Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Episode 3 - Tomas Brunegård - Part 1
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Episode 3 - Tomas Brunegård - Part 1
In this deeply inspiring episode of the 100x Podcast, Tomas Brunegård, former CEO of one of Sweden’s largest media companies—shares his journey from corporate success to purposeful significance. With remarkable vulnerability, Tomas reflects on the defining moments of his faith, leadership, and the internal promptings that led him to trade worldly applause for Kingdom impact. From early influences on the rocky hills of Cyprus to leading in the secular media industry, and eventually stepping out into a global, gospel-centered mission, Tomas’ story is a call to live openly, lead boldly, and finish faithfully.
Key Points:
1. A Faith Formed in Unlikely PlacesGrew up in a small town in Sweden with deep church roots, even though faith wasn’t common in his culture.Encounters with the Jesus Movement in the 1970s planted early seeds of transformative belief.
2. Leading with Honesty in a Secular CultureAt 33, became CEO of a major Swedish newspaper company, despite no traditional media background.Embraced radical transparency—including publicly sharing his salary—to earn trust.
3. The Crisis of SuccessDespite professional triumphs, Tomas felt called to more than status and strategy.A breakfast with Bill Hybels and the book Halftime by Bob Buford became pivotal in reshaping his calling.
4. Courage to Step Down and Step OutGave a four-year notice to leave his CEO role, planning a midlife shift toward global impact.Trained to be a missionary pilot, explored mission opportunities, and co-founded Halftime Sweden.
5. Facing Criticism and Choosing FaithfulnessHis decision to leave media leadership for mission work was met with public scorn—even ridicule.Yet true friends and church community stood with him, forming a tight circle of co-laborers.
6. Living the 100x LifeToday, Tomas leads efforts like Halftime Europe and Euro Academy, equipping leaders across the globe.Continues to use business platforms to integrate faith and leadership in the secular marketplace.🗣️
Notable Quotes:
“People actually nearly gave me the finger sometimes... One woman said to me, ‘Think about all of us who are fighting for our lives to get to the top, and you just say, I don’t care.’”
“The biggest asset is not the success—it’s the years when it was dark, when I was scrutinized and under fire. That’s when the fruit began to grow.”
“You leak what you think. And I’m a leaker. People started to realize: something’s going on inside Tomas.”
“You can’t separate my life from my faith—it’s marinated in Scripture, and that’s my true north.”“God is faithful. But people are also faithful. We’re in this together. We’re back-to-back for life.”
“The process of finding purpose is the same no matter where you are spiritually. But if it’s true about Jesus, it will show up in joy.”
View all episodes
By 100x PodcastIn this deeply inspiring episode of the 100x Podcast, Tomas Brunegård, former CEO of one of Sweden’s largest media companies—shares his journey from corporate success to purposeful significance. With remarkable vulnerability, Tomas reflects on the defining moments of his faith, leadership, and the internal promptings that led him to trade worldly applause for Kingdom impact. From early influences on the rocky hills of Cyprus to leading in the secular media industry, and eventually stepping out into a global, gospel-centered mission, Tomas’ story is a call to live openly, lead boldly, and finish faithfully.
Key Points:
1. A Faith Formed in Unlikely PlacesGrew up in a small town in Sweden with deep church roots, even though faith wasn’t common in his culture.Encounters with the Jesus Movement in the 1970s planted early seeds of transformative belief.
2. Leading with Honesty in a Secular CultureAt 33, became CEO of a major Swedish newspaper company, despite no traditional media background.Embraced radical transparency—including publicly sharing his salary—to earn trust.
3. The Crisis of SuccessDespite professional triumphs, Tomas felt called to more than status and strategy.A breakfast with Bill Hybels and the book Halftime by Bob Buford became pivotal in reshaping his calling.
4. Courage to Step Down and Step OutGave a four-year notice to leave his CEO role, planning a midlife shift toward global impact.Trained to be a missionary pilot, explored mission opportunities, and co-founded Halftime Sweden.
5. Facing Criticism and Choosing FaithfulnessHis decision to leave media leadership for mission work was met with public scorn—even ridicule.Yet true friends and church community stood with him, forming a tight circle of co-laborers.
6. Living the 100x LifeToday, Tomas leads efforts like Halftime Europe and Euro Academy, equipping leaders across the globe.Continues to use business platforms to integrate faith and leadership in the secular marketplace.🗣️
Notable Quotes:
“People actually nearly gave me the finger sometimes... One woman said to me, ‘Think about all of us who are fighting for our lives to get to the top, and you just say, I don’t care.’”
“The biggest asset is not the success—it’s the years when it was dark, when I was scrutinized and under fire. That’s when the fruit began to grow.”
“You leak what you think. And I’m a leaker. People started to realize: something’s going on inside Tomas.”
“You can’t separate my life from my faith—it’s marinated in Scripture, and that’s my true north.”“God is faithful. But people are also faithful. We’re in this together. We’re back-to-back for life.”
“The process of finding purpose is the same no matter where you are spiritually. But if it’s true about Jesus, it will show up in joy.”