Stockholm, five years later

After an incredible few days at Pharmageddon Europe in Amsterdam, I boarded a flight to Stockholm—a trip I had carefully planned, not only for nostalgia’s sake but to revisit the city that played a defining role in shaping my career. Walking through the airport, I wasn’t overcome with waves of sentimentality, but instead with a quiet realisation: this city had pushed me in directions I didn’t fully see at the time but can clearly trace now.

When Sweden found a way into my life

It’s not every day that a teenager from Singapore becomes enamoured with Scandinavia, but that’s exactly what happened when one of my closest friends moved to Finland in eighth grade. Her stories opened up a world vastly different from my own. I became captivated by the Nordic lifestyle, culture and values. At one point, I even considered moving there for my undergraduate studies. That didn’t happen, but looking back, it feels as though I had been manifesting the experience all along—long before it became a trend. There’s a line in a Bollywood movie that says if you want something deeply enough, the universe will conspire to bring it to you (yes, that Om Shanti Om one). And sure enough, Scandinavia eventually found its way into my life in ways I couldn’t have predicted.

From tropical heat to Nordic chill

In 2018, during my geography undergrad at the National University of Singapore (NUS), I was selected for the NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) programme. When Stockholm appeared as an option, I knew I had to go. So in January 2019, I packed my bags and went from Singapore’s +30°C to Sweden’s -10°C in a single day—a shock both to my wardrobe and my senses. Moving to Stockholm was a whirlwind of firsts. It was my first time living away from home, my first real winter and my first step into the professional world. Mamma mia, what a crash course in adulting.

Living in Stockholm also placed me at the heart of a thriving start-up ecosystem focused on social innovation. This environment pushed me to think creatively and embrace different perspectives—whether it was sharing ideas with local entrepreneurs over fika, joining a spontaneous weekend hackathon, or navigating the quirks of Swedish communication. I remember early conversations where, every time I described what I’d packed for lunch to a colleague, she made brief, sharp gasps throughout our discussion. At first, I was puzzled—what about my lunch was so shocking? It turned out to be the Swedish inhale, a common way of showing active listening and engagement. It was a funny reminder that even small things—like how people listen—can vary more than you’d think. And moments like that—the mundane yet unexpected ones—are what really defined my time abroad.

First steps into health policy

As part of the NOC programme, I interned at Swedish Care International (SCI), a Swedish organisation dedicated to global ageing and dementia care. In my very first week, I had the surreal opportunity to meet Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden during her visit to our office. Later that year, I had the privilege of being a company representative alongside our CEO, as part of the Swedish delegation on an official state visit to India, led by Her Majesty and the King. Not exactly what I had expected from an internship.

Working at SCI gave me a front-row seat to a sector I hadn’t deeply considered before—dementia and aged care. I spent my days immersed in research on how different countries approached ageing and cognitive health. I also collaborated with academics, practitioners, policymakers, entrepreneurs and people living with dementia and their caregivers, gaining valuable insights from their perspectives.

What left the biggest impact on me was SCI’s (and Sweden's) emphasis on person-centred care. This approach shifts the focus from treating the illness alone to recognising the person behind it, ensuring that the care provided respects their dignity, preferences and individuality. It emphasises collaboration with the person and their caregivers to ensure that their values and experiences shape the care they receive. It continues to influence how I think about health and care in my work now.

Fika for the soul

Returning to Stockholm after five years felt like enjoying a fika—a moment to pause, step away from routine and quietly take in how much had changed. Revisiting old favourites and reconnecting with the people who had been so important in shaping my journey was deeply meaningful and a rare chance to recognise the distance I’ve travelled.

One of the most heartwarming moments was sitting down with one of my mentors from the NOC programme. At the end of our chat, he left me with advice to recognise and nurture the aspects of my past that shaped who I am today—not to feel pressured by the constant need to change but to appreciate that some parts of ourselves are worth holding onto. His words touched me deeply and offered a perspective I had not realised I needed.

Looking back to move forward

My year in Stockholm was a turning point. After returning to Singapore, I delved deeper into health policy, a path that led me to a master’s in international health policy at the London School of Economics. Now at Impatient Health , I continue to use the lessons I learned to shape how I approach my work in pushing pharma towards better health futures.

Standing by the waters of Stockholm's archipelago, I felt a profound sense of gratitude—for the city, the people who mentored me and the journey that began here. This trip was more than a walk down memory lane; it was a chance to honour how far I've come and to look forward to where I'm headed next.

So, here’s to Stockholm—for the memories, the inspiration and for taking a chance on me. Tack s? mycket.?