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Dynavox Group: Championing Diversity and Communication for All
Dynavox Group, a rapidly growing and profitable global leader in communication aids, believes that equality, diversity, and varied backgrounds are key to their business success. The company provides tools that empower individuals with communication difficulties, giving them a voice and improving their quality of life.
Linda Tybring, CFO of Dynavox Group, highlights the immense growth potential within the company’s market. “50 million people worldwide are unable to communicate effectively. Each year, two million more are diagnosed with conditions like cerebral palsy, autism, ALS, or Parkinson’s disease. The need for our communication aids is enormous. We operate in a market with unparalleled growth opportunities, yet only a small percentage of those who need assistance actually receive it,” she explains.
Tybring emphasizes the lack of awareness surrounding their products and their implementation. Funding models vary globally, with regional governments in Sweden and public or private insurance companies in the United States playing key roles.
Linda Tybring joined Tobii AB’s Tobii Dynavox division in 2018. In 2021, Tobii Dynavox was spun off as an independent, publicly listed company. In 2024, the parent company rebranded as Dynavox Group, with Linda serving as CFO for the entire organization.
As CFO, she oversees a team of approximately 90 people across finance and IT, including a significant presence in the United States. Her primary responsibility is to optimize the company’s financial performance and determine its financial needs.
Dynavox Group is committed to empowering individuals, both externally and internally. Employees are encouraged to maintain a healthy work-life balance, and the company actively supports their professional development through training, networking opportunities, and new projects.
“We set high goals and ensure that each employee is supported in achieving them,” says Linda. “It’s easy to be passionate about Dynavox Group because our products make a tangible difference in people’s lives. New employees quickly become engaged and see the impact of our work. For example, a child gains the ability to live a fuller life, instead of being trapped within their own body, unable to communicate. This sense of purpose is deeply ingrained in our company culture.”
Sustainability and diversity are integral to Dynavox Group’s DNA. The company actively works towards achieving the UN’s Agenda 2030, particularly Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 4 (Quality Education), and 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
“Our entire company is a form of equality work. Everyone should have equal rights to communicate, regardless of their abilities,” Linda states.
A health economic study conducted in Sweden by Augur, commissioned by Dynavox Group, demonstrated the positive impact of communication aids. The study revealed that the quality of life doubles for individuals with disabilities who use these tools. This improvement extends beyond the user, positively impacting those around them.
“Often, it’s the mothers who are the driving force behind seeking these solutions. With communication aids, they can return to work and focus on being a parent rather than a caregiver. From an economic perspective, the study shows that society receives three times the cost of each prescribed communication aid. This is an exceptional result in health economic studies. Imagine an ALS patient being able to continue working and requiring less assistance,” Linda explains.
Dynavox Group’s board of directors is composed of an equal number of men and women. Women hold 44 to 48 percent of leadership positions and executive roles. Linda emphasizes the importance of promoting equality in the business world.
“We are incredibly proud of our balanced gender representation. We actively work to maintain these results and hire individuals of diverse nationalities across all our offices. This creates a culture that benefits our business. It’s simply good business,” she says. “Having an equal number of women and men in the organization provides a perspective that other companies may lack. We also have an equality committee that examines various perspectives to further improve the company. I strongly believe in incorporating diverse perspectives through multiculturalism. It’s crucial in decision-making, as different viewpoints lead to better outcomes.”
To attract and recruit individuals with diverse backgrounds, Dynavox Group actively participates in events like Women in Tech Sweden, an organization for women in the technology sector.
“We also partnered with the Womengineer foundation, which encourages more women to become engineers. During Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, we invited teenage girls to our office to experience the latest technology and discuss innovation,” Linda adds.
The company’s rapid growth is a testament to the significant need for its products. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Dynavox Group has grown by approximately 20 to 30 percent annually, expanding from 450 to over 900 employees worldwide, with around 150 based in Stockholm, Sweden.
“It’s been an amazing journey. When we went public in 2021, our revenue was 872 million SEK. Last year, we reached almost two billion SEK. We have a strong presence in the US, accounting for approximately 80 percent of our sales.”
“In the US, regulations support our work, as the product contributes to a fundamental human right,” Linda explains. “Our financial goal is to grow by 20 percent annually and increase our profitability to over 15 percent. We plan to recruit 70 employees this year alone for our new product development hub in Stockholm, so the future is bright.”
FACTS
Specialized solutions empower individuals with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, ALS, autism, and spinal cord injuries to find their voice, learn to read, and live more independent lives. Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide have benefited from our integrated solutions, which include hardware, software, clinically developed language systems, mounting solutions, training, and support. Because impaired voice and mobility are common among our users, our solutions can be accessed through alternative methods such as eye tracking or touch screens.
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