Growing up Global

Born in Sweden, Emma grew up all over the world appreciating different cultures and experiences.

“I've lived in Sweden where I was born, Lebanon, China, the US and Kenya experiencing both the British and American curricula, as well as enjoying the astonishing and at times, brilliantly overwhelming cultures that each nation has graciously offered.”

This upbringing highlighted the importance of an international school in providing a community, and taught Emma how to adapt while remaining true to herself.

“Who I am never changes, but how I communicate might. And that's been a learning process […] I wouldn't say I'm the most confident person, but I like to think that I'm always honest and transparent.”

Listen to the full conversation in our podcast interview:

Challenges and Opportunities at Sixth Form

Emma’s family relocated to the Netherlands because of her mother’s work in humanitarian aid. The BSN stood out for its dual offering of A Levels and the IB Diploma programme. After a positive school visit, Emma joined the Sixth Form and chose the IB as it would offer her the most possibilities and challenge her time-management skills.

A naturally creative student, Emma’s favourite subject at BSN was Visual Arts. She was involved in many co-curricular activities, especially through CAS, and took on leadership roles. (Watch Emma in this video about how CAS supports students becoming agents of change both in their local and international communities.) Emma found that the IB helped her develop a structured approach to creative projects.

Making Sense of the World

Emma knew she wanted to purse a career in Economics.

“I had an interest in economics, since I'd say year 10 when I first had it as a subject. And that's mainly because having moved around a lot, I wanted to pursue a subject that would let me look for answers to all the different questions I had, and I think economics offers a lot of answers to different socio political and economic questions through different models and such.”

To keep her options open, Emma decided to study Economics in combination with Business, at the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE).

Art Appreciation

Alongside her academic studies, Emma dedicated a lot of time to her passion for Art, leading various projects and initiatives. She worked on an annual exhibition with students from the Swedish Royal Academy of Art and SSE. This involved reaching out to the selected artists and working with them to curate the exhibition throughout SSE. (The photo above is of one of the pieces they installed by artist Malin Norberg). In addition, Emma led art tours, helped to arrange art talks and gallery visits for students, and promoted the Art Initiative--watch Emma in this inspiring film for more information:

Emma is excited to share that she is currently working with two friends (and fellow SSE alumni) on launching a small project-based art consultancy, where they hope to support young artists in Stockholm to exhibit their works in new, non-traditional spaces. This journey actually started last year at SSE’s start-up incubator, the “business lab”.

“Art is a passion for all of us, so we try to find time to dedicate to and support it!”

From Intern to Finance Manager

As a result of a successful internship, Emma was offered a full-time position as Finance Manager at Proctor & Gamble after she graduated. Her work is dynamic and strategic—she collaborates with different teams, conducts analyses, and provides insight that helps shape business decisions. In fact, there is never a dull moment. Emma also sees many exciting career opportunities and possibilities ahead. We’re confident she will continue to thrive, and we look forward to seeing where her career will take her or rather, where she will take her career.