Interview with Lovisa Hamrin
Can you describe your current roles? What are you predominantly focused on currently?
Formally, my current roles are Chairwoman and Owner of Herenco, Chairwoman of The Hamrin Foundation, Board Member of Nolato (publ) and member of the Advisory Boards of Jönköping International Business School, Art Initiative at Stockholm School of Economics and Entreprenörskapsforum that is connected to Örebro University.
The last 2-3 years I have been “all in” on our Foundation to set strategy and ensure we have those critical few onboard so we can deliver on our purpose. With great stewardship from our CEO Hanna Ståhl, I now reshift focus on Herenco, a 4b SEK industrial company which I own 100% myself. Together with our board and leadership team, we have set ambitious goals for the next 5-7 years. It has never been as fun as now!
What is the most exciting/rewarding part of your work?
I love meeting people from different disciplines and backgrounds. The interaction we have with smart people in the Academy and Artists brings so much positive energy to me.
The other part that I really love is doing business, which I haven’t prioritized in the last years. The great reward comes from the “doin” part. Create solutions and fulfil the needs of our customers that can be a CEO, an employee, a company we want to buy, someone buying our products and services. And of course, settling good deals is always great!
The last part that I haven’t been doing least of, is to elaborate on a shared imagination where we could be 10-15 years ahead with Herenco as a whole. Now is perfect timing. We have the Foundation running on its own engine. Herenco has the leadership in place, we have discussed and set short- and midterm goals. But HOW and exactly WHAT is to be formed. And that is the most thrilling part – the journey in itself!
What were your dreams back when you started at SSE?
My overriding dream was and has always been around freedom and independence. To be able to create and decide the future for oneself. The Stockholm School of Economics seemed to be the best place for that aspiration.
What drives your commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration through The Hamrin Foundation, and how do you see these efforts shaping future generations?
I think the FREE Educational Mission at Stockholm School Economics is one of the wisest approaches I have seen and might be the best answers to this question. You cannot run a business on excel and business without facts and figures can be fantastic at best and a catastrophy at it worst. You need all colours of life to act.
What’s your favorite memory from SSE?
Meeting up digitally for 30 minutes with Lars Strannegård the summer of 2021, and how a small meeting with no expectations can lead forward in an extraordinary way. Also, because it has enabled me to see all great work done the last 10 years and how important that work already is and will be for the future.
From the student years, my favourite memory is from the course in Statistics with Lars Eric Öller. Rumours said there used to be a glass of wine as part of the course. It turned out to be true. We small number of students got a great evening, talking about life and music.
In what ways do you still feel connected to SSE?
I feel “all in re-connected” and love to discover progress, new initiatives and meeting with great people, not least the students!
What is the best career advice you have received/what career advice would you give to current SSE students?
Focus on your customer – whoever it might be - and let the FREE mission inspire HOW. You have one life – so live it as wise that you can. By the end of the day, family and relations is what matters.
What three words would you choose to describe what got you to where you are today?
Work ethics, creativity and luck.