This fall, our CEO, Anders Gustafsson, met with all the 15 Navigators for 2025. For this external feature, we have highlighted six of them, Teodor Pihl, Valtteri Semi, Olli Haavisto, Vili Paavola, Anna Maria Lundgren, and Amanda Thoren, to explore their experiences, learnings, and ambitions. Their insights reveal a shared belief in possibility, progress, and the power of working together.
In NRC Group, we have a Navigator Program, a Nordic leadership development program for talented and ambitious emerging leaders in the company. The goal is to build confidence and solid leadership skills in young employees with the ambition and potential to take on leadership roles in NRC Group in the future.
Our CEO, Anders Gustafsson, met with all the Navigators. This year we have 15 Navigators from Norway, Sweden and Finland. Meet six of them, Teodor Pihl, Valtteri Semi, Olli Haavisto, Vili Paavola, Anna Maria Lundgren, and Amanda Thoren, and read about their experiences, learnings, and ambitions. Their insights reveal a shared belief in opportunities, progress, and the power of working together.
At NRC Group, we believe leadership is not a title. It is a mindset. The Navigator Program is our Nordic development initiative designed to nurture talented people who want to grow, challenge themselves, and shape the future of our company.
Growing as leaders
For many of the Navigators, the program has been a turning point.
Site Manager Teodor Pihl describes how taking responsibility accelerated both his personal growth and his team’s development. “When we introduced our Formula One approach, the team embraced change. Seeing people grow has been the most rewarding part.”
Project Coordinator Anna Maria Lundgren shares that the program helped her learn more about herself. “Before joining, I did not see myself as a leader. The program helped me build confidence and understand my strengths.”
Their stories reflect many similarities. We develop and grow as leaders when we dare to speak up, trust our abilities, are open to change and support each other.
A future full of possibilities
The Navigators share an optimistic view of NRC Group’s future. They see opportunities in new market areas, the increasing importance of sustainable infrastructure, and the more agile way of working. Many highlight how the Formula One strategy shows a clear direction, is helping the company move faster and to work more efficiently to drive profitable growth across projects and divisions.
If Amanda was the CEO for one day, she would strengthen the Formula One community with even more ambassadors to ensure everyone understands the direction, the why and how to ensure speed in reaching our goals.
They also highlight the impact of Workvivo, NRC Group’s internal communication platform where employees connect, share updates, celebrate wins, learn from each other and stay informed. For the Navigators, it creates transparency, fuels two-way communications and a sense of unity across countries and divisions.
Their excitement points toward a company that is evolving, learning, and moving with confidence into new segments while implementing strategies that ensure focus, speed, and alignment across the organization.
Courage. Collaboration. Expertise. Curiosity.
When discussing what fuels long term, profitable growth, the Navigators return to many of the same words. Courage. Collaboration. Expertise. Curiosity.
If Olli was the CEO for one day, he would implement a feedback day for the entire company, as feedback culture is key to reach our goals.
The Navigators believe progress happens when teams work as one, when people share ideas openly, and when everyone is willing to learn and adapt. This mindset is already shaping NRC Group’s culture and strengthening the foundation for future growth.
If Anna-Maria was the CEO for one day she would ensure we always act as one company. Then we would achieve even more across divisions, teams and countries.
Anna-Maria Lundgren, Project Coordinator Mitt-/Ådalsbanan, NRC Group Sweden.
Becoming the leaders of tomorrow
Through the Navigator Program, participants have learned that leadership begins from within. They describe gaining greater self-awareness, becoming better listeners, and growing more comfortable giving and receiving feedback.
Their development is not just personal. It contributes directly to a stronger NRC Group.
If Vili was the CEO for one day, he would invest more in building an even stronger brand reputation to ensure our great stories are well known for new customers and employees.
The Navigators in Helsinki spring 2025
Looking ahead
The Navigators represent the future of NRC Group. Their energy, openness, and commitment to learning embody the culture we strive to build every day.
The program is more than a training initiative. It is a growing community of people who challenge themselves, support each other, and implement change with intention and heart.
If Valtteri was the CEO for one day, he would ensure a unified culture across the company to share more best practices and learn from each other.
The Navigators agreed that the winning spirit of NRC Group is much about building trust, being courageous, working as one team and open for change.