In this episode, we mind-blended with Jenny Theolin—Head of Learning at Abracademy, and founder of Studio Theolin—about the art of pushing boundaries in a culture that often encourages staying safely within them.

Born Swedish but having grown up moving between countries and cultures, Jenny developed a natural openness to change, an instinct for reinvention, and a bold personality that doesn’t wait for permission. She unpacks the popular Swedish concept of lagom—meaning “not too little, not too much”—and how it shapes the way we think about balance, ambition, and sustainability. While lagom can offer comfort and harmony, Jenny argues that it can also quietly stifle innovation and suppress ambition when left unexamined.

Together, we explore:

• How lagom, the Swedish concept of “just enough,” can be both a source of sustainability and a silent killer of ambition

• The impact of being told to “stay in your lane”—and how Jenny turned that moment into fuel for creative leadership

• Why early exposure to change helped her embrace uncertainty and push past imposter syndrome

• The power of learning by doing, and embedding experimentation into everyday work

• How play, fun, and bold self-expression lead to real innovation

• The difference between maintaining harmony and challenging the status quo—especially in creative and professional environments

Whether you’ve been told to play small, or you're looking for permission to do things differently, this episode will inspire you to make bold your new baseline.

About Jenny Theolin

Jenny is a renowned expert in learning experience design and facilitation, creating effective, engaging, and memorable learning for organisations, schools, and non-profits. Her mission is to cultivate creativity, facilitation, and continuous learning for leaders and their teams. She authored "Dare to Facilitate," a book that challenges traditional facilitation and inspires action through over 120 'dares'. Theolin's work emphasises bringing diverse perspectives together and empowering facilitators to shape the future.

You can connect with Jenny on

• LinkedIn: jennytheolin

• Her website: https://www.studiotheolin.com/

• Instagram: studiotheolin

Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations—through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.

I’d also love to hear from you! What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @ ⁠karenkchong⁠ and @⁠Mind-Blend⁠

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Until next time, stay curious, keep exploring, and let’s continue to blend our minds and discover what’s possible.