Six leaders on culture, confidence, and changing the game

Meet the leaders:

• Maria Brempou – Cyber Security and Privacy Leader
• Jenna Grader – Real Estate Investments Portfolio Manager
• Rajasi Mhaskar – Investment Analyst
• Marina Jakimcuka – Financial Controlling and Tax Manager, Forestland Latvia
• Nicki Price – Forestland Country Manager, US
• Maia Michalowski – Senior Investment Manager, Circular Investments

Building confidence from the ground up

Marina Jakimcuka joined Ingka Investments five years ago with solid finance experience but zero forestry knowledge. She spent her first year asking questions, visiting forests, and learning how management decisions play out over decades.

What surprised her? The technical knowledge came. The real challenge was building confidence.

“Everything starts with belief and confidence in yourself. Self-confidence is the foundation,” Marina shared. “It allows you to make decisions, take responsibility, speak up, and lead others. And it’s not something you’re born with – you build it with every step you take, every challenge you overcome, every goal you achieve. When you trust yourself, the people around you start trusting you even more.”

Finding your voice in crowded rooms

Maia Michalowski, Senior Investment Manager for Circular Investments, learned early that good analysis doesn’t always speak for itself.

“A big barrier was learning to trust and use my voice in discussions, especially as the youngest among louder, more senior colleagues,” says Maia. “I realised that seniority and confidence often shape the direction of the conversation. I had to learn to prepare thoroughly, speak with conviction, and contribute even in crowded rooms. At the end of the day, thoughtful challenge improves decisions.”

Now she’s out to prove it’s good business to be a good business, supporting companies like RetourMatras in expanding recycling capacity and keeping materials in use. “Seeing those materials used in IKEA products makes the impact concrete. It’s a visible reminder that waste is a resource.”

Trusting your instinct

Rajasi Mhaskar faced a test in her first year as Investment Analyst. Her valuation model flagged a portfolio company as significantly overvalued.

“When I started in this role, it was a challenge for me to have ‘contrarian’ opinions – opinions that are opposite to the view of majority market participants, many of whom are industry experts who’ve been in the business for decades.”

She triple-checked her work, consulted external analysts, then made the call.

“We acted on my recommendation and reduced our position, and the share price fell to the exact price I’d derived in my model a few weeks later!”

Challenging bias and changing culture

Maria Brempou, Cyber Security and Privacy Leader, has been mistaken for the secretary more than once. “Sometimes people were genuinely surprised that I could understand and contribute to technical discussions”, she recalls.

“Thankfully, as more women enter male-dominated industries, these biases are constructively challenged.”

Now Maria is transforming how cyber security works at Ingka Investments – turning it from blocker to enabler.

“We’re on a journey of translating those ‘heavy’ topics to enablers of conscious decision-making. When we know what cyber, privacy and AI-related risks are inherent in our future plans, we can make the right choices sooner – which risks we accept and which we mitigate – and minimise delays along the way.”

Creating inclusive opportunities

Sometimes the barriers are more subtle. Nicki Price, Forestland Country Manager US, points to networking in forestry, which often happens through traditionally male-dominated outdoor activities. “This can create unintentional barriers for women building professional relationships,” reflects Nicki.

Her journey from US Acquisition Manager to Country Manager shows the cultural impact she’s had.

“I’ve had the pleasure of cultivating a stronger sense of togetherness within my team, boosting collaboration, and fostering an entrepreneurial spirit that has truly empowered everyone.”

Reframing challenge as opportunity

Jenna Grader, Real Estate Investments Portfolio Manager, doesn’t see gender as a limitation.

“I wouldn’t call it a challenge as such – I see it more as an opportunity. Working in real estate, which is still a male-dominated field, has pushed me to develop a strong voice and step into my full potential”, shares Jenna.

“I’ve not put any energy into gender, but rather focused on building credibility through my work, achievements, and earned respect.”

She’s delivered breakthrough results – two high-impact IKEA locations on Fifth Avenue and Broadway in SoHo. “These transactions represent much more than just real estate deals. They’re strategic locations in some of the most competitive retail corridors in the world.”

And she’s balanced a major deal in London’s Oxford Street with becoming a new mum. “My manager was extremely supportive and enabled me to combine my work and new family life. This balance is definitely one of the key challenges women navigate.”

What advice they’d give to others starting out

• Marina: “Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It shows responsibility, not weakness. And don’t fear mistakes – we all make them. What matters is learning from them and moving forward stronger and wiser.”
• Nicki: “Embrace your authentic self and recognise that your unique strengths are an asset, not something to downplay. Early in my career, I underestimated how much qualities often labelled as ‘feminine’ could enhance my management, negotiation, and leadership. Be confident in your abilities, trust your education and training, and take your place at the table.”
• Jenna: “Keep your head up, but your feet grounded. I want women to take ownership of how they choose to be perceived – showing they are capable, credible, and smart – because that is what truly changes the game.”
• Maria: “I’ve become a mentor for women entering the field. Having mentors throughout the years helped me grow and develop, and I am happy that I canpay that forward. Sometimes it can be difficult navigating a role in a male-dominated industry, but with a mentor or advisor on your side, this effort can feel lighter.”
• Maia: “Sustainable progress comes from fair systems. I would focus on ensuring that performance and decisions are evaluated through transparent processes and clearly defined criteria to ensure that everyone has a fair chance to succeed. I don’t want my accomplishments recognised because I’m a woman. I want them valued for their impact.”
• Rajasi: “In Financial Markets, it really is a lot more of learning on the job. What matters more is learning from mistakes (which everyone makes, trust me!) and applying those learnings the next time you see an opportunity.”

We know that when diverse perspectives come to the table, smarter decisions get made.  The stories of Maria, Jenna, Rajasi, Marina, Nicki, and Maia show what happens when we support each other through mentorship, build inclusive cultures, and create fair systems. Gender balance has been a business priority for IKEA since 2002, and we will continue to focus on achieving a 50/50 gender balance across Ingka Group.