Peter Åberg, Managing Director for Nordfab EMEA and a motivational speaker, constantly in search of new challenges, refuses to allow the word “never” to determine his destiny.
Back in 2021, as his professional role and duties evolved, he realized he’d need to develop his negotiation skills. As many people do, he turned to Google to search for negotiation courses and discovered MIT Sloan Executive Education’s self-paced online course, Mastering Negotiation and Influence. “The differentiator was a lot of live interaction with my peers.” The course started out simply enough with a game of rock/paper/scissors and escalated in difficulty and complexity each week. “It really helped change my approach. Sometimes I’m a little bit too kind – I give things away too easily. This course really helped to enhance my negotiation skills, learn how to stand my ground, understand my objectives, and contemplate the various scenarios during the negotiation process.”
Upon completion of the course, he learned about the various Executive Certificates offered and realized his journey was far from over. He wanted to earn an Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership, so he enrolled in Developing a Leading-Edge Operations Strategy. This live online course also made an impact and he appreciated being able to learn in two different formats. “I realized that the self-paced online courses are a more self-reflective journey. In a live online course, you reflect on the same problem from different angles with the help of your peers. I can see the importance of having both – it’s two different learning journeys, but they become integrated with each other in the end.”
Peter earned his Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership in March 2021 and quickly earned his Executive Certificate in Technology and Operations the following year. “I’m a Managing Director in a very operational-based environment – a lot of technology, operations, statistics, supply chain, risk management… I have a finance background, but wanted to ‘wash off’ that a bit to focus more on operations. So, I realized I needed that Technology and Operations certificate.” That’s impressive determination on its own, but when asked what course had the biggest impact, one would have to back-track a bit to learn more about Peter’s extended journey to fully appreciate the magnitude of his accomplishments.
On the morning of August 24, 2011, Peter was cycling to work when one of his pedals broke mid-ride causing him to tumble forward over his handle bars. Despite a leisurely pace of 6mph, he was (regretfully) not wearing a helmet and the head-on impact with the asphalt in front of him would change his life forever. “My brain, as my neurologist liked to say, was ‘free floating.’ It was not stable – it was like sitting on a carousel – just spinning around for about three months.”
"I’m trying to help folks think of the abilities they still have and not the abilities they have lost – everything is possible as long as you believe in yourself and your team."
Furthermore, he sustained a spinal cord injury and permanent nerve damage. I was told by doctors ‘maybe in two years you’ll find some part time work – like cleaning a park. Nothing too mentally or physically taxing. We don’t think you’ll ever be able to work full time.’ You will never this, you will never that…”
The word “never” continued to taunt (and haunt) Peter. His childhood was difficult – filled with bullying from children and even teachers. This wasn’t the first time he had been confronted with “never” – he had been underestimated and undervalued plenty of times in the past. This time was different though. “When doctors told me ‘never’ – I got strength from the biggest valley in my life. I decided this time to fight.”
And fight he did. After about five months he was able to walk 400 meters. Less than five years later he was able to complete the New York City Marathon walking under their “athletes with disabilities” category. Using his assistive device (a pair of walking poles to maintain stability) he walked the 26.2 miles crossing the finish line with a time of 05:39. (That’s a respectable time even under normal physical circumstances, but for some added perspective, he finished faster than almost 7,000 runners). Next on the list? He completed his own personal Olympic triathlon. He couldn’t swim traditionally due to his neck injury, but realized he could float with a support pillow and by kicking his legs, swam 1.5km floating on his back. He couldn’t bike outdoors due to the vibrations of the road afflicting his spinal cord injury, but he could cycle on a stationary bike – and did so for 40km. Then he walked the 10km to complete the triathlon distance.
Naturally, he found a second calling as a motivational speaker and has focused on sharing his inspirational story to students, immigrants, soccer leagues, and even the UN. His underlying focus was to help people (of all ages and backgrounds) to believe in themselves, no matter the circumstances. “I’m trying to help folks think of the abilities they still have and not the abilities they have lost – everything is possible as long as you believe in yourself and your team.”
So, when Peter took Hal Gregersen’s self-paced online course on catalytic questioning, Inquiry Driven Leadership (based on his popular in-person course Questions Are the Answer: A Breakthrough Approach to Creative Problem Solving, Innovation, and Change) it was the perfect amalgamation of his professional and personal passions.
“When I took the course with Hal, the final week focused on thinking of a higher purpose, something you can contribute to the world. Coming off a high from speaking to the Swedish Football Association, I was already primed to think ‘Where can I go next? Where can I take my motivational speaking?’ And when Hal said think about a higher purpose, I was thinking literally of height. I can’t climb Mount Everest – but I could physically summit Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Thanks to Hal’s questioning technique, I decided to try… and made it into a fundraiser for Swedish Children’s Cancer Association.”
While all the courses had professional and personal impact, Hal’s teachings resonated with Peter the most. “Every leader should take Hal’s course – it offers a lot of universal lessons to connect back into different aspects of your life.” The main lesson he’ll carry into his organization? “Hal mentioned that leaders set the frame of the painting, but they don’t know how the painting will be painted. I can be very passionate about things and I need to learn to step back and let someone else be the first person to start painting.”
What’s next for Peter? Clearly anything is obviously feasible – but for now, he’s hoping to work towards his Executive Certificate in Strategy and Innovation within the next year. (He’s already eyeing Marketing Innovation and Social Media Strategy to make that goal happen). And eventually an Advanced Certificate for Executives (ACE). “I’m very goal oriented, so I’m hoping I can make it happen… Everything is possible as long as you believe in yourself and your team – everyone helps on the journey.”
Learn more about earning an Executive Certificate here.
You may also be interested in Hal Gregersen's courses on catalytic questioning:
- Questions Are the Answer: A Breakthrough Approach to Creative Problem Solving, Innovation, and Change
- Inquiry-Driven Leadership
Contributed by Elaine Santoyo Goldman