What Enterprises Can Learn from Pippi Longstocking

There’s a particular kind of magic in stepping into a place that isn’t just built for work, but for wonder. That’s what we experienced during our recent visit to TIQQE, the Swedish powerhouse behind Ampd Labs. Tucked away in Örebro, TIQQE’s 1,700-square-metre office isn’t just a workspace — it’s a statement. A statement that says: work can be different. Bold, human, generous. Just like Pippi Longstocking would have liked it.

Pippi, the red-haired icon of Swedish storytelling, didn’t wait for permission. She climbed backwards onto horses, invented her own words, and moved through the world with a joyful kind of rebellion. At TIQQE, that same spirit is alive — not in childish chaos, but in a sophisticated kind of freedom that unlocks potential at every turn.

You feel it from the first moment: you’re not entering a tech company. You’re being welcomed into a vision. The in-house kitchen doesn’t just serve food — it nourishes connection. The chef, with an ease and kindness that set the tone for our entire stay, greeted us with a private dinner that was nothing short of unforgettable. It wasn’t about luxury — it was about generosity. It was about breaking bread in a way that said: you belong here.

The library, quietly tucked into the heart of the space, holds more than books. It holds beliefs. One title stood out: Unreasonable Hospitality — and it’s more than a book on a shelf. It’s a lived value. Every corner of TIQQE reflects that ethos: from the thoughtful design of meeting spaces to the way people show up for each other. It’s rare. And it’s powerful.

But perhaps the most memorable part? The mindset that no idea is too stupid. Ideas are welcomed here — the bold, the weird, the ambitious. Collaboration isn’t just encouraged, it’s built into the air you breathe. It’s a place where saying “I don’t know” isn’t weakness, it’s the start of something new.

And that brings us back to Pippi herself, who once said:

“I have never tried that before, so I think I should definitely be able to do that.”

That quote could hang over TIQQE’s door — because it captures their essence. A team that dares to think differently. A culture that embraces curiosity. A belief that doing things for the first time is the best way to grow.

There’s a blackboard wall in all of the collaboration spaces — it’s to be filled with sketches, big visions, and half-formed ideas that are welcomed instead of shut down. There’s a shelf with games. There’s space to fail, and space to play. These things aren’t extras. They’re signals. Signals that this is a place where innovation doesn’t have to wear a suit.

In fact, Pippi would probably laugh at how often businesses mistake rules for culture. She lived by instinct, creativity, and a strong sense of justice. She made space for others — Tommy and Annika didn’t just tag along; they were part of her world. And that’s what great companies do too: they invite people into something meaningful.

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Another of Pippi’s most iconic quotes is:

“Don’t you worry about me. I’ll always come out on top.”

It’s the voice of resilience — and resilience is a quality we often try to teach in management courses. But what if, instead of teaching it, we built environments where it naturally thrives?

TIQQE did just that. Not through KPIs and posters, but through practice. Through creating space where people feel seen, supported, and inspired. Through understanding that creativity isn’t a deliverable — it’s a result of culture.

So what can enterprises learn from Pippi Longstocking — and from places like TIQQE?

They can learn that structure doesn’t mean rigidity. That bravery and business aren’t opposites. That when you build a space where people feel free, they begin to think freely — and that’s when the real ideas show up.

They can learn that the future of work isn’t defined by systems, but by spirit. By hospitality. By courage. By creativity.

By making room for unreasonable ideas — and welcoming them with unreasonable kindness.

And maybe, just maybe, by remembering what it’s like to believe anything is possible — just like Pippi always did.

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