”THE PROGRAM HELPED ME BREAK DOWN A SEEMINGLY INSURMOUNTABLE OBSTACLE INTO SMALLER STEPS THAT I COULD THEN TAKE BACK TO THE COMPANY.”
What steps should we take to adapt to new technologies and where do we start on the path towards becoming a more data-driven organization?
Those were the two big questions that Maria Brandt thought about in her role as CEO at Qvalify. But as is the case for so many other company executives, time is in short supply and the step towards change is big. To make her ideas a reality, she needed to zoom out and reflect on the needs of the company.
“If we want to be Sweden’s leading company in management system certification in the long term, we have to challenge ourselves and implement more digital solutions,” Maria explains. “Not only do we want to be a good employer where our employees can grow, but we also want to create better and more innovative services for our customers.”
Gained Concrete Tools
In order to become a better-informed consumer, Maria felt that she needed more insight into the world of digitalization, as well as concrete tools. When the chance to take the Accelerating Digital Innovation online program came along, the timing was perfect.
“Together with our board, we had just made digitalization one of our focus areas. One of my goals was to automate specific work tasks that weren’t giving our employees any growth opportunity.”
However, due to the company’s giant data warehouse, it was hard for her to know where to even begin.
“The program helped me break down a seemingly insurmountable obstacle into smaller steps that I could then take back to the company. I also got the chance to put together a roadmap that gave a clearer picture of what we needed and what we could do.”
Inspirational and professional lectures
Equipped with new insights and the confidence to continue tackling digital challenges, Maria went on to complete two additional online programs: From Data to Business Impact and Leading Transformative Organizations.
“I find the lecturers very knowledgeable, and each of them is at the forefront of their field. The recorded lectures in the online programs are also very professional and just the right length to keep me focused in front of my computer screen.”
You learn a lot from listening to other people’s challenges
Maria says that meeting lecturers and leaders in a digital setting exceeded her expectations.
“You can’t just coast through the programs. You really have to dig into every assignment and show that you understand every part.”
She goes on to say that she really appreciated her interactions with the other program participants, for example, in the group assignments.
“It was really interesting being able to listen to the challenges that other companies face and how they’ve overcome them. The fact that everyone had to give feedback and comment on each other’s work also kept us all on our toes!”
What have you gained from this program?
“The biggest thing I’ve realized is that the step towards working with a more data-driven approach doesn’t have to be huge. We’ve always had a vision of where we want to go, and thanks to the programs, I now have several tools to turn that into a reality. Using the roadmaps from the programs, I also have a clear picture of how the company should move forward.”
For Maria, just having the time to think through the questions was beneficial in and of itself.
“The online format is perfect for me! As an executive and a parent, it’s really hard to find time for professional development. The way the programs are set up ‘forces’ me to set aside time to grow and reflect, which I probably wouldn’t do otherwise when life ‘gets in the way’. The programs give me and Qvalify no choice but to grow!”, she says.
