Pia Heidenmark Cook is a globally respected keynote speaker on inspirational leadership, best known for leading IKEA’s sustainability transformation. A changemaker with decades of experience, Pia combines strong business acumen with deep environmental knowledge. Her ability to inspire change from the top down has made her a trusted adviser to major organisations across the world. Through her talks, she shows how embedding sustainability is not only possible but essential for future-focused leadership.
Pia began her career as an environmental consultant, following a degree in Environmental Management and Policy. She quickly rose through the ranks of corporate leadership, spending seven years as Vice President of Responsible Business at The Rezidor Hotel Group. During this time, Pia also held major external roles, serving as Chairman of the International Tourism Partnership and Co-Chair of The Retailers’ Environmental Action Programme, shaping wider industry practice. In 2008, she joined IKEA as Head of Communications, moving into the sustainability team three years later. In 2017, Pia was appointed Group Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA/Ingka Group, where she developed and led the company’s groundbreaking People and Planet Positive strategy.
Under Pia’s leadership, IKEA became one of the first global retailers to decouple business growth from carbon emissions, winning the World Economic Forum’s Circular Economy Award and the Sustainable Leaders Award 2020. She spearheaded ethical practices around sourcing wood and cotton and helped IKEA rank among the top three most sustainable brands in the world, according to Globescan and SustainAbility. Named a Top 20 Sustainability Voice by CEO Magazine in 2023 and one of the Top 5 influencers on the climate change agenda by the Climate Group, Pia has been consistently recognised for her impact and vision. She now serves on the boards of companies such as Bupa, Origin Materials, and MAX Burgers, and advises organisations including The DO Group, Teneo, and Eurazeo’s Planetary Boundaries Impact Fund.
As an inspirational speaker, Pia shares practical strategies for organisational transformation. Her TEDx talk, “How IKEA is Growing Business Whilst Shrinking Emissions,” has received international acclaim. In 2024, she published her first book, Embedding Sustainability: How to Drive Organisational Transformation, further cementing her role as a leading voice on corporate responsibility. Pia regularly lectures at INSEAD, the Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leadership, Lund University, and more, offering a clear, motivational roadmap for leaders who want to future-proof their businesses.
