AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE RISING STARS

What was your first automotive job and why were you interested in the industry?
My first job was working for truck maker Scania in Soedertaelje, Sweden, where I helped with automating the testing of new engines. I have had a passion for automotive and cars as long as I can remember. It was a conscious choice to apply to a job within the automotive industry.

Your greatest achievement?
I’m proud of being a female leader with a software engineering background in a company that historically has focused on mechanics. Also, I’m proud of being able to combine this amazing job with a family, which I’m able to do thanks to my incredible husband. Other than that, my biggest achievement is when I decided to run my first 10 km race last year. I finished in 44 minutes and 18 seconds.

What was your biggest failure and what did it teach you?
I’m quite impatient and restless. I can also be very direct when I don’t see the progress I have expected. Early in my career, I got involved in issues that weren’t mine to solve. I intended to speed up the process but I ended up causing bigger problems. Since then, I have learned to hold back and to trust the people and the process. It’s been a very important lesson for me. To support your people to help them solve their problems on their own is much more powerful than solving things for them.

What is your current challenge at work?
Just like many others, I face the challenge of transforming our portfolio into sustainable products so they fit electrified vehicles.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
Our CEO gave a very inspiring speech about decisions. One of his key messages was to always reflect on decisions before you make them. It’s your choice, however, he suggested questioning whether it’s indeed right time to decide. I always tended to make decisions fast. His advice made me think differently. Being fast is definitely not always the right choice.

What advice would you give to a person considering a career in the auto industry?
It’s the best industry to be in. It’s dynamic, fast and changing all the time. It’s also important to be part of developing sustainable transportation solutions.

What job do you really want to have in the future?
I want to be a leader who positively impacts the world’s environmental situation, so we can leave our kids and following generations a great Earth.

What do you do to relax?
I enjoy many hobbies, however, my favorite would be going for a run, preferrable on a trail. I also like to cook a really good dinner.

What is your dream location to live?
On a mountain very close to ski slopes.

What is your favorite driving song?
I don’t really have a favorite. But to me a classic driving song is “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen.

What was your favorite road trip and why?
In 2008 my family and I drove from Sweden to Lyon, France. We were going to live there for six months while my husband worked at Renault. It took us three days since we had a 9-month-old baby and a dog with us. We needed to make a lot of stops, but it was a beautiful trip through Europe.

What was your first car?
My first car was a black Mercedes-Benz C-Class with a towbar so I could move my horses.

Current car?
A Polestar 2 and a Toyota Hilux.

If you were a car, which one would you be?
A Porsche Taycan.