A SCC Story: A lifelong LINK

31 October 2024

Another issue of LINK equals a unique perspective on the SCC community. As a former scholar in 1993, and the first in-house editor of LINK magazine, Kristina Nordsten closes the loop by leading the narrative in this edition of a SCC Story. We invited Kristina to our office in Marylebone to hear her take on how the SCC has evolved over the years – and how it continues to influence the Swedish-British business community.

It was during her MBA studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., that Kristina came across the scholarship opportunities with the Swedish Chambers abroad. Ending up in London, however, was a coincidence combined with a need for a particular editorial set of skills. “I was initially looking to go to New York, but the London Chamber office phoned and explained the opportunity of producing the LINK magazine in-house,” Kristina explains.

Having previously been working with the student magazine at Handelshögskolan in Gothenburg, as well as a journalist for the local paper in Skövde, it didn’t take much to convince Kristina to steer across the Atlantic. 

“London is such a vibrant place, and coming here to experience the Chamber firsthand was just mind-blowing. Seeing all the connections it has, everything it’s involved in, and then having the opportunity to showcase that through LINK - it was fantastic.”

London in the early 1990s was a city on the verge of change. With the EU’s freedom of movement policies beginning to reshape the workforce, Kristina was one of many in this stream of young Swedes eager to explore what  life in the UK had to offer. “In 1993-94, you began to see many young people moving to London, who were not required to have prior employment with Swedish companies; they could apply for any job directly in London. This was a transformative period for the Chamber as well, and it needed to adapt to a new, more diverse influx of members,” she notes.

At the heart of this phase of adaptation and change for the SCC, was its member magazine. “LINK is, and has always been, influenced by the membership,” she says. “Like any other SCC channel, it’s there to represent the membership and remain relevant – and I think that is something that the Chamber always has been extremely good at. Back then, the core of the membership was corporates, and we had one channel. Today, there are multiple channels, and the membership is much more diverse, including scaling businesses, entrepreneurs, founders, investors, and governmental entities.” 

Kristina proudly looks back on the time when she played a key part in a transition still relevant today, moving the LINK production in-house. “With desktop publishing just starting to become viable, it was an easy case to make,” she says. Not only did this allow the Chamber to reduce the sky-high production costs, but it also enabled them to retain control over the content and quality.

As a matter of fact, this is still the case with the magazine you’re currently holding in your hands, more than 30 years later. Keeping the production of LINK in-house, close to its members, allows us to craft content that reflects the membership to the greatest extent possible. From Effektify and Slättö to Nordea and Hotel Diplomat, featured in this issue, our membership consists of a diverse set of businesses united by the common trait of being part of the SCC network. Kristina reflects: “The Chamber spans all sectors. It supports the needs of all its members, from the new ones to the well-established, the small to the large.”

A lifelong love for London
London has held a special place in Kristina’s heart ever since that phone call brought her across the pond in 1993, and she is certain that this is largely due to the Chamber. “Being a scholar at the SCC was truly a springboard. You have something on your CV that most people won’t have, and that opens doors,” Kristina states. The connections made and experience gained were instrumental in shaping her career, particularly in her recent role at London & Partners, the city’s promotional agency. “The experience at the Chamber gave me a lifelong love for London. It’s such a vibrant and inclusive city, and that passion has translated into all the roles I’ve had ever since,” she says.

London, and the Chamber, thrive on the talent it attracts. Kristina is determined to pass on this experience as she embarks on her next adventure - working with Neurodiversity in Business, an initiative aimed at promoting neurodiverse talent. “So much comes down to talent and relationships. My connection with the Chamber hasn’t ended; it’s part of a continuous journey.”

As for the SCC, Kristina sees a bright future ahead - one that continues to build on its rich history while embracing the opportunities of the present. “The Chamber team and its Members, Patrons, and board constitute an amazing collective brainpower, capable of great things.”

Reflecting on the opportunities provided to young talents, she concludes our conversation by stating: “We must continue to encourage the patrons and member companies allowing opportunities such as the scholarship programme through generous donations. I am not only speaking for myself when I say that it is highly valued, and most importantly – it enables the Chamber to do what it needs to do.”

As Kristina’s story shows, the Chamber’s impact can still be felt long after the LINK’s pages are turned, the events are over, and the fellow scholars have moved on to new challenges.