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Cass Business School Q&A

Wed Feb 3 2010

BusinessBecause
Where did you grow up?

In Stockholm, Sweden.

You previously worked in the computer games industry. From designing video games to writing business plans, what made decide to do an MBA?

The computer games industry is very fragmented and it relies on innovative people to push it forward. It also employs few MBAs since the industry is young and more passion driven rather than process driven. For me, an MBA would really consolidate all of my experiences under one strong framework.

You've worked in cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul and Austin, Texas. Now you are in London, which city do you like the most?

I would say Shanghai and London. In China you can really feel the energy of constant progress and entrepreneurship. It’s not as fast moving in Europe or in the US and that is why it is so exciting to work there. London is exceptional because it really is the international centre of the world. And also, it’s close to Sweden. I forgot how much I missed my family until I moved back to Europe. Seeing them only once or twice a year was starting to get to me.

Why did you choose Cass Business School?

Simply put, rigorous studies combined with practical business experience. The faculty is really important here because they are the ones filling your mind with models, frameworks, case studies and so forth. This is great, but without setting this academia in a practical business context the teachings would be somewhat lost. We don’t want to become professors just yet you know.

Which class taught you the most?

Finance and Financial Accounting. I had no experience in finance or accounting before and it has really helped me to understand how some computer game companies failed. If more experts in my industry understood more about finance and managing money correctly we would have more great games out there.

What's the best thing about Cass?

The students. Half of my learning at Cass has come from the heated discussions we have had in class! Drawing from all the different expertise in the cohort really has made my experience richer. Of about 80 people in the class we have 28 different nationalities. I thought I had a very international background - I was wrong.

Has the financial downturn changed the way you think about business?

Absolutely. There is a lot of talent around that is out of work and if I would like to start my own business, hiring quality people would be a lot cheaper than during a boom.

You speak Swedish, English, Korean and Chinese. I guess you've made 1 million friends at your class already?

Yes for sure. I have to be honest here and confess that my Mandarin and Korean are amateurish at best. They were a lot better when I was living in Asia. Now I mainly use them to order food and for chat up lines!

We are not surprised that you are an "avid skier" since you are Swedish, but "a passionate single prop flyer and hold a private pilot's license"... Would you say you are adventurous?

I believe I am, but couldn’t compare myself to some of my crazy skier friends. I have camped on the Great Wall of China and I have dived with hammerhead sharks off the coast of northern Mozambique. I simply love the sense of adventure experiences like these bring me. I am running this year’s London Marathon for the Youth Sports Trust and, if I have time, I am planning to climb Mt Everest to base camp or just above.

What's next for you after Cass?

Hopefully not freezing to death on Everest! I am entertaining going into new media consulting in the short term and I am also looking into starting my own business.

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