The Swedish approach to the COVID-19 pandemic stood out globally, as it was far less restrictive in terms of lockdowns, school closures, and face mask mandates. Sweden built its strategy on voluntary measures rather than coercion, with guidance from state epidemiologist Dr. Anders Tegnell. Under intense scrutiny, he chose to stand firm in support of the Swedish model, which was based on expert consensus.

“It’s too early to say what works—we’ll only know in a few years,” Tegnell repeated like a mantra.
Now, a few years have passed… and it turns out Tegnell may have been right.

What was it like to go from an anonymous civil servant to being in the global media spotlight during one of the greatest crises in modern history?
Was it Sweden and Tegnell—or was it the rest of the world that had gone mad?

How do you lead both an organization and an entire country when humanity is facing a deep crisis?
What can we learn for future crises?

Everyone had an opinion about Tegnell. Some wished him ill. Others tattooed his face on their bodies. How does one navigate such polarized views?

How did things unfold when the pandemic was over? What interventions actually worked? What do the statistics reveal?
During a time of great uncertainty—with competing strategies, each grounded in their own logic—which approach ultimately proved most rational?

And how is humanity doing now, after it all? Most importantly: how can the world better handle the next pandemic? Because one thing is certain—there will be a next one.

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Listen as Dr. Tegnell personally reflects on these and many other questions in a well-produced, fast-paced lecture. In just 45 minutes, you’ll embark on a truly unique journey—one that offers thought-provoking insights and leaves a lasting impression.

After the lecture, Anders is happy to stay for an open Q&A session—or also to take part in a discussion tailored to your business or organization’s future challenges.

The lecture launched in Sweden in spring 2024 and quickly generated high demand. Audience feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with clients ranging from companies across various industries to major speaker agencies. References are available upon request.

Topics covered in the lecture:

  • Leadership
  • Crisis communication
  • Integrity
  • Health
  • Global collaboration – or the lack thereof
  • COVID-19

Example of Dr. Tegnells involvement in the media early on during the pandemic:

CNN
The Daily Show
Channel 4 News
ABC News
UnHerd

And imagine if we had known this back then:
Sky News (especially 00:40–01:14)

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