An eventful year comes to an end

Eventful, challenging, and full of learnings

A colleague asked me the other day how I would sum up the year that passed for EGGS. "Eventful" was my immediate response. Because it really was! Not only did 2022 mark the tenth anniversary of EGGS, but we also saw so much else happening, both internally and externally. We experienced changes in local leadership; we went on an epic EGGSpedition trip to Portugal (yes, all 130 of us!), won awards like Doga, Red Dot, and Kampanje's Tech and Design Consultancy of the Year, and launched operations in Sweden. We lost some fantastic people but also gained new, just as amazing ones to bring us towards new beginnings. All this while the world is on fire – figuratively and literally, and with a world economy going haywire.

It's been a challenging year, not only for EGGS but for everyone. And it has been a learning journey of sorts! And if there's anything we do well in EGGS, it's learning from our experiences and dealing with uncertainty. We're a resilient bunch of creative people! Thinking about all the great things we have achieved over the past ten years makes me grateful. Grateful for all the big stuff, but even more so for all the small things – every project win, every EGGS-factor moment, and every new person that decides to join EGGS. All the lunches together in the office. Every laugh together and every argument that brings us forward. The people of EGGS are what will allow us to succeed also in the new year.

"Thinking about all the great things we have achieved over the past ten years makes me grateful. Grateful for all the big things, but even more so for all the small things – every project win, every EGGS-factor moment, and every new person that decides to join EGGS."

Our first year with Sopra Steria

Of course, I couldn't possibly talk about 2022 without mentioning Sopra Steria. It's been our very first year together, which brought with it an avalanche of novelty – new people, new systems, and new collaborations. We're still learning how to navigate our two businesses and cultures together so that we can make the most of all the fantastic opportunities and synergies that we have. But these things take time, and a good part of the past year was spent on getting to know each other and how we best can work together.

That said, we are already working on several projects together in Norway, as well as in Sweden and Germany. I'm confident we will see some truly great things coming out of our partnership, with holistic projects where we deliver from start to finish – from innovation to implementation. It’s exciting to see meaningful projects like Stimulab's 'Measures Regarding Follow-up in the Case of Violence Against Adults in Vulnerable Life Situations,' come together, where Sopra Steria and EGGS collaborate. I'm also excited to see how our joint development of EGGS Sweden in Stockholm and Gothenburg will grow. I can't wait to see what 2023 will bring!

What does 2023 hold?

If I had a crystal ball, I'd hardly need to spend my time analysing the market or asking people to do scenario planning for me. But, if I am to guess what the coming year has to bring, I'd say more of what we already saw in 2022. There is no doubt that we're seeing a shift in the market and that we all need to be prepared to adapt, adjust, and find new ways of working. That goes for every single one of us – individuals, companies, and governments. We're facing challenging times both financially, politically, and environmentally, and it's up to us to change the course of things.

In EGGS, we're focusing on ensuring that we deliver the absolute most value that we can to our clients and their organisations while working hard to nurture and cherish our culture. No matter how much change or uncertainty we go through in EGGS, we will never compromise on quality or culture. We work hard to ensure that we stay relevant and valuable to our clients and stay true to our vision to be the world's best workplace for creatives.

"If I am to guess what the coming year has to bring, I'd say more of what we already saw in 2022. There is no doubt that we're seeing a shift in the market and that we all need to be prepared for adapting, adjusting, and finding new ways of working."

The wicked problems are calling

Regardless of the details of how the coming year develops, one thing is certain – the wicked problems out there are many. And they won't solve themselves. The current energy crisis is just one example, and it's paramount that we pull together as a society – private as well as public organisations, individuals as well as collectives – to work towards constructive solutions. This might also entail changing the way we work as consultants. The times of "paid by the hour" might soon be gone. After all, it is not the amount of time you have spent on a project that makes it worthwhile – it's the amount of value you generate that ultimately matters.

Climate change, recession, humanitarian crises, healthcare crises, public services, resilient supply chains, and the need for circular business models are all highly complex and urgent issues to tackle. As innovation consultant, and even more so now with a solid partner like Sopra Steria backing us, we are equipped to contribute to this transformation. We know how to create new ways of thinking, working and doing business.

EGGS will spearhead innovation and positive impact both today and in the future. For that, we will have to keep our ears close to the market, what is happening out there, and what the needs are. But we will also be bold and take the lead. There will be times when we will have to be brave and lead change, and there will be times when we will let others inspire and guide us. That's what transformation, collaboration, and genuine impact are all about.

Happy New Year, everybody! I look forward to meeting you all out there in 2023 –

Let's craft lovable futures!