Around the Qverse with Management & Leadership Development Expert Gunilla Elmenius

We are thrilled to welcome Gunilla Elmenius , CEO of Q company QCM and Founder and CEO of Elmenius Management Consulting & Coaching AB, for this edition of the Around The Qverse series with the latest in leadership strategies and digital transformation!

With a deep understanding of cultivating leadership and fostering growth, Gunilla plays a crucial role in driving QCM's success. Her leadership at QCM is marked by a commitment to sustainability, digital transformation, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Q: Hi, Gunilla! Since becoming QCM's CEO last year, how has your experience been, and what can you tell us about QCM?

A: It has been a really inspiring year with many fruitful meetings, and it is satisfying to see how QCM can help customers stay relevant.?

At QCM, we always start with the people. If the people are onboard, there is a good chance of success. We map processes and information flows, help the customer see and understand their information flow and set requirements for tools and support systems. We also help our customers set the governance structure for information handling.

Q: What type of projects are you currently working on?

A: We have several different projects ongoing in the private and public sectors, as well as large and small businesses.?

As an example, we work together with one customer to create and set rules, guidelines, and principles on how to configure their products, including both hardware and software. This has challenged the existing processes since the company comes from being hardware-driven.

We also partner up with researchers, universities, and others to understand how upcoming regulations on sustainability requirements will affect businesses and how they can benefit from using existing tools and support systems like PLM, ERP, CRM, and more.?

Q: Exciting! What are some of the biggest trends you see in your industry today?

A: In many aspects, it all comes down to having access to accurate and reliable data. We talk about transparency and traceability, digital threads, and digital twins. Data is the fuel for AI and Industry 4.0.

To be able to meet sustainability goals on a global level, products need to be designed with a more circular economic approach, and decisions need to be made based on accurate and reliable data.

Q: Sustainability is becoming increasingly important across industries. How does QCM incorporate sustainability into its business practices and service offerings?

A: Our mission is to help organizations understand how they will be affected by upcoming regulations and how they can prepare to meet upcoming requirements.?

People are concerned that all new requirements will create a lot of extra work, require new tools, and generate a considerable amount of new data. We see that organizations already have most of the data, but it needs to be structured and accurate. Many of the existing tools can also be used but need to be integrated. New processes and workflows will be required, and the change process will, of course, require extra resources.?

Q: In your opinion, what key factors should organizations consider to ensure the success of their digital change projects?

A: First of all, you need to understand your business needs and the goals to be achieved - set the vision - and ask why we are doing this. Then, you need to communicate - continuously. You work both top-down and bottom-up to engage the entire organization and create a culture supporting change. You must constantly evaluate and adjust initiatives based on results and feedback. Finally - use outside help to benefit from others' expertise and access experienced resources while maintaining focus on your core business.

Q: How important are leadership and change management in successfully implementing digital transformation initiatives?

A: It is crucial for success since you need to create a vision, communicate it, and motivate employees. You need to create a culture of trust, openness, and flexibility to facilitate change and innovation. You also have to be a role model to inspire and engage employees to adapt to new technologies and ways of working.

Effective change management includes creating a structure to deal with resistance, training employees, and ensuring that the change is implemented effectively. A strategy to address technical and cultural barriers is also important to ensure success in digital transformation projects.

Q: What advice would you give business leaders looking to implement successful digital transformation projects in their organizations?

A: Be clear about what you want to achieve. Transparency and communication are key. Don't underestimate the time, resources, and persistence needed to make a lasting change!

Thank you, Gunilla, for sharing your expertise and insights with us! ????