This week I was delighted to sit down with Ann Molin, CEO & Secretary General of Hack for Earth, for an in-depth conversation on how citizen-led innovation can tackle global challenges. Ann, a psychologist by training, first fell in love with hackathons while working on the Swedish Government’s Hack for Sweden initiative, where she realized that bringing people together to solve open-data challenges could spark powerful, real-world solutions in record time.
During our conversation, Ann explained how the Hack for Earth foundation evolved from this initial passion, scaling up to engage over 25,000 participants across 125 countries in building tools aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. She emphasized that these events aren’t just about brainstorming; they’re about bolstering projects after the hackathon ends. Ann’s key insight was that sustainable innovation demands an ongoing acceleration program—complete with the leadership support and psychological safety needed for meaningful impact.
We also discussed the Nordic countries’ tremendous success in both innovation and sustainability. Ann pointed out how a strong social framework, combined with a flat organizational culture, empowers individuals to take risks without fear of failure. She described the critical role of storytelling in uniting groups around environmental goals, noting that the most memorable ideas emerge when empathy, narrative, and relationships intertwine.
One of my favorite takeaways was Ann’s passionate stance on action trumping endless research. While reading and learning have their place, she believes we can’t just wait around if we want to drive change. If you’re curious about the psychology behind hackathons, the importance of genuine follow-through, or how the Nordic approach to collaboration might help solve today’s toughest challenges, you won’t want to miss our conversation. Let me know what you think!
This engaging episode sets the stage for a series that probes the Nordic mindset on merging profit with a strong sense of responsibility for people and the planet.
About Ann Molin
Name: Ann Molin
Title: CEO & Secretary General
Company: Hack for Earth
LinkedIn | Hack for Earth Website | Company LinkedIn Page |
Ann Molin is a leader in sustainable innovation and citizen-driven solutions, dedicated to leveraging citizen-driven innovation to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. As the Founder and Secretary General of Hack for Earth Foundation, she leads global initiatives that transform ideas into real-world solutions, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
With a strong belief in the power of sustainability, diversity and impact, Ann developed the Dream – Hack – Build method, a structured approach that has engaged 25.000+ participants from 125+ countries, mobilizing diverse communities to co-create solutions with tangible societal impact. Through Hack for Earth, she has fostered partnerships with organizations such as the United Nations, Swedish Government, AWS, AstraZeneca, UNICEF Office of Innovation, Nordic Council of Ministers, and Ericsson, positioning her hackathon method as a strategic tool for sustainable innovation.
Ann’s leadership has been instrumental in organizing large-scale hackathons. Beyond her work with the Hack for Earth Foundation, Ann is also CEO of Hack for Earth AB, providing high-value hackathon services to organizations seeking to drive meaningful change through innovation. Ann is recognized as a thought leader in global innovation.
In 2024, she launched her book Dream! Hack! Build! during NYC Climate Week, a book designed for leaders and organizations looking to leverage hackathons as a structured and impactful innovation tool.
With a background as a licensed psychologist with 18+ years of experience in clinical psychiatry and work psychology, Ann brings a deep understanding of human behavior and the psychology of teams to her work. Her expertise in human-centered innovation enables her to design highly effective methodologies for cross-sector collaboration and global problem-solving.
