ESSEC Alumni in Sweden: “The country's economy is repositioning due to COVID, Brexit and Ukraine”

Covid, Brexit and the war in Ukraine took a toll on Sweden. However the country offers a good work-life balance and opportunities for entrepreneurs, say Alain Demairé (EXEC MBA 00) and Alexis Labarre (M09), President and Vice-President of ESSEC Alumni’s Sweden Chapter.

ESSEC Alumni: What are the profiles of our alumni in Sweden?

Alain Demairé: We have around 60 alumni in Sweden. Most work in commercial or finance services, as marketers, buyers, controllers and engineers. 

EA: What is the current economics and politics situation in Sweden? 

Alexis Labarre: COVID, Brexit, and the war in Ukraine took a toll on the country. Major local companies such as Electrolux and Ericsson show signs of recession and face strong competition from Asia. Basically, the local economy is based on volume trade and needs repositioning. However, a fair amount of pragmatism governs the society. For example, Sweden is committed to energy transition even though it has no environment ministry. So I am confident tensions will calm down and actions will be taken. 

EA: How does this context affect our local alumni’s prospects and opportunities?

A. Labarre: Large corporations do not recruit much these days. However the country remains dynamic and open for entrepreneurs. It has a strong start-up culture, as exemplified by the success story of Spotify.  

EA: As a foreigner, what makes it interesting to live in Sweden?

A. Demairé: Sweden is a very child-friendly country offering a good work-life balance. The most striking part for a foreigner could be all the dads pushing strollers during daytime: paternity leave is a given here. Alumni with families will see many benefits in living here.

A. Labarre: Another distinctive feature is how close to nature and environmentally concerned people are. That being said, they also tend to be big consumers. This is quite a paradox.

EA: What advice do you have for our alumni moving to Sweden?

A. Demairé: Swedish may seem difficult to approach but the fastest way to break the ice is to learn the language. Then you’ll be able to navigate in the local networks, which is the key to the job market. Be prepared for constant dialog and empathy, as Swedish structures are flat and based on discussion. Also, do not procrastinate or hesitate, act immediately: Sweden loves to go fast.

A. Labarre: Last but not least, bear in mind that moving to Sweden with a specific expertise must be well thought trough, as there might be a limited number of companies interested in your profile. This means that you may need either to launch your own company or to move out for your next career plan.

EA: What are the offer and services of ESSEC Alumni’s Sweden Chapter? 

A. Demairé: We are a happy crew of 30-to-50 years old professionals. We have a LinkedIn group that we use to help each other out, share information and news, and nurture lifelong learning, which is quintessential to the Swedish mindset. We also frequently launch impromptu afterworks. Come and join us!

Interview by Louis Armengaud Wurmser (E10), Content Manager at ESSEC Alumni 

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