Kristian Dahl
Kristian Dahl is one of Denmark’s leading business psychologists. He works on strategic development projects for a wide range of prominent private and public organizations.
He is a highly sought-after advisor to executive teams and HR departments when it comes to impactful leadership, talent, and organizational development. Kristian also has extensive experience designing and implementing development programs that build well-functioning leadership pipelines through the Leadership Pipeline framework.
Kristian has a particular focus on leading digital transformation in the public sector. He continuously works on several projects where, together with leading researchers and senior public leaders, he develops new approaches to harness digital technology for the benefit of the Danish welfare state.
As a researcher, Kristian is known, alongside Thor Molly-Søholm, for having developed the theory of the Leadership Pipeline in the public sector. His research also focuses on how organizations can foster optimal development of talents and leaders. Kristian is an engaged and sought-after speaker when it comes to communicating research within these themes.
In collaboration with the Canadian top researcher Jocelyne Bourgon, Kristian has published the book The New Synthesis for Public Value Creation. The central question of this project is: “How do we lead the public sector to continue delivering the same or better welfare services amid fewer resources, rising demands, and increasing complexity?”
The research project was initiated by Jocelyne Bourgon in 2006 and has so far involved over 200 senior leaders, politicians, and researchers from countries including Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, England, Brazil, Singapore, and New Zealand.
Together with Thor Molly-Søholm, Kristian is a founder of LEAD.
Contact Kristian
Fill out the form, and Kristian will reach out to you promptly.
Selected Publications
“Femfaktorconsulting“, 2018, Erhvervspsykologi
“Det taler din direktion om: Ny syntese vinder frem i kommunerne”, 2017, Offentlig Ledelse
“Den professionella processkonsult”, 2013, Studenterforlaget (Sverige)
“Leadership Pipeline i den offentlige sektor”, 2012 Dansk Psykologisk forlag
“Den professionelle proceskonsulent”, 2010, Hans Reitzels Forlag
“Ledelsesbaseret coaching”, 2006, Børsen
“Teambaserede organisationer i praksis”, 2005, Dansk Psykologisk Forlag
Hertil en lang række artikler om ledelse og organisationsudvikling
References
“A BIG thank you from me for a program that brought relevant themes from the field of leadership, which truly challenged and further developed my leadership to the benefit of our core mission. High praise to the competent people at LEAD for their inspiring input on leading in complexity — and not least to Kristian Aagaard Dahl for his excellent facilitation of the program. Last but not least, my leadership network has been expanded and enriched!”
– Gitte Clausen, Head of Department, Hjørring Municipality
Professional Experience
Founder and Associate Partner at LEAD – enter next level (2025 – ) Partner at LEAD – enter next level (2013 – 2025)
Independent Business Psychologist (2013)
Associate Professor of Leadership Psychology, Aalborg University (2012 – )
Professor with Special Responsibilities (MSO), Aalborg University (March 2010 – 2012)
Chief Consultant and Partner, Udviklingskonsulenterne A/S (2007 – 2012)
Head of Research Unit, Udviklingskonsulenterne A/S (2009 – 2012)
Licensed Psychologist, Danish Supervisory Board of Psychological Practice (2009)
Appointed External Examiner, National Censorship Corps in Psychology (2006 – )
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Aarhus University (2004 – 2007)
PhD Fellow, Department of Psychology, Aarhus University (2000 – 2004)
Master of Psychology (Cand.psych.), Aarhus University (2000)
Visiting Professor, University of Technology, Sydney (2001 – 2002)
Certifications:
– People Tools Personality Profile (2008)
– NEO-PI-R Certification (2012)
Dynamic Executive Coaching Training with Patricia Coughlin Delle Selva (2009–2010)
Specializations
Effective Leadership Teams
Leadership Team Development
Leadership Pipeline
Change Management and
Organizational Learning
Cross-functional Leadership and
Relational Coordination
Motivation and Self-Leadership
Digital Transformation
Innovation Psychology
Organizational Development
Personal Leadership
Development
Kristian Dahl Experience in the United Nations system
Kristian Dahl is one of Denmark’s leading business psychologists with deep expertise in strategic leadership, talent development, and organizational transformation – particularly within the danish public sector. He advises executive teams and HR functions on strengthening leadership capacity, fostering sustainable talent pipelines, and designing development programs that support effective leadership structures across all organizational levels.
Kristian has extensive experience developing and implementing the Leadership Pipeline framework, which helps build robust leadership chains in both national and international settings. His work often involves cross-sectoral collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from various countries.
A central theme in Kristian’s work is public sector digital transformation. He collaborates closely with senior leaders to leverage digital technologies for improving welfare services amid increasing complexity and resource constraints. He has significant experience facilitating learning processes that address global challenges such as public service efficiency, governance innovation, and capacity building across sectors.
Kristian has played a key role in several international research and development projects. Notably, together with Canadian top researcher Jocelyne Bourgon, he co-authored the book The New Synthesis for Public Value Creation. This project has engaged over 200 senior leaders, politicians, and researchers from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, England, Brazil, Singapore, and New Zealand around the question: “How do we lead the public sector to continue delivering welfare services amid rising demands and fewer resources?” Kristian’s approach combines an international outlook with practical anchoring in public value creation.
Kristian Dahl’s areas of specialization include:
- Effective Leadership
- Teams
- Leadership Team
- Development
- Leadership Pipeline
- Change Management and
- Organizational Learning
- Cross-functional
- Leadership and Relational
- Coordination
- Motivation and Self
- Leadership
- Digital Transformation
- Innovation Psychology
- Organizational
- Development
- Personal Leadership
- Development