ESSEC Alumni in Sweden: “This Country Loves to Go Fast”

A "fast-forward-thinking" country where paternity leave, labour relations and start-up culture are a no-brainer: Alain Demairé (EXEC MBA 00) and Alexis Labarre (M09), President and Vice-President of ESSEC Alumni’s Sweden Chapter, tell us about the life of the local alumni community.

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

Alain Demairé: We have around 40 alumni in Sweden. Most work in commercial or finance services, as marketers, buyers, controllers and engineers. 

EA: What opportunities are there in Sweden for our alumni? 

Alexis Labarre: There are more and more opportunities here for our alumni, as Sweden is getting closer to France further to the Brexit. This is a trade nation with a number of large corporations and multinationals such as ABB, Electrolux and Volvo, and also 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 pandemic has actually enhanced this feature, as companies grew even more flexible. 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 in 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 is the offer of ESSEC Alumni's Sweden Chapter?

A. Demairé: Obviously the pandemic has been keeping us quite isolated from one another. However time is coming for a rebirth: we are planning our first virtual event on Thursday 27 May at 6pm! If you live in Sweden and want to get closer to the ESSEC local community, come and discuss the activities that you would like us to launch (networking, mutual aid, events...)! Free registration here.
 

Interview by Veary Ngy, International Community Manager at ESSEC Alumni, and Louis Armengaud Wurmser (E10), Content Manager at ESSEC Alumni 

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