In Conversation with Jan Artem Henriksson
3 years, 6 months, 10 days, 15 hours
12 February 2026
Human development will save the world.
Jan Artem Henriksson is a co-initiator of the Inner Development Goals (IDG), a not-for-profit initiative working to support the development of inner capacities across individuals, organisations and societies, to help support a more sustainable future. When we met last October at the IDG Summit in Stockholm, Jan Artem was serving as Executive Director, a role he held from 2020.
In this film we discuss how Jan Artem, Ukrainian by birth, came to be such a committed and prominent champion of inner development, tracing his story from the clubs of Stockholm, to leadership development with high-performing individuals and organisations and eventually toward a commitment to making a small impact for humanity. It is, in essence, the story of how Jan Artem found a deeper sense of purpose.
When we talk about the pace of change that is needed, Jan Artem is a values-driven realist. He believes it will take generations to fix the mess we have created. He reflects on how current economic models can undervalue nature and societal wellbeing, and how they might evolve toward more regenerative forms. And he is worried about technological progress moving faster than humans are developing the different skills and maturity needed to make wise decisions.
At the same time, his core belief is that the answer must ultimately include our own inner development — especially at a collective level. In organisations, he points to the importance of Sustainability and People/HR functions linking arms. The pursuit of sustainability needs to be integrated with transformative learning and education if it is to make a meaningful and lasting impact.