Hej from IKEA Social Entrepreneurship!

IKEA Social Entrepreneurship co-creates programmes with partners across the world to support the scaling of already successful businesses. Through our support, we contribute to increasing these social entrepreneurs’ ability to achieve an even bigger social impact. A social entrepreneur uses their business to solve social challenges such as reducing poverty, addressing climate change, and empowering women and youth. 

What’s unique about our programmes is how IKEA co-workers engage with entrepreneurs and build a relationship based on knowledge sharing, a mutual exchange of competences and inspiration. Supporting social entrepreneurs is also an opportunity to learn about social impact, social entrepreneurship and innovative business models. Additionally, we can understand better how to become more circular, sustainable, and entrepreneurial in IKEA. 

In 2021, together with IKEA Indonesia and our partner, Instellar, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship launched the IKEA Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator (ISEA) programme. It is a one-year acceleration program that focuses on creating better opportunities for vulnerable communities by supporting the  social enterprises to scale their businesses and social impact to the next level. 

With tailored support, including training, mentorship, and funding, the programme seeks to enhance the capacity of social enterprises, fostering collaboration and innovation within the ecosystem. This time, our efforts are centered around three areas: inclusive nature-based solutions, inclusive textiles, and inclusive circularity—the key sectors where our social enterprises are primarily active.  

We are seeking Thought Partners for ISEA programme third edition. Thought Partners are aspiring leaders who will act as a strategic sounding board throughout the programme. In this role, you will share experiences with and learn from another Thought Partner, a leader working in IKEA Indonesia, where you will work together as co-partners to support a social enterprise. This is a unique opportunity to grow your leadership capabilities while contributing to the success of IKEA’s strategic initiatives. 

The role of Thought Partners is to: 

• Provide advice and feedback on the social enterprise’s business development strategy and the progress throughout the programme.

• Identify what competence needs could be covered by other co-workers from IKEA.   

• Support in finding the right competence at IKEA, this process will be led by IKEA Social Entrepreneurship and Instellar.    

• Potentially act as a door opener and interface to potential connections and resources within IKEA.   

• Contribute entrepreneurial mindset, IKEA knowledge and leadership experience by using a coaching approach. 

We are looking for you who:

• Have a passion for making a positive impact. 

• Have a good understanding of the IKEA value chain and business. 

• Are in a senior position (managerial level) within IKEA for at least five years (e.g., country manager, store manager, function manager, business develop manager, site manager). I

• Are proud to lead with IKEA values. 

• Are open to gaining insight into a new perspectives and methodologies. 

• Are dedicated to supporting social entrepreneurs and individuals from vulnerable groups.

Thought Partners are guided and supported by IKEA Social Entrepreneurship and Instellar throughout the programme. 

We appreciate your time and well-being. Taking part in the program offers a valuable growth opportunity for you in your professional development, which is why it is important to have your manager’s approval and support. 

We estimate a minimum of 1.5 hours per month for one year and another 6 hours in total for onboarding, learning circles and closing. Below are some of the key agendas in the programme: 

• A matching conversation in July 2025, 1 hour 

• Online onboarding calls in August 2025, 2 x 1.5 hours 

• Join the launch event (online might be possible) in September 2025 

• Approximately 10 x 1.5 hours sessions with the social entrepreneurs in the period September 2025 – August 2026 

• Three learning circles, 3 x 1.5 hours 

• A debrief call at the end of the programme, 1.5 hours 

We recommend potential Thought Partners to take a training through My Learning, since this can help you to get the most out of the sessions with the social entrepreneur: Coaching skills 1. 

Interested in becoming a Thought Partner? 
Join one of our upcoming information sessions to discover more about the ISEA Programme, the role of a Thought Partner, and what you can expect from the experience. 

• Wednesday, 4 June 2025 | 09:00–10:00 CEST | 14:00–15:00 WIB 

Click here to join. 

• Tuesday, 17 June 2025 | 09:30–10:30 CEST | 14:30–15:30 WIB 

Click here to join. 

To learn more visit our page on toolbox: IKEA Social Entrepreneurship   

Visit our website: IKEA Social Entrepreneurship  

Or join our IKEA Social Entrepreneurship community Team channel! IKEA Social Entrepreneurship community | General | Microsoft Teams 

Please get in touch if you have any questions!

Tina Molund 

IKEA Social Entrepreneurship 

[email protected] 

Tasha Davita Fiscarina Sianturi

Sustainability leader, IKEA Indonesia

[email protected]