Executive Academy

What Executive Academy does

Executive Academy (Chefakademin i Stockholm AB), operating under the combined brand 'Chef och Chefakademin,' is Sweden's largest leadership development organization, tracing its origins to 1931 and headquartered at Sankt Eriksgatan 26 in central Stockholm. The company sells a broad portfolio of leadership education products to Swedish managers, executives, and organizations: certified flagship programs such as the Executive Master of Leadership & Management (SEK 134,000), Diplomerad projektledare (project management certification aligned to ISO, PMI, and IPMA standards, SEK 29,950), and Diplomerad förändringsledare (change-management certification, SEK 22,995); experience-based residential courses such as UGL, Ny som chef, Leda utan att vara chef, Ledarskap för erfarna chefer, and Leda chefer och ledningsgrupp; and customized corporate training (företagsanpassade utbildningar).

Underlying the course business is a content and community platform comprising the 'Chef' magazine and editorial site, the Chefakademin+ subscription (masterclasses, leadership tools, a leadership library, leadership tests, and the Chef GPT AI assistant), the Chefakademin Talks webinar series, the 'Kvist & Fleur' podcast, the annual Chefdagen conference, and a recently launched Stresskolan 2.0 wellness initiative. The Chef GPT AI assistant — winner of 'Årets grepp' at Tidskriftsgalan 2025 — is bundled into the subscription and represents the company's primary stated AI capability.

The business model combines one-time course fees (SEK 22,995–134,000) for individual and corporate training, recurring Chefakademin+ subscription revenue, magazine subscriptions, and partnership-driven distribution through Ledarna (the Swedish Managers' Organization). GTM is sales-led: direct enrollment via chef.se and a phone line (08-731 41 51), inside sales for corporate accounts, and channel distribution through Ledarna member benefits. The company is privately held under Swedish limited-company law, has 11–50 employees, operates exclusively in Sweden, and shows no evidence of external private equity or venture funding, M&A, or public listing.

Name

Executive Academy

Legal name

Chefakademin i Stockholm AB

Website

https://chef.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Executive Academy (Chefakademin) is Sweden's largest leadership development organization, offering certified leadership programs, residential courses, and the Chefakademin+ subscription service with the Chef GPT AI assistant to Swedish individual leaders, managers, and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Leadership Development and Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Education & Corporate Programs (Non-degree) (EDAHAHAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate & Leadership Development (BPACANAA), Team & Group Executive Coaching (Leadership Teams) (EDABANAF)

Keywords

• Leadership development programs
• Executive education
• Management training
• Leadership certification
• Corporate training

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Training Programs: Individual and corporate leadership training programs including certification courses. Programs range from 22,995 SEK to 134,000 SEK for Executive MBA. Revenue generated through course fees, accommodation, and materials.
2. Chefakademin+ Subscription: Monthly subscription service providing access to masterclasses, leadership tools, library content, and the Chef GPT AI assistant. Targets individual leaders and corporate subscribers.
3. Magazine and Content: Chef magazine subscription for leadership content, articles, and reports. Available as part of member benefits through Ledarna or standalone subscription.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Executive Academy (Chefakademin) is Sweden's largest leadership development organization, providing certified leadership training programs (Executive MBA, UGL, Ny som chef, Leda utan att vara chef), project management and change management certifications, and the Chefakademin+ subscription platform with masterclasses, leadership tools, a leadership library, and the AI-powered Chef GPT assistant. Courses are sold as open enrollment to individuals and as customized corporate training to Swedish organizations.

Product overview

Executive Academy (Chefakademin) is Sweden's largest leadership development organization, offering a comprehensive portfolio of leadership education and resources. The core offering includes certification programs (Executive MBA, Diplomerad projektledare, Diplomerad förändringsledare) and leadership training courses (UGL, Ny som chef, Leda utan att vara chef). The Chefakademin+ subscription service provides ongoing access to masterclasses, tools, a leadership library, and the AI-powered Chef GPT assistant. Additional offerings include webinars (Chefakademin Talks), stress management programs (Stresskolan 2.0), corporate customized training, and the annual Chefdagen conference.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chefakademin+: Subscription service offering leadership tools, masterclasses, leadership library, and AI assistant (Chef GPT).
• Chef GPT
• Chef

Products and services

• Chefakademin+ (C+)

Quantifiable outcome

• Diplomering baserad i tre etablerade projektstandarder (ISO, PMI, IPMA)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• LedarnacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStrategic partnership with Ledarna (Swedish Managers' Organization) providing exclusive member benefits including magazine subscriptions, training discounts, and access to Chefakademin content. Ledarna members receive preferential pricing and integrated access to leadership development resources.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Gallup: Global strengths-based leadership and management development firm with CliftonStrengths and leadership courses that compete for the same management training budgets in Swedish organizations.
• DDI (Development Dimensions International): Global leadership development specialist with end-to-end leadership programs, assessments, and training solutions serving multinational corporate clients overlapping with Chefakademin's enterprise offering.
• Center for Creative Leadership: Non-profit global leadership research and training organization offering executive programs that are widely used by Swedish multinational corporations and compete for similar L&D spend.
• The Ken Blanchard Companies: Global leadership training and consulting provider known for Situational Leadership methodology, with established distribution and certified programs competing for the same enterprise L&D spend.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with a substantial leadership development and executive coaching practice that competes for the same senior executive development mandates from large Nordic employers.
• FranklinCovey: Global leadership development provider offering methodologies (e.g., 7 Habits, The 4 Disciplines of Execution) that compete with Chefakademin's certified programs at a broader enterprise scale.

Direct peers

• BTS Group AB: Swedish-listed strategy execution and leadership development firm using business simulations and executive programs that compete for the same corporate leadership development budgets.
• SSE Executive Education (Stockholm School of Economics): Executive education arm of Sweden's leading business school offering Executive MBA and leadership programs directly competitive with Chefakademin in the Swedish executive market.
• Dale Carnegie & Associates: Global leadership and interpersonal skills training provider with established Swedish franchise operations offering directly overlapping leadership development courses.
• Mercuri Urval: Swedish-founded global leadership and executive development firm with overlapping practice areas in executive assessment, leadership coaching, and development programs for the same Nordic clientele.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chefakademin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Executive Academy