Culture as a Competitive Advantage
Bergendal is an established meeting destination for conferences and experiences, located on the shores of Edsviken just outside Stockholm and close to Arlanda Airport. Here, a classic manor-house setting meets modern architecture, creating an environment that allows space for focus, reflection and meetings that truly matter. For many years, Bergendal has built its business on quality, professionalism and care as natural starting points in every interaction.
At Bergendal, values have never been words on a piece of paper – they are the foundation for decisions, collaboration and the guest experience in everyday work.
Leadership, Feedback and Everyday Practice
When Bergendal chose to collaborate with Brilliant Consulting, the ambition was to further develop leadership, behaviours and culture in a way that would be visible in daily work. The organisation had long been actively working with its core values, with a clear intention that they should guide communication, priorities and collaboration at every level.
The collaboration began by exploring how values can be translated into concrete behaviours. Through behavioural style analyses, leadership workshops and 360-degree feedback for managers, a shared foundation was created for clear, values-driven leadership. The focus was on practical training in feedback, communication and interpersonal conduct, adapted to different roles and situations within the organisation.
The work was characterised by open dialogue, transparency and a living feedback culture. By exploring differences and strengthening professional behaviours – such as respect, courtesy and clarity – a greater sense of security was created, both internally and in interactions with guests.
As Bergendal’s CEO, Key Dolk, puts it:
“This doesn’t happen by itself. We have done it together.”
Results – Impact That Shows
The results demonstrate that conscious cultural development makes a difference, both for people and for the organisation:
- Increased employee engagement and strong eNPS scores
- More confident and clearer leadership across the organisation
- More constructive communication and feedback
- Improved working environment and higher guest satisfaction
- A clearer shared compass for everyday decision-making
The organisation has also strengthened its ability to handle challenging situations, with its values as support.
The work has also received external recognition. Bergendal won its category in the Brilliant Awards 2025, confirming that long-term focus on leadership, culture and behaviours delivers results. Bergendal has a clear ambition: to become the best employer in the industry. In that ambition, cultural development is both a natural part and a long-term investment.
Håkan Holmgren, Head of Operations at Bergendal, describes it this way:
“This isn’t a project with an end date – it’s how we want to be.”
Håkan Holmgren, Head of Operations at Bergendal
Four Insights from Bergendal’s Values Journey
- Make values concrete through clear behaviours.
- Create a feedback culture where everyone has the conditions to participate.
- Be clear and transparent, especially when things are difficult.
- Train together. Development happens in everyday work, not alongside it.
Bergendal’s journey shows that culture is not a side track but a strategic asset. By linking values to behaviours, leadership and feedback, the organisation has created stronger engagement, greater clarity and better conditions for sustainable development – for employees, guests and the business alike.
Key Dolk, CEO of Bergendal, says:
“For many years we have systematically worked towards the goal of becoming one of the best workplaces in our industry. One of our most important core values is that everything should be done ‘for real’. When we came into contact with Brilliant, we felt we had found a partner that both lived up to our most important value and would help us reach our goal of becoming an attractive workplace.”
Would you also like to strengthen leadership and culture in a way that makes a difference in everyday work?
P.S. If you would like to learn more about Bergendal, you can visit their website.