate equity in your career?
For a time, I had a principle that I would only mentor young, promising women. Later, I realized that focusing only on women wasn’t necessary – mentorship should be about supporting talent, regardless of gender identity.
At KONE, trainings and discussions around inclusion and psychological safety have deepened my understanding and shaped how I lead. I think that these conversations are having a real impact on our culture.
4. What advice would you give to women aspiring to leadership?
The best way to advance in your career is by being a team player while pursuing your professional goals. Stay true to your values, be curious, work hard, and always help others succeed. Don’t slow down your career because of family planning. If you have a child along the way, you will figure things out.
5. What’s your personal habit or ritual that helps you stay grounded as a leader?
At work, listening carefully to our teams and customers. At home, my little kids keep me grounded. I miss them when I travel, but leadership works very differently at home. Anyone raising a toddler knows this well – you’re not the one leading!
Karla Lindahl is the Executive Vice President, Europe, at KONE. She values fairness, courage, and above all, deep listening. As the first woman to hold a business leadership role on KONE’s executive board, she is committed to showing that diverse talent belongs in leadership.
Linda Lin Hong: “I encourage everyone to step beyond their defined roles”
1. Can you describe your journey to leadership?
I started my career as an executive assistant to the CEO of a large state-owned enterprise, which gave me a strategic perspective and I got a closeup view on how decisions were made. Since then, no matter what job I’ve taken on, I’ve always asked: How does my work contribute to the company strategy?
As a leader, I don’t believe in strict boundaries between roles. In any organization, there will always be situations where it’s unclear whose responsibility it falls under. I encourage my team to step beyond their defined roles, to learn more, and go the extra mile. This not only helps the team succeed but also accelerates their own growth.
2. How do you envision the future for women leaders?
Leadership isn’t about gender; it’s about building diverse teams with different perspectives. I’ve worked in various industries from IT to construction, and I’ve seen firsthand how diversity adds value.
In China, women leaders are on the rise, but many still hesitate to speak up or underestimate their potential – we need to support them. At KONE China, all three business line leaders at the headquarters level are women, and we’re working to increase women’s leadership at the regional and branch level as well.
3. What actions have you taken to support or accelerate equity in your career?
I believe in lifting others. I’ve worked with our HR to explore how we can encourage more women to step into leadership roles.
Leadership isn’t about telling people what to do, it’s about making their jobs easier. I remind my senior colleagues that before we ask frontline managers to take on more responsibilities, we should first ask ourselves: How can we support them?
4. What advice would you give to women aspiring to leadership?
Your job is a big part of your life, so choose work you genuinely enjoy. If you wake up every day dreading going into work, something needs to change.
Stay consistent. It takes at least 10 years of deep experience to reach senior leadership. Jumping from job to job frequently can slow long-term career growth. Instead, invest in learning and making an impact. The more you connect your work to the wider business, the more valuable you become.
5. What’s your personal habit or ritual that helps you stay grounded as a leader?
Every Friday, I meet with my assistant to map out the next two weeks. When I send a meeting invite to participants, I always include a few key points: Why are we meeting? What do we want to achieve?
Work is a marathon, not a sprint, and I respect work-life balance – for myself and my team.
Linda is the Senior Vice President, New Building Solutions, Greater China at KONE. She believes great leadership comes from personal empowerment and seeing beyond the job titles.
Janet Freeland: “People will remember you if you take the initiative”
1. Can you describe your journey to leadership?
I started at KONE in the sales training program before moving into various sales and leadership roles. This included working directly with customers, leading training programs, and developing service sales initiatives, before eventually moving into management.
I have found that learning different aspects of the business has allowed me to see things from many more points of view and I encourage others to do the same.
2. How do you envision the future for women leaders?
I don’t think about leadership in terms of gender. It’s about who is best for the job. That said, our industry is still male-dominated. There are about 50 general managers at KONE in the U.S., and only a handful are women.
Women sometimes place unrealistic expectations on themselves. There’s this idea that you need to do everything. I don’t believe in that. You have to set priorities. In my case, my husband and I split the household and family responsibilities. So, it’s about finding what works for you and not feeling guilty about it.
3. What actions have you taken to support or accelerate equity in your career?
I don’t think opportunities are handed to anyone. You have to make your own way. No one at KONE ever thought of me as a “female leader” – I was always just Janet.
4. What advice would you give to women aspiring to leadership?
A sales manager once gave me advice that stuck with me: before you leave for the day, make one more call. That extra effort sets you apart.
Take charge of your own development. Learn as much as possible, even outside your role. Ask questions, be curious, and build your network. People will remember you if you take the initiative.
5. What’s your personal habit or ritual that helps you stay grounded as a leader?
Instead of thinking, I’ve got to go to work today, I remind myself, I get to go to work today. That positive shift in perspective makes a huge difference.
I also believe in separating work and personal life. My team knows that when I’m at work, I’m 100% focused. When I’m off, I disconnect.
Janet Freeland is General Manager, Service & Solutions, Central West District, USA, at KONE Americas, leading operations, sales, and service in a high-demand market. With 27 years at the company, she values hard work, staying strong, and leading by example.
Kulsum Sarah: “More women need to have the courage to take up space”
1. Can you describe your journey to leadership?
My leadership journey hasn’t followed a straight path. I started as a sales engineer, moved up to senior sales engineer, then into business development. I just saw the opportunity, gathered the courage, and took the plunge.
Throughout my career, I’ve gravitated toward supporting others. I have always volunteered to guide new team members by sharing best practices and helping make sure they had the tools to succeed.
To me, leadership is about creating opportunities for others and lifting them up. I’ve been lucky to have mentors who saw my potential before I even saw it in myself. I want to be that kind of leader too.
2. How do you envision the future for women leaders?
The biggest barriers for women in leadership are often internal. Women may hesitate to speak up, hold back from opportunities, or wait to be invited to share their thoughts. More of us need to have the courage to take up space.
At the same time, there’s a real need for more mentorship for women. In a male-dominated industry like ours, it’s often easier for men to find mentors who will invest in their growth. Women need that same level of support.
3. What actions have you taken to support or accelerate equity in your career?
For me, mentorship and leading by example are key to driving change. I’ve always encouraged people, especially women, to speak up, share their ideas, and step forward.
It helps that KONE provides an open, inclusive environment. There’s a genuine effort to listen to employees. In the past five years, more women have been taking on key roles, and I know this change will continue.
4. What advice would you give to women aspiring to leadership?
Believe in yourself more. Be more optimistic. Don’t assume a space isn’t meant for you – step in and claim it.
Even if you don’t feel 100% ready for a role, go for it. Some of the biggest career breakthroughs happen when you push past your comfort zone. Build a strong support network of mentors, peers, and colleagues who inspire you. You become like the people around you, so choose those who will push you to grow.
5. What’s your personal habit or ritual that helps you stay grounded as a leader?
Every day during my drive home, I take time to replay the day in my mind: what went well and what I could have done better. Too often, we focus on what we haven’t done rather than what we have, so I also celebrate my achievements. This helps build momentum and fuel my confidence for the coming day.
Kulsum Sarah is a Business Development Manager in Dubai, KONE Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, working across 66 countries to support and empower distributor partners. Her career has been anything but linear. She’s taken risks, stepped outside her role, and challenged herself to grow. Now, she’s focused on helping others do the same.