Some gatherings remind us that impact is not created by any one organization alone.
Last month we joined several partners from across the IKEA Social Entrepreneurship network in Älmhult, Sweden, for three days of dialogue, exchange, and collective reflection on how we can better support social enterprises creating positive social and environmental impact around the world. Partners representing Latin America, Europe, and Asia came together to share experiences, discuss challenges facing entrepreneurs, and explore how enterprise support organizations can continue evolving in a rapidly changing world.
One of the strongest themes throughout the gathering was the importance of partnership. As Ioana Samoil, NESsT Romania Country Director, reflected: "building resilient social enterprises requires long-term commitment. The same is true for the partnerships behind them." Those words resonated throughout many conversations as participants discussed what it takes to support entrepreneurs through changing realities, uncertain environments, and different stages of growth.
“Building resilient social enterprises requires long-term commitment. The same is true for the partnerships behind them.”
This theme was central to our own contribution to the gathering. Grzegorz Wach, NESsT Poland Country Director, and Alejandra Ramírez, NESsT Colombia Country Director, facilitated Building Long-Term Partnerships for Lasting Impact, an interactive session focused on peer learning and open discussion. Session participants explored how support relationships evolve over time, how organizations can remain responsive to changing needs, and how trust, flexibility, and accountability can work together to strengthen long-term outcomes for social enterprises.
While the formal sessions provided valuable opportunities for learning, some of the most meaningful moments happened through shared experiences that brought the community together. Between large group sessions, two of our team members – Ioana Samoil and Michele Crater, Associate Director of Marketing and Communications – facilitated an energizer exercise that had everyone moving around the room in a lively game of Human Scatterplot, creating connections by identifying where the gathering had similarities and differences. That evening, we reconvened at a local cinema, where conversations continued long after the sessions ended and were followed by a riff-off challenge hosted by Instellar Impact that showcased the group's collective musical knowledge.
The gathering also offered opportunities to connect with IKEA's history and culture. On the second night, we visited Bölsö, the historic private estate and former home of IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad, which is now used as a values-based leadership and cultural meeting place for Inter IKEA Group. During our visit, we heard from Ingvar Kamprad's grandson, whose perspective helped connect the entrepreneurial spirit that shaped IKEA with many of the themes we discussed throughout the gathering.
The sense of community extended well beyond the meeting rooms, as well. We celebrated together during a dance competition organized by Biji-Biji Initiative, watched World Cup matches in the common area at the IKEA Hotell, and got to enjoy the World Cup-style song created by Åsa Skogström Feldt, which quickly became an unofficial soundtrack for the gathering and captured the energy, optimism, and camaraderie that defined our collective experience.
What made the gathering particularly valuable was the willingness of all of the participants to learn from one another. Conversations extended beyond individual programs to explore broader questions about ecosystem building, organizational learning, collaboration, and how best to support entrepreneurs as they grow. Across regions and contexts, partners discovered shared challenges and common aspirations, reinforcing the value of learning together rather than working in isolation.
We left Älmhult with fresh perspectives, new connections, and a renewed appreciation for the role that trusted partnerships play in creating lasting impact. We are grateful to IKEA Social Entrepreneurship for convening such a thoughtful global network and creating space for meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and reflection. We also thank our fellow partners for their openness, generosity, and commitment to strengthening social entrepreneurship around the world.
The conversations may have begun in Älmhult, but the relationships, ideas, and collaborations they inspired will continue long after the gathering itself.