SwedPod

In this episode, we sit down with Pontus Erntell, President and Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA China, to listen to his inspiring journey with the company’ and their ambitious vision for China - with a goal of bringing IKEA into every Chinese home. Pontus shares how he’s leading IKEA to adapt to the evolving needs of Chinese consumers, integrating sustainability into daily operations, and driving innovation to enhance competitiveness.We also get a glimpse into the life of an international CEO, balancing family and work abroad, and the cultural distinctions between Sweden and China. Tune in for unique insights, inspiring stories, and much more in this engaging conversation!

In this episode, we are happy to meet and interview: Juliette Xue Lascoux, General Manager at SEB Shanghai Branch. Originally from China, Juliette has been living in Sweden and also in the U.S.A for many years, and Juliette has 27 years of experience at SEB within corporate banking, trade and export finance and correspondent banking. Juliette took the role as General Manager of SEB Shanghai Branch since 1st of September 2022. Previously she is head of Emerging Market Banks and Country management at SEB, Head of Corporate Banking at SEB Shanghai, Area Manager for Northeast Asia and client executive at SEB Hong Kong Branch. And Juliette has also been Board member of the Banker Association for Finance and Trade and the International Council of Swedish Industry.Listen to this 16th episode of the Swedpod with us and learn Juliette’s life and career life abroad and now her new journey in China, found out the place that Juliette recommends us to visit in the magical city of Shanghai!

In the 15th episode of the SwedCham podcast, Curt Bergstrom is the Founder and President of Sino Matters, the Educational Consulting Company he founded in 2007. Sino Matters with offices in Beijing and Shanghai teaches spoken Mandarin to foreign senior executives using a proprietary, in-house developed verbal method.The recording was conducted in Hanwei Plaza Beijing where Curt has had his office for the last 17 years.  From 2013 to 2018 Curt was the Vice Chair of the Swedish Chamber in Beijing. Since 2015 Curt has led the Nordic Large Company CEO group with members recruited from the Nordic Chambers. Curt grew up in Stockholm and did his military service with the Swedish Army’s Parachute Ranger School. Curt holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and an MBA from The Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University in Chicago.  Curt's first position was with Scania in Södertälje followed by Esselte Studium in Stockholm. After that, he spent 13 years with Intel Corporation which he joined in 1984 in Santa Clara, California. Curt has also lived and worked in Germany, France, Brazil and Iraq.Curt speaks Swedish, English, German, Chinese, French, and Portuguese and holds an FAA Commercial Helicopter Pillot’s License. Curt Bergstrom is 71 years old, the father of three daughters, and lives in Beijing with his Chinese wife, and their 11-year-old daughter. A hobby that will never die! Curt shares his remarkable journey and the innovative approach his company takes to bring spoken Mandarin to business executives in China after his retirement from corporate life with Interl Corporation at the age of 45.   Curt also shares his views on de-risking from China and his personal experience living in China etc. If you want to learn more about Sino Matter's VIP Mandarin Method, welcome to visit the website at www.sino-matters.com for more information.Enjoy listening! 

From a Swedish Security Police to an entrepreneur in corporate risk management in China: Insights from Lars-Åke Severin, CEO of PSU China"Some of the risks are generated due to a lack of interest, a lack of understanding, a lack of knowledge, and a lack of involvement..." quoting from Lars-Åke Severin.In the 14th episode of the SwedCham podcast, Lars-Åke Severin, Founder and CEO of PSU China, shares his experiences and insights on Risk management for corporates and doing business in China. PSU China is the Corporate Security and Risk management Consultancy. Lars-ake is also the director and member of the board of the Swedish industrial company Bulten (China) ， the legal representative and Chairman of the board of PowerCell China. He was the former Chairman of the Swedcham China for 5 years.  Lars-Åke shares his early days working in the Swedish Security Police, protecting the Swedish Royal Family, and how it shaped his career in security industry. He then explains his decision to establish his company in China in 2006, highlighting the factors that influenced his choice. The podcast covers the biggest risks companies face in today's global economic uncertainty, and Lars-Åke provides suggestions on mitigating these risks. He also shares his perspective on the potential risks and benefits of technologies like Chat GPT in corporate security, as well as the implementation of the Corporate Social Credit System in China. For young Swedish professionals and expats considering a move to China, Lars-Åke offers advice and key considerations for living and working in the country. He also shares his best practices for adapting to Chinese culture. Lastly, Lars-Åke discusses his experiences as a parent in both Sweden and China, highlighting notable differences in parenting and education approaches between the two countries. Enjoy listening! 

In the 13th Swedpod episode we meet with Mr. Martin Poxton, Executive Vice President of ASSA ABLOY Group and Head of ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions - Greater China & Southeast Asia. Originally from the UK and having lived in China for more than 25 years, Martin shares his story of how he ended up at Assa Abloy, the global leader of access solutions, as well as his insight regarding cross-cultural differences in professional settings, and how to bridge the cultural gap. During his adventures in China, Martin has witnessed many significant shifts in the business landscape. In this episode you will hear how Assa Abloy achieved its remarkable success in the Chinese market through innovation and localization; how Assa Abloy adopted a panda in China; which opportunities and challenges foreign companies currently face in China, especially with regards to the growing geopolitical tension between the USA and China; which key success factors Martin values, and much more.  

Welcome to the 12th episode of Swedpod, the podcast of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China. In this episode, we had the pleasure of interviewing Aiying Wang, President & CEO at Envac Greater China, SEA & India. Aiying shares with us her experiences studying and living in the USA, her career and life insights, and her journey in China working for a Swedish company: Envac. Tune in to learn from Aiying's unique perspective and valuable insights on navigating a successful career and life in both the East and the West.

In the 11th Swedpod episode, we meet Eva Biorck, an executive coach and entrepreneur and a mother of three kids. Eva started her adventures in China working at Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) in Beijing as sales and marketing manager and she has called Beijing home since 1996. By following her heart for China and her entrepreneurial calling, she devoted herself into an interior design business with some of Sweden’s most prominent designers at that time. Together with her Colombian husband Alex, they founded Mosto Restaurant Group (摸石头) located in Nali Patio in Sanlitun Beijing back in 2008 just before the summer Olympics. They had the honor to host the Swedish Crown Princess, Colombia’s president and famous artist Botero at Mosto which were some of their unforgettable and fascinating experiences. They have since founded Moka Bros – their fast casual café concept and their little naughty bar, La Social and the adventures still continue.  In this episode, you will hear how the city has helped Eva shape and inspire her professional path as an entrepreneur; what are the top three leadership qualities she values most; how to fight bravely and lead multicultural teams against all the odds and uncertainties during the Covid time; how to handle stress and boost new energy from her leisure time etc. If you are interested in contacting Eva for coaching or other inquiries, you are welcome to send her an email to eva@mostobj.com.

In the 10th SwedPod episode,  we meet Mr. Peter Ling-Vannerus, the Chief Representative at SEB Beijing office. Started his career in Peru, Peter has more than 16 years exotic and splendid experinece of working with SEB in seven different countries on five continents. “ The whole expeirence has been challenging and rewarding. The more you move, the more you know the tricks how to integrate with local cultures and people” Peter says. You will hear the fascinating history of Wallenberg family business and it’s close connection with SEB, the inside story of SEB as a pioneer in the green bond market ; the future of the Metaverse from the perspective view as a banker and also Peter shares his favorite winter sports and how to cope with challenges and stress during COVID-19 Pandemic. 

In the 9th episode of SwedPod we meet Alec Van Gelder, Head of Corporate Affairs International at AstraZeneca. Alec will share with us AstraZeneca’s journey from the start of the pandemic to what the company is working on today, how they have manufactured and distributed over 2 billion doses of the Covid-19 vaccine developed together with the University of Oxford , and how they manage to year after year win awards for best employer. We will also get an insight into Alec’s own life and how his work in public policy has brought him across the globe.

In the 8th episode of SwedPod, we meet our podcast guest Joakim Abeleen, Trade and Invest Commissioner and Market Area Director Greater China at Business Sweden. Joakim has strong background in international trade and logistics, as well as in management consulting, with several years of experience living and working in Asia. He has been based in Beijing, Shenzhen and Chengdu in China.In this episode, you will hear Joakim's personal and professional stories of connections with China from the early 1990's as a tourist to today as an international business leader.  You will also hear some tips from his quarantine experiences, insightful reflections from studying Chinese consumers, views on how to navigate trading partners jungle and tackle risks in Chinese maket, and dos and don’ts for Chinese investors wanting to enter market in Sweden and more.