Maria, you have had the opportunity to work as a leader in many different organizations; what drives and motivates you in your career choices?
I have had the privilege of working with organizations with specialized professional groups such as journalists, editors, museum and art educators where the work is more than just a job. Leading a group of people who are almost passionate about what they do is incredibly fun, but not without its challenges. My driving force is to find myself in a context where I, together with my colleagues, work for something meaningful.
You have had to make "courageous decisions" on several occasions; how do you think and act when you arrive at your decisions?
Being a leader involves being just that; in good times and bad. In good times, my motto is that all colleagues should feel that their contribution is part of the success; in bad times, it becomes lonelier as a leader. A tool that has helped me a lot when complicated decisions have to be made is to do thorough consequence analyses. What happens if we do this, and what happens if we do that? Holding frequent information meetings and being as transparent as possible to the workgroup counteracts uncertainty and the spread of rumors. Often, the colleagues ask the best questions and have challenges that I have greatly benefited from in the consequence analyses. Participation is important even in adversity, but with the difference that I, as a leader, show that I bear the responsibility.
Many people get the chance during the summer to think about their continued professional career ("something has to happen now!", "should I dare to do something else..."); what advice and tips would you like to share?
I have changed jobs many times and taken shorter assignments in recent years. Something I definitely have not regretted. It has given me insight into many organizations of different kinds, and I have learned a lot. Often, the assignment turns into something longer, or even becomes permanent. My tip is to dare to try and trust your experiences. Today, there are many recruiters who get interim assignments. You can also make direct contact with a company you are interested in.
What are your own plans for the future?
Next week, I will start at Safir Kommunikation in Stockholm, for the first six months as a consultant. If we like each other after that, we will find a continuation. I work operationally 80% to allow time for some fun board assignments that I have and want to continue working with.