Jenny Löfbom

Meet Jenny, born in Sweden and now living in Kenya. Jenny works as the Operations Director for the Farmfit Programme at IDH, The Sustainable Trade Initiative

What made you move your career abroad? Did SSE play a role in this decision? If so, how?

I always had an interest in international affairs and the developing world. I never really made a conscious decision to move my career abroad however, there were opportunities that presented themselves and one thing led to the other. I was accepted to the European Union Junior Expert in Delegation programme and posted to Nigeria early in my career and that is where I caught the 'Africa bug', as they say.

SSE actually played an indirect role in my moving abroad, as it gave me the opportunity to participate in an exchange programme during my studies which was a great contribution to my understanding of other cultures and societies and made me want to learn more.

What were your expectations and did they turn out that way?

Working in an international environment has been great! I have only expected to get to know new things, take on new challenges etc. and that has really happened at each new country and each new position.

What are the challenges of living and working abroad (in your specific country)?

I have now been living and working away from Sweden for many years so I am not sure what the greatest challenge is.... maybe it would be working back in Sweden again. Apart from practical problems that we have in Kenya (unreliable power, internet, traffic congestion etc.) the greatest challenge has been to adapt to the local organisational cultures over the years (for exampke work ethic, hierarchy, decision making, etc.)

What are the professional benefits of knowing (at least) two different cultures? Any examples of when this has come in handy?

I think the greatest benefit of knowing more than your own culture is that you get to learn about yourself. You have to question your own basic assumptions on a regular basis and you have to learn that there is more than one right way and you need to adapt to that situation. The same is true in relation to others – you need to understand how what you say lands with the other person (true in all communication but amplified across cultures).

What do you bring from your Swedish culture to your workplace that has proven beneficial?

Trust is the biggest thing I have brought from Sweden. Showing that you trust the staff to do the work and coaching when things are not going so well is the key. I want to bring a bit more of the trust and responsibility culture to my workplaces instead of pure hierarcical leadership as I believe that trust and responsibility can make people more engaged and innovative.

What are the biggest professional drawbacks with moving away from your home country?

I think the greatest drawback in my case is that I have been working for international organisations and not Swedish organisations. So my network in Sweden and the value of my experience in Sweden is limited. I believe that it might limit my chances to move back to Sweden in the future.

Is there anything you feel you lack compared to the natives in the country you live in?

Not being a local can be both a benefit and a drawback. The greatest drawback in a setting like Kenya is the limited local knowledge of history, local personalities and politics. Otherwise, I think my academic background has made me well-prepared.

Do you have any advice to students or alumni who want to make an international career? What should you think about? How do you prepare for it?

Take the chance! Whether it is a for a few months/years or a lifetime choice, do it. It will give great experiences and perspective to who you are, what is important to you and what you do. As the world is very diverse the best way to prepare is to be open minded and embrace differences.