- I feel powerful and like a global ocean leader

Why did you apply to study for the executive master’s in Ocean Leadership at UiT?

The Ocean leadership executive master program has been an amazing journey. When I started the program in august 2022, I was in a completely different stage of my life. I had a full-time job as a program director at an international ecolabel for seafood. Although the job was exciting at times, my colleagues were nice and knowledgeable and the work fitting my profile, I often felt under stimulated, lonely, and stressed out. Looking back, I can see that I was experiencing isolation at my workplace, rendering me feeling of being left out, vulnerable and in the wrong place. I sought out the Ocean leadership program since I needed development, and I wanted my knowledge from politics also to be formally recognized. I am deeply grateful to myself for having invested both time and money into my own development. The program was inspiring, hard at times and we all felt stressed out by the workload sometimes. That was seriously hard conflict management, also to manage your own stress and feeling of inadequacy.

Where did you work and which position did you hold when you started the program?

I was a program director for MSC-Marine Stewardship Council, Baltic Region & Scandinavia between 2019-2024. I served as a member of the European Parliament 2014-2019 and as a First Vice Chair of the Fisheries committee. Now I work as a senior advisor to the Ocean Fund in Sweden and at ISCG-the International Seafood Counselling Group.

How has the Ocean Leadership program influenced your career?

I feel that I have developed new skills and that I stand strong on the labor market. This semester authoring the thesis has been so much fun, not needing to adjust to others, but simply writing about the project and putting the things I have learned into context. I feel deeply appreciative of the course, the other fellow students, the teachers at UIT and the inspiring leaders and experts that contributed to the program. I have a new job as a consultant and senior advisor which suits me very well.

What specific skills or knowledge from the program have you found most valuable in your professional life?

Every year I'm a part of the organizing team of the Baltic Sea Day in Stockholm Sweden. The Ocean leadership program has given me the confidence and skill set to go into hard conflicts and arrange stakeholder meetings, public panels and thought-provoking materials which benefit the current and future management of the Baltic Sea.

Can you share an example of how the program's focus on leadership and sustainability has impacted your decision-making or leadership style?

I keep calm in stressful situations. I'm comfortable in holding conflict and I know how important it is to build trust among different stakeholders. I know that sustainability is better sought through collaboration rather than conflict.

Were there any particular courses, projects, or collaborations during the program that stood out as especially impactful?

The Blue Innovation for the Green Shift. All the leadership modules and the Inner Sustainability Goals.

Looking back, how has being part of this program shaped your perspective?

This is just the beginning of something really exciting and beautiful! I know now that I can continue to grow and develop my whole life, I just need to prioritize it. I feel powerful and like a global ocean leader. No small change.

What advice would you give prospective students considering whether or not to apply to the Ocean Leadership program?

Please take the time and money, which is a huge investment, and grow with this amazing program. You will develop sides of yourself that are valuable and important for our societies.