You grew up in Sweden, started your career in the U.S., went back to Sweden and now you are a Young Professional in Washington D.C. - please tell us about your journey!

My first involvement in the U.S. started back in 2014 when I received an athletic scholarship to attend Coker University—a small liberal arts school in Hartsville, South Carolina. Getting the opportunity to play collegiate tennis in the U.S. was incredible. During my athletic career at Coker, I competed in matches and practiced on the court 20+ hours a week, all while earning a well-rounded education that has prepared me for my current career path. For example, one of my most memorable experiences at Coker was an internship I completed with a political science professor and former-Congressional House Candidate, Mal Hyman. While working for Mal Hyman, I learned firsthand how grassroots political campaigns in the U.S. operate. From attending campaign meetings to interacting with constituents, I became fascinated with the U.S. political system. This compelled me to further my education in the realm of politics and government.

After my undergraduate degree, I returned to Stockholm to obtain a master's degree in political science with a concentration in public policy and organizations at Stockholm University. During my program, I returned to the U.S., but this time, I lived someplace very different than rural South Carolina. In my return to the U.S., I served as a trainee at the Swedish Mission to the U.N. in New York. In this role, I spent half a year in New York covering the Fifth Committee of the U.N. General Assembly, commonly known as the Budget and Management Committee. This opportunity profoundly shaped how I view the UN system and Sweden's role in it. 

Following my traineeship in New York, I followed my interest in politics by joining the Swedish Centre Party as a political research fellow, focusing on American politics and international development cooperation. During which, I authored several articles covering American politics, and I also worked closely with the Centre Party's international committee by drafting a comprehensive report on liberal and international development cooperation beyond 2030. 

When I was looking to launch my career, I knew I wanted to utilize my experiences and training in U.S. politics and international relations to make a positive impact on global society. This ultimately led me to my join We Don't Have Time.

Then you ended up joining "We Don't Have Time." Please tell us a bit about that!

We Don't Have Time was founded in 2016 and is the world's largest social media for climate solutions, with a monthly reach of more than 190 million. We believe that the climate crisis is a communications crisis. We have the solutions, but we are not communicating them effectively. We Don't Have Time is where the climate conversation continues 24/7—even when the COPs stop. We connect companies, communities, scientists, policymakers, advocates, journalists—everyone who wants to solve the climate crisis. 

As a Young Professional Member at SACC-DC, what do you expect from your membership?

I have been an avid follower of SACC-DC's social media presence for quite some time. So when I made it to Washington, D.C., I knew that becoming a SACC-DC member was a top priority. SACC-DC hosts a variety of fantastic activities, and it is a great way to get to know the Swedish community in D.C.—both on a personal and professional level.

Through SACC-DC, I even found a Swedish dentist here, so you truly never know what extra value a membership might bring.