On 30 April 2025, the Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce (SACC) partnered with Mentimeter to host an engaging business networking event in Sydney, centred around one of the most pressing challenges facing organisations today: leading through change.

Held at Tank Stream Labs in the heart of Sydney CBD, the event brought together professionals from across industries to explore how companies and leaders can better navigate organisational change, empower teams, and build resilience through communication, trust, and skill development.

Why do so many change initiatives fail?

The session opened with some eye-opening statistics that framed the conversation:

• Only 34% of change initiatives are considered successful.

• Less than 30% of employees trust leadership during periods of change.

• Around 60% of employees say they don’t have the skills needed to adapt to change.

These numbers highlight a fundamental gap between intention and execution — and sparked a lively discussion around the following core questions:

• Why do so many change initiatives fail?

• What role does transparency and communication play in gaining employee buy-in?

• How can companies proactively upskill employees to prepare for change?

Expert Panel Discussion

Moderated by Sandra Nordenhager Senior Sales Manager APAC at Mentimeter, the panel featured experienced leaders from across sectors who shared insights, practical advice and personal reflections on navigating organisational transformation.

One of the standout moments came when the panel was asked:
“If you could give one piece of advice to a leader going through change, what would it be?”
Their responses emphasised empathy, clarity, and a strong sense of purpose — themes echoed throughout the evening.

Key takeaways from the discussion:

Trust and communication are essential – They form the foundation of any successful change process. Without them, even the best-planned initiatives will struggle to gain traction.

Resistance is normal – Not everyone will embrace change, and that’s okay. Leaders need to ensure those who are uncertain or resistant feel heard and are given the right support to adapt.

Adapt your communication style – Leaders must tailor their messaging depending on the audience. Providing the right context and framing is critical to gaining alignment and clarity across all levels of the organisation.

Purpose and planning matter – Change without a clear reason or roadmap is far more likely to fail. Employees need to understand not only what is changing, but why.

Everyone can adapt – with the right support – The idea that only some employees are “ready” for change is a myth. Given the right information, tools, and trust, everyone has the capacity to evolve with the organisation.

An evening of insight and connection

Beyond the discussion, the evening offered valuable networking opportunities, interactive engagement through Mentimeter    live tools, a free copy of Michael Vullings’ book “Changing The Game” on arrival,  food and drinks. We hope that attendees walked away with practical takeaways and a stronger sense of how to lead — and support — through change in their own organisations.

Special thanks to Mentimeter, our panellists Mateja Sucur, Michael Vullings and Jeff Flaherty, moderator Sandra Nordenhager and all attendees who contributed to the conversation. Let’s continue building organisations that are not only agile, but place people first in how they approach change.

About the Speakers:

Mateja Sucur is the Sales Director and Interim General Manager of Mentimeter’s APAC office, leading both Customer Acquisition and Customer Success teams. As a leader of a fast paced start-up, she has gained extensive experience in how to lead high-performing teams through change, where individuals feel empowered to grow and make an impact. She believes that when people thrive, business success naturally follows.

Michael Vullings is an expert in strategy and business transformation, and has supported 60+ projects over the last 15 years. He is a consultant and advisor to some of Australia’s largest enterprises and for-purpose organisations. He is also the author of the bestselling business book and ABBA 2022 Finalist ‘Changing the Game – The Playbook for Leading Business Transformation’, published by Wiley.

Dr Jeff Flaherty is a health professional and General Practitioner. Jeff helps General Practice registrars achieve fellowship to the RACGP, and has extensive experience in teaching and developing clinical GP supervisors. Jeff’s health expertise, passion for organisational and personal development and interest in digital tools makes him an all-around industry expert and leader. 

This event is kindly supported by Mentimeter

#Leadership #ChangeManagement #SACCevents #Mentimeter #OrganisationalChange #SwedishAustralianBusiness #BusinessNetworking #TrustAndTransparency #Upskilling #EmployeeEngagement

On Thursday 27 March, professionals from across industries gathered at the stylish QT Hotel in Sydney for Rethinking Workforces Without Boundaries — an insightful SACC Sydney event hosted by Outsized.

Together, we explored how organisations are rethinking traditional workforce models to meet the demands of a rapidly changing business environment. With skills shortages, cost pressures, and evolving workforce expectations, the conversation around workforce transformation has never been more important.

A core message of the evening: rethinking workforce models demands bold leadership. Yet, many executive teams and boards remain hesitant, slowed by scrutiny and risk aversion. Innovation in workforce design can feel risky — but it’s increasingly a strategic necessity.

Traditional concepts like permanent roles, fixed office locations, and rigid hiring structures no longer reflect how modern work gets done. Instead, leading organisations are proactively building fluid, skill-based workforces that combine core and flexible talent to respond to changing priorities.

Key insights and discussion points included:

• Businesses that fail to adapt their talent strategies risk long-term irrelevance — this is a strategic risk, not just an HR issue.

• Freelancers and on-demand experts often outperform internal teams in speed, productivity, and continuous learning — giving companies a real edge.

• Access to independent talent allows organisations to scale, innovate, and enter new markets more rapidly than legacy models allow.

• Managing distributed and hybrid workforces requires a balance of central governance and local flexibility.

• Outdated procurement, budgeting, and HR systems can block access to the right talent. These systems must evolve to support a more agile future.

Outsized shared compelling data from their latest Talent-on-Demand Report, including a 58% to 142% surge in demand for flexible talent in high-growth markets. The panel discussion featured below HR and business leaders,  sharing how they are embracing workforce innovation, followed by an engaging Q&A session.

Guests enjoyed valuable networking opportunities over drinks and canapés during evening, creating space for deeper conversations and new connections.

A huge thank you to Outsized for hosting this event and to speakers, members and guests for making this a standout event.

We look forward to welcoming you at our next SACC Sydney event 30 April, see details here: https://www.swedishchamber.com.au/event/mentimeter-sacc-business-networking-event-30-april-sydney/