Rebecka, you are a biologist with many years of experience as an environmental consultant and now Group Leader in the Green Party. What environmental issues are you most passionate about?
I am most passionate about reducing climate change and promoting biological diversity. Together, these are the basis for our continued survival on the planet, and I believe that we must change society so that we start from the planet's limits when we make decisions. For me, it is clear that both politics and companies have roles in this transformation, and it has been incredibly fun and stimulating to drive development within the business community and then switch over and do it from a political perspective.

At 37, you stepped in as chairman of the board of the billion-dollar company Tekniska verken. You then had limited experience of board work, how did you approach this responsible task, practically and purely mentally?
Practically, I familiarized myself with the company through a thorough training program and many study visits to the business. I also took courses in board work via Styrelseakademien and had great support from the vice chairman and CEO. As a consultant, I had worked a lot with the energy industry, which made it easier, as it meant that I quickly learned the business.
Purely mentally, it was a little more challenging, partly because I was considered young - I was the second youngest on the board and partly because I was a woman in a male-dominated environment. I therefore decided early on that the company needs a chairman who shows that she is up to the task and who is able to make the decisions that must be made and that I needed to be that person. It was as if I stepped into the role of chairman and when I had done that I felt much safer and could relax.
The reception at Tekniska verken was also fantastic! Everyone, both management and the board, made an effort to get me up to speed quickly. The first few months still felt like being in a tumble dryer, where one day I talked about my leadership in front of 300 leading people in the energy industry and the next day defended our decisions in Rapport. But you can handle so much more than you think and being chairman of Tekniska verken is the most fun I have done.

Relatively immediately, the board was tasked with recruiting a new CEO. What tips do you have for others who are facing a senior recruitment? What is important to consider according to your experience?
The most important thing is to think about where the company is heading and to develop a clear requirements profile. Then, getting help from a professional recruitment and search company is also crucial. Take references on a few recruitment companies and then work closely with them. Since our board was so large, over 20 people, we chose a recruitment group of four people who had the dialogue with the recruitment company and conducted the interviews, which facilitated the work. Finally, it is important not to be satisfied until you have a candidate who feels really good. Recruiting at this level takes a lot of time and it is important to let it do that.