Stepping off the Beaten Path: Google to the Boardroom and Beyond

They say the best way to predict the future is to create it. To achieve this, it helps to have a good amount of drive, a steady mindset, and a dedication to regular effort. Something that I have spent much of my career honing, but at a certain point, you need to set your sights higher and take your ambitions even further, making the inevitable leap. As such, with the support of my fellow mentors and coaches, learning from their insights and learnings, I've taken my next leap.

Read on to discover my journey from walking the beaten career path to what I'm doing next: inspiring a new wave of professionals.?

The Google Era

My reason for being, or my purpose, is that 'I search', so who would have guessed I ended up at Google as my first job? And what a job it was! My 15 years at Google was a transformative journey I will never forget.?

But first, let's delve deeper: What I mean by 'I search' is that my thirst for knowledge, understanding and enlightenment is an ever-evolving process. I thrive on this search for knowing. That's why it is the journey itself at Google that made it completely unforgettable.?

One of my biggest takeaways from my time at Google was having the opportunity to be part of a company which was growing, shaping an industry and working with smart, curious and collaborative people. I had the opportunity to choose the people I worked for, join new teams I could learn from and work on innovative projects.?

One of my biggest takeaways from my time at Google was the challenging but memorable time as part of the team that made money. Of course, while this happened, and as Google grew bigger, we experienced various teething issues. But I embraced every moment, and eventually, the experience taught me to own my career.?

My biggest learning? You have to be brave to unlock the 'golden handcuffs' of free breakfast, lunch and dinners, gyms and massages by realising that it is time to leap. Leave your amazing people and move on.

With that said, my key highlights are less related to professional achievements but to the people I worked with, the managers and friends I consider my closest friends and allies to this day.?

The Elekta and Med Tech Era

I left Google with high hopes, and fortunately for me, my search didn't end. Instead, I embarked on a new journey into med tech.??

I have never been a stranger to jumping into new things, redefining my career or starting in a completely different industry. I believe people with different backgrounds will add new perspectives to a company or a new team. That is why I decided to join Elekta as a non-executive director.?

But the experience wasn't without its challenges. The learning curve was steep as I had no previous experience with a board role, less so in a governance role. However, I knew there was a lot I could apply to the company:?

• My understanding of the tech industry
• Opportunities around software and product organisation?
• My commercial acumen

As such, I quickly realised that there are opportunities in abundance, and that is what has been motivating me in the last 4 years as a non-executive board member of Elekta.?

My passion for med-tech led me to found, together with my father, Bonit Capital, a family investment office focusing on med-tech innovation and social impact investing in Sweden.?

While currently the chairperson for Bonit and non-executive board member at Elekta (and with no plans to change that), I'm now looking towards a new horizon:

A New Era is Entering

I'm currently pivoting my focus as CEO of Impala Collective, an advisory business, where I partner with ambitious founders and CEOs to deliver high-impact, sustainable and profitable growth through sales enablement for software.?

Impala Collective is the realisation of a dream to assemble a team of experts and innovators who want to foster a culture of creativity and lead a company committed to making a lasting difference. Together, I hope that we will harness our collective strengths, transform ideas into reality, and embark on a journey that promises to be as exhilarating as challenging. Interested in getting involved and using your expertise for the greater good? Discover what we solve: Achieving growth, sales leadership and culture, product innovation, GTM, strategy, and value proposition design.

The Future: What I Hope Lies Ahead

My honest hopes for Impala Collective are endless. But the hope is that a year from now, the Impala Collective will be a bright beacon for those seeking high-impact, sustainable and profitable growth.?

See, the thing is, while your business has the potential, sometimes it needs a different perspective to unlock the keys to success. That's why I'm building a living, breathing and thriving organism, a collective of strategic brains, practical problem solvers and people who make it happen. Those who disrupt, redefine, create and innovate to find new solutions to take your organisation and its success further.

The collective will be an unstoppable force of professionals dedicated to creating lean strategies, robustly executing them and unlocking the potential of your business.

The Common Thread: Lessons Learned

Grow with discipline

As a leader, I've come to appreciate that the power of influence and collaboration far outweighs commanding authority. To truly lead, you must inspire and motivate your team rather than dictate their actions. Communication skills are key, which is something I've learnt the hard way.?

I've learnt to ask for help. Today, I've got a group of incredible people around me who have been advising, coaching and supporting me in my professional career and private life.?

Earn your people's respect?

It starts with asking the right questions and understanding their perspectives. Acknowledging that I don't possess all the answers and being open to the insights and experiences of others has been a pivotal part of my leadership journey. Listening is key; it will give you all the answers you need. Make sure you have a high ratio of 'Say & Do'. Reliability is that rare currency that builds trust.

Practise good execution

Without effective execution, even the most innovative ideas can't thrive, and that in itself can cause a company to fall apart. The solution really is to optimise: Play where you're strong and avoid where you're weak. That usually includes hiring people who are better than you and who can change or give you multiple perspectives.?

Don't be afraid to experiment?

Success shouldn't be a final destination but a stepping stone; build upon each successful experiment, ensuring that your skills continue to grow and adapt to the ever-changing demands of your environment. Learning new things is everything - study, meet new people, change roles, change careers, and always be curious and interested. You will soon realise that feedback is your best friend: you'll never be lonely if you seek genuine feedback (rather than affirmation) and are prepared to change and accept what you need to do.?