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From cross-country tracks and cycling to the corporate world: Emelie Öhrstig inspires MDA students

This week, the Management Diploma for Athletes (MDA) students had the privilege of hearing Emelie Öhrstig share her inspiring journey - from elite sports to a thriving career in the business world.

Öhrstig, a former cross-country skier and road racing cyclist, reflected on the invaluable lessons she carried from her time in sports into professional life, offering thoughtful insights into how those experiences can be transformed into powerful strengths in the next chapter of one's journey. 

From early on, Emelie demonstrated a unique determination to forge her own path. For several years, she competed at an elite level in two sports - while simultaneously pursuing her academic studies, balancing ambition in both arenas. 

Now, with two decades of experience in the corporate world as Former VP and Head of Program Management Lifecycle at Volvo Car Group and current Group CEO Stena Trade & Industry, she continues to draw on the mindset shaped by her sporting career. Resilience through setbacks, the courage to push boundaries, confident decision-making and the ability to prioritize - these, she noted, are skills needed even more in the business world. Her reminder was clear: outstanding results are rarely accidental, they are the product of thoughtful preparation. 

When asked about her identity, she responded: 

"I am probably still an athlete at heart - but you can succeed in other things too."

Following a career in sports, it can be tempting to keep a full schedule - especially for those with a public profile. But Emelie emphasized that being busy is not the goal. The real question is: What am I filling my time with?

She concluded her talk with a piece of advice that resonated with both athletes and professionals: 

"Dare to be a beginner - even after a successful career."

And perhaps her most resonant insight: 

"Sports have taught me that each day's effort contributes to the outcome; success is the result of long-term perseverance." 

What the group has in common are personal qualities such as courage, determination, and long-term drive - traits that have led to Olympic and World Championship medals, Stanley Cup victories, and WTA successes! I am confident we will be hearing more about them in the business world.
Emelie Öhrstig
CEO Stena Trade & Industry and Former Professional Cross-Country Skier and Road Racing Cyclist
Sports and Business