Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer operating in 31 markets, has been recognised by Forbes among the World's Top Companies for Women 2025, ranking in the top five globally. The accolade reflects Ingka Group's long-term commitment to creating an inclusive, fair, and people-positive workplace where all co-workers can grow and contribute.
© Ingka
Ulrika Biesèrtand co-workers.
Ulrika Biesèrt, Chief People & Culture Officer at Ingka Group, commented:
"For us, it's good business to be a good business. When our teams reflect the diversity of the customers we serve, we understand them better and can meet their needs in better ways. Diverse teams make us stronger, they drive innovation, growth and better decisions. But above all, it's the right thing to do. Reaching gender balance in leadership was an important milestone, but our journey continues. With more than 80 years of learning behind us, we know that culture and values are our greatest strengths. They help us navigate change, stay true to who we are and continue building a better everyday life for the many people we serve."
Ingka Group's inclusive culture is guided by IKEA values, including togetherness, simplicity, renew and improve, and caring for people and planet, which shape the work of over 160,000 co-workers worldwide. Today, women constitute 50% of all managers and 48% of Country CEOs, while the company's unadjusted gender pay gap has narrowed to 4%, with less than 1% of co-workers requiring monetary adjustments.
Biesèrt adds:
"We strive to create a workplace where people feel trusted, supported and safe to share ideas and learn from mistakes. That sense of belonging is essential for innovation, growth and delivering on our vision and purpose."
Key initiatives include:
- Annual gender pay-gap reviews to ensure equal pay for work of equal value, including removing salary history requests to reduce bias.
- Inclusive succession planning to strengthen gender balance in leadership pipelines.
- Global menopause guidance to normalise conversations about health and wellbeing.
- Leadership development programmes, such as Bloom, which encourage co-workers to take on new challenges early in their careers, helping grow leadership at every level.
A recent global survey of over 134,000 co-workers found that 84% feel they can be themselves at work, illustrating the success of IKEA's inclusive approach. Ingka Group continues to advance equality, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring that leadership is not defined by title but by action and daily choices.
More information:
Ingka
www.ingka.com
