Group CEO & Founder | Redefining Recruitment through Verified Performance & Capacity-Based Growth | Finalist, Recruitment Awards 2026
The Courage to Move Beyond the Script
In a modern corporate landscape often obsessed with historical credentials and polished paperwork, André Elfving operates on a different frequency. For the founder and Group CEO of WILDCARD UNTAP, a person’s true value is not found in the static lines of a resume, but in the kinetic energy of their future direction. Elfving is currently spearheading a structural shift in recruitment, moving the industry away from filtering formalities toward a model where capacity is verified through real-world motion. “Potential is a promise. It becomes value only when tested,” he asserts, a philosophy that challenges the safety of traditional CV-filters in favor of measurable, verified performance.
The Instinct for the Overlooked
Growing up in Stockholm, Sweden, Elfving’s leadership philosophy was forged not in a boardroom, but in the observant empathy of his youth. Witnessing the exclusion of those who stood out due to their background or appearance, he felt an instinctive draw toward individuals whom others chose to overlook. This early exposure to the “unconventional” taught him that every individual carries an inherent uniqueness that mainstream systems often fail to capture.
His professional education began on the doorsteps of Swedish neighborhoods, selling Christmas magazines and cable TV packages. These roles were early masterclasses in courage and accountability; they taught him that you cannot hide behind a title when you are face-to-face with a customer. “It worked because I learned early that listening comes before influence,” Elfving reflects, noting that these direct human interactions established his career-long principle: performance before position.
Mastering the Rules to Break Them
Elfving’s career trajectory is defined by a deep understanding of structure—from his early days in specialty retail to his roles as a Business Manager and CEO—allowing him to eventually challenge the status quo with the precision of an artist. After years of navigating the traditional recruitment and business development sectors, he founded WILDCARD UNTAP to solve a fundamental market inefficiency: the gap between “assumed” talent and “actual” delivery.
Under his leadership, WILDCARD UNTAP has emerged as a performance-driven growth partner, recently recognized as a finalist for the Recruitment Awards 2026. His “60-day performance validation model” is the cornerstone of this growth, providing a framework where tempo, responsibility, and character become visible before a hiring decision is formalized. By applying his training in Design Thinking, Elfving has moved beyond the “CV-security” blanket to help organizations reduce risk while freeing true human performance.
Verifying the Life Force of Potential
Today, Elfving’s impact is measured by his ability to see capacity where others see deviation. His work is characterized by a “bultande hjärta” (pounding heart) and a commitment to putting people first—a sentiment echoed by colleagues like Sajida L., who notes his ability to “see people for more than just their CV and title… creating a climate of trust where teams both perform and develop.” His thought leadership emphasizes that in a world of constant change, the most sustainable competence is the ability to think critically and learn continuously. By advocating for a mindset of vitality and unique expression, Elfving is not just filling roles; he is restructuring how the market rewards those who assume responsibility before it is assigned.
A Global Vision for Human Capacity
As André Elfving looks toward the horizon, his focus is set on the international expansion of the WILDCARD UNTAP model across the Nordics and Europe. He envisions a future where “direction” carries more weight than “history” and where organizational stability is built on verified potential rather than antiquated filters.
To the next generation of leaders, his advice remains grounded in the authenticity he has championed since his youth: “Do not optimize for titles. Optimize for capacity and develop your potential through real performance”. For Elfving, the journey is about more than business—it is about the courage to stand fully in who you are and encouraging others to do the same, ensuring that innovation and progress emerge from a true diversity of thought.
Editorial Note
André Elfving’s journey serves as a powerful reminder that true leadership is found in the transition from hypothesis to proof. By prioritizing human capacity over historical paperwork, he invites us all to step out of the safety of our titles and into the reality of our performance.
