50 years ago, global leaders from 113 governments came together in Stockholm for the first ever United Nations Conference on Human Environment. To commemorate that moment, when governments started collaborating on addressing the negative environmental impacts from human actions, the Stockholm+50 meeting will be held June 2-3 and will be live streamed (online programs will begin May 31). During these 50 years, we have taken steps forward but also backwards. It will be interesting to follow what is being highlighted and discussed at this event.

In the wake of Sweden's proclamation to join NATO, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson visited President Biden in D.C. along with Finland's President Sauli Niinistö. Biden welcomed Sweden as a valuable addition to NATO in these times of serious security policy and reinforced the already strong bonds between the U.S. and Sweden. As a gift for welcoming her to D.C., Andersson gave Biden the first ever object made from fossil-free steel - a candleholder produced by SACC-DC Corporate member SSAB. At our Scandinavian Innovation event on April 26, SSAB's fossil-free steel was one of the highlighted innovations. Andersson clearly aimed to highlight the importance of sustainable innovations, not only by gifting Biden the fossil-free steel but also by verbally addressing areas such as steel, batteries and minerals, that are essential to the green energy transition that Biden is keen on achieving.

On May 17, we introduced our new Business Services Trade Services and B2B Matchmaking at SACC-DC Corporate member Axis Communications' experience center in Rosslyn, VA just across the bridge from Georgetown. On the rooftop, with spectacular views of the Potomac river and Georgetown as the backdrop, our member Alan Gregerman facilitated a networking activity for all attendants while we enjoyed drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Our hosts at Axis Communications also introduced their products and services as well as their innovative office space where they regularly welcome customers and other guests for different types of events and gatherings.

Yes, for six years! It was a great time of our life, so I only have positive things to say of my time in Sweden. Our family's personal and professional experience in Sweden created a big impact on our lives. Both my kids were born there, and I feel extremely lucky to have experienced it.

My main takeaway form Swedish corporate culture concerns people orientation culture. Companies in Sweden understand that people are key to success and therefore you get a great deal of support as an individual. For young families in particular, the support you get as an employee to combine family life with a professional career is unique to Nordic cultures. Having worked mainly for Swedish companies throughout my career, my experience is that they tend to focus heavily on the future. Despite performing well today, companies like Sandvik and Alfa Laval, have a strong sense of constant transformation which I can relate to other Swedish companies in general. That is the reason why a lot of them have been present since the 19th century and continue to be successful to this day.

Alfa Laval has 139 years of history in the making, starting in 1883 with separators and is now the leading supplier of separation, heat transfer and fluid handling technology. The mission is clear - we exist to accelerate success for customers, people, and planet!

I am leading the sales company in the U.S. and Canada markets. My role as president of our operations here is to ensure that we are fulfilling the mission of Alfa Laval in our U.S. and Canada markets. Lately, Alfa Laval has played an even bigger part in the sustainability field, as our products help industries to be more sustainable, and we can create solutions and services having a direct impact on CO2 emissions. Additionally, we are also able to participate in the energy transition by enabling new energy sources to become a reality. My role in realizing this makes me really proud of being part of Alfa Laval and leading this transition.

I find the future extremely exciting for Alfa Laval and I am very proud and happy to be part of this journey. Do you imagine to be directly part of finally transitioning to cleaner energy and reversing the effects of climate change? This is what we are focusing on Alfa Laval. If you talk with any of the big shipping companies, their principal concern right now is how to reduce carbon emissions. We are right there supporting this transition. New generation proteins; new types of foods; pharma solutions to problems like pandemics; new types of energy like green hydrogen; carbon capture solutions; efficient wastewater treatments, you name it - Alfa Laval has a solution that will enable these transitions. In all those processes you might need to exchange heat, separate or extract a substance, or you might need to manage fluids efficiently, which is where Alfa Laval enables a successful process.

It is aways nice to be part of a company that has a bright future ahead, and to be honest, that's what I see in Alfa Laval right now.

I would say a lot of them - Alfa Laval is diverse and so is the United States. The U.S. is definitely a future player in new energy and leading the clean energy transition, as it has the capacity and capabilities to produce most of the energy sources of tomorrow. This is indeed probably one of our highest growth potential areas. At the same time, there are other areas like protein extraction and new generation foods, as well as biodiesel and pharma, that will also play a very important role in the future. Our biggest potential also concerns to service rather than being merely an equipment manufacturer. We are a partner to our customers to improve their operations on a daily basis, and right now, with the baby boomers retiring and manufacturing companies struggling to recruit maintenance personnel, we believe we can support our customers with our know-how and 139 years of experience!

You can read my full trainee testimonial here.

På återseende! / Julia Jäger

June 2, 2022

The event will be held in-person, however online participation is also available - if you're interested please visit our member We Don't Have Time for registration.

We have started securing sponsors and attendants for the biggest SACC-DC of the year - SACC-DC Open 2022. Our annual golf tournament is scheduled for October 13 at Westfields Golf Club in Clifton, VA. You can expect a day filled with great networking with the Swedish-American business community and golfing at all levels followed by an evening dinner reception. This year's tournament is held to benefit DC community health center Whitman-Walker Foundation. New for this year is also the benefit of a complimentary SACC-DC membership for the remainder of 2022 granted to new members sponsoring the tournament at certain levels.

Remember to renew your membership for 2022

Visit membership portal to renew or our membership page to join.