The Alumni Network Blog

This week we meet Eva Schultz, alumna from the Masters of Laws programme, class of 2004. Eva works as a Legal Counsellor at the Swedish Permanent Representation to the EU.

Q: You have a Masters of Law degree from 2004. What have you been doing after your graduation?
I have been working mainly in Brussels, in various positions, but also at the Swedish Government offices in Stockholm. Currently, I am a Legal Counsellor at the Swedish Permanent Representation to the EU posted from the Ministry of Justice and covering migration issues.

Q: Has your education from Lund University been beneficial in your work? In what ways?
My law degree has proven quite beneficial, to begin with as a kind of quality label that opened many career doors for me during my first years in Brussels and, furthermore, the methodology and knowledge acquired during my law studies have been useful in my work as a policy officer in several fields.

Q: Were you active in the student life in Lund? If yes, in what ways?
Yes, I was very active in the student life in Lund, both at the Law Faculty where I held positions on the boards of ELSA and the Law students’ association and at Kalmar nation as Pro-Qurator.

Q: Currently, you work as a Legal Counsellor at the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU in Brussels. How does a typical work day look like for you?
I spend a typical day in the Council negotiating legislative proposals in the area of migration. The Permanent Representation is like an extension of the Government Offices and my role is to bring forward the Swedish position in negotiations. I always work on instruction from the capital.

Q: When studying at Lund University, you did an exchange year at the Jean Moulin University Lyon 3 in Lyon, France. What were your biggest takeaways from your exchange in Lyon?
My year as an Erasmus student in Lyon was fantastic in every possible way. Most importantly, that year really convinced me of my wish to work abroad, in a French speaking environment and with EU related processes.

Q: Currently, you reside in Brussels, Belgium. How does everyday life differ between Belgium and Sweden?
Life in Belgium is less organised than Sweden, in many ways more complicated due to everything from complex administration to garbage in the streets, but also much easier when it comes to getting to know new people, having an interesting and diverse job environment, as well as friends from around the globe. This is true for Brussels, rather than Belgium in general, but I unfortunately still know quite poorly and I think that goes for my expats in Brussels.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?
Seeing friends, spending time with family, travelling, be spontaneous, all the things that are so easy in Brussels and that I sometimes have the impression are quite hard in Sweden – at least when it comes to spontaneity. 🙂

Q: If you could only bring three things with you to a deserted island, what would you bring, and why?
Do my children count as two things? They would be the first two things. Then again, I would not want them to have to be in a deserted island. I actually find it really hard to think of things that I would like to bring anywhere, I’d always think of persons first. If you’d twist my arm, it would be bubbly, cheese and chocolate that I would bring, so I would not survive very long, as you can tell. 🙂

This week we meet Huijin Ying, alumna from the Master of Psychology programme (class of 2016). Huijin has studied in China, the USA and Sweden, and currently resides and works in Lyon, France as an HR Project Manager at Groupe SEB.

Q: You have a Master’s of Science degree in Psychology from 2016. What have you been up to since your graduation?

During the last semester of my studies I visited my boyfriend at the time in France over the Christmas holidays. At that time I was searching for different internship positions and found a special internship in Lyon, France at Groupe SEB. They offered an internship position where one could work six months in France, and six months abroad. This was very appealing to me as I wanted to try out new things and explore my options. Hence, I applied, and went on the first interview, which went well. I had to return to Sweden after the Christmas holiday and began writing my master thesis, when I received an email from Groupe SEB who wanted a second interview with me. I told them about my situation, that I was studying in Sweden and that I was actually just on a visit in France. They told me that they would pay for my accommodation and flight, just as long as I flew to them for a second interview. How could I resist that? I couldn’t, and flew in to Lyon, or to be more precise, Ecully, for the second interview, and shortly after that they gave me the internship position. Right after I handed in my master thesis I flew to France and began my internship. After a while I became employed at Groupe SEB and today I work as an HR Project Manager there.

Q: You currently work as a HR Project Manager at Groupe SEB, focusing on the region EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) in Lyon. How does a typical day at work look like for you?

Difficult to answer – there is no typical day! However, there are some common denominators which I work with. I work towards 15 countries: Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, India, Egypt, Central Europe (e.g. the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary), Europe South Eastern Europe (e.g. Romania and Bulgaria) and the region of the Middle East. On a weekly basis I am in contact with all HR managers working at Groupe SEB in or for these countries/regions. There are nine HR managers which I communicate with, and some of them are responsible for several countries. For instance, the HR manager in the Czech Republic, is responsible for Hungary as well. I function as bridge between the local HR manager and the vice President of the EMEA region.

My role includes making sure all HR managers are working strategically and learning from their job. For instance, we arrange what we call “Learning Expedition”. This means that we sometimes, depending on the resources, send people from one country to another to learn from each other for a few days, exchange ideas and communicate what is needed for Groupe SEB to become better. As I mentioned, on a weekly basis I have contact with all nine HR managers, this is always a part of my schedule. Other than that, I have no “typical” day. New topics and projects arise all the time, seeing as the HR project manager role that I have is very versatile and I often have to learn new things, myself.

Q: In what ways do you think your education from Lund University benefits you in your work?

I studied my Bachelor’s degree in the USA and when I came to Sweden I noticed how different the education system was. In the United States, I was used to the professors always providing us with a lot of information and leaving the classroom with all the essential information. However, when I came to Sweden, I remember leaving the classroom thinking: “That’s it?” However, I did not and still do not perceive that as a bad thing. This enabled me to strive to learn more myself, to read more; I don’t think I have ever read as much in my entire life as I did during my two-year Master in Lund! This has benefitted me in my work, as I always have to learn new things and try to understand everything, which I also had to do during my studies.

Q: What is your favourite memory (or one of your favourites) from your student days in Lund?

One of my fondest and strongest memories from Lund University was actually one of my psychology professors, Eva Hoff. She was incredibly supportive regarding my master thesis and helped me in many ways. For instance, she taught me how to think in an analytical way, while at the same time not being limited by the literature and studies that have already been conducted on the subject. She, among other professors, taught me to think creatively and to view things in a more complete, holistic, way. This has helped me in my current work and something I am very grateful for, which is the reason it is one of my favourite memories from Lund.

Q: Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time?

Hard to say! I have always had many different ideas, and my life routes always changes, making it hard to answer this question if it were one year, let alone ten years! However, in my future I see myself working for myself, rather than working for someone else. There is more risk in this, however there is more excitement, which intrigues me. Perhaps I will be doing this in ten years. I think it was Tony Robbins, American author and entrepreneur, who once said something along these lines: “if you think of something hard enough, eventually it will happen”, which I believe is true. I will also strive to balance everything in my life better, so I have more time to do more hobbies of mine that I enjoy doing.

Q: You have been working in China, Japan, France, Sweden and the United States. What is your advice for alumni interested in an international career?

• • Speaking from experience, I know how shocked one can be when moving to a different country. I remember how shocked I was when I first moved to France. However, it is important, even though you are shocked, and that is okay, to pretend like you are not shocked. Do things the way the people in the country you work in do them. Do not judge people based on what they are doing, rather, try to learn why they are doing things differently from you, adapt and learn from your differences to create something fantastic.

• • Do not take things personally! Sometimes, people will not answer your emails or your calls. Do not take this personally! It has nothing to do with you as a person, but rather, your professional role, or that they are unavailable for one reason or the other.

  • This is similar to the first point, but try to understand other people, instead of judging them. Everyone is different and different cultures work in different ways. This I have learnt from my different work experiences. This is something I think is incredibly important, together with that you should respect other people’s culture and norms if you wish to work in an international environment.

This week we meet Bojana Atanasova, alumna from the Master programme in Public Health (class of 2017). Today, Bojana lives in North Macedonia and works at the Ministry of Health in Skopje.

Q: You received the Lund University Global Scholarship award in 2015. What did this award mean to you?

Lund University is in my heart and I have only beautiful memories from the time that I spent there while studying. When I received the Lund University Global Scholarship Award, I couldn’t believe that my dream came true. I got an opportunity to study at one of the most prestigious universities in the world. This Scholarship was my only way to study in Sweden and I promised myself that I would engage hard in meeting the Lund University standards. This award was a window of opportunity for me and I am very grateful for receiving it.

Q: You work at the Ministry of Health in Skopje. How does a typical day at work look like for you?

Six months after graduation, I got a big opportunity and started to work as an advisor for public health to the Minister of Health. Six months later, I got promoted and I became Chief of Staff. This position is a great chance, but it is also a huge responsibility. I am learning every day. As a Chief of Staff, there is not a single day that is the same as the previous one. Every day is busy, starting early in the morning, and ending 12 or more hours later on some days. It is definitely not a 9 to 5 job. I am taking care of the schedule and meetings of the Minister of Health, taking notes, planning travels, preparing for Government meetings. I am receiving a lot of phone calls every day, providing advices, managing the Cabinet, doing my best to make things happen, participating in a lot of meetings, and finally, together with the Minister of Health, creating public health policies.

Q: Has your Lund University education been beneficial in your work? In what ways?

Master public health (MPH) programme prepares you for your future job in many ways. It has been very beneficial in terms of understanding how the system works, how to implement better policies, and how to communicate with the public in terms of health promotion and health communication. Additionally, it helped me to read and understand papers, to conduct research and based on that, to create policies. With all the knowledge and experience gained at Lund University, I am confident in my everyday job. By working for the Government now, I have a chance to create better public health policies and, in that way, to provide better healthcare for the patients, something that was my wish even before enrolling to the MPH programme.

Q: What is one of your favourite memories from your student days at Lund University?

I have many beautiful memories from my student days and it is really hard to find just one. I remember all the parties, “fikas”, and hang-outs, especially the days around Christmas with “glögg” and “pepparkakor”. However, one of my favourite memories is our group visit to Copenhagen, at UN city and European Environmental Agency. We had very productive lectures there, learned how the EEA, the UNFPA, and the WHO work and made great connections.

Q: If you could plan an ultimate vacation, where would you go?

I love to travel and this is a very hard question because I have many travel plans on my bucket list. 🙂 However, if I can plan an ultimate vacation, it would be a trip around the USA. I want to visit many places, starting from New York City and all its’ landmarks, to Washington DC and the White House, Niagara Falls, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and definitely my favourite destinations, Miami and Hawaii.

Q: What are your top three career tips for current students, especially international master students, at Lund University?

• First of all, dream big. The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams. It is very important to set a goal and go for it. You have to be very persistent and never give up. But once you know what you want, the whole university is a great resource, which can present many opportunities.
• Second, do your best and find an internship. You will be surprised by how much you can learn from it. You will meet a lot of people, even maybe your future bosses. Every recommendation is beneficial, and your previous experience will help you in your future job. You will feel more confident after doing an internship.
• Finally, I know that you can very easily fall in love with Sweden and you will want to find a job and stay there. If that is your dream after graduation, start learning Swedish from the beginning of your studies, stay connected with all your classmates and teachers and apply, apply, and apply for different jobs, and again never give up. Just don’t get disappointed if you cannot find a job after graduation. There is always a chance around the corner, so don’t lose hope and trust in yourself. And finally, choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

This week we meet Elina Jonsson, alumna from the Master degree in Law and the Master degree in Human Rights Law and Humanitarian Law (class of 2014). Elina has work experience from Georgia, the USA, Switzerland, Russia and Poland. Today, she works as a diplomat at the Swedish Embassy in Warsaw.

Q: You currently work at the Political Section of the Embassy of Sweden in Warsaw. What does a typical day at work look like for you?

The days vary quite a lot in the work of a diplomat. Some days I gather information in meetings with interlocutors – from officials to experts to activists – while other days I participate in conferences like COP24 in Katowice. In Russia I was a frequent observer of trials and protests. Now and then I travel in the country. Embassies regularly host delegations from Sweden and representation is naturally a big part of our work. Most time-consuming at the political section may be the writing of diplomatic reports.

Q: What do you enjoy the most about your job as a diplomat?

The variety of tasks and the need to think on your feet. Sometimes one has to come up with unconventional solutions quickly – but still in an elegant manner. To me it is enriching to strive for that balance and step by step learn the craftmanship of diplomacy. Problem-solving was also very important in my previous work as a peace observer.

Q: Has your education from Lund University been beneficial in your work? In what ways?

A legal background is always useful. Especially in diplomacy where negotiation and written communication are two of the cornerstones. In previous positions at the UN and EU I had more practical use of my knowledge of human rights and international humanitarian law. The playful spirit of Lund has been particularly beneficial in my work – not to take oneself too seriously.

Q: During your studies, you worked as a Qurator at Östgöta nation. What are your biggest takeaways from this work experience?

Everything. The one year full time Qurator position gave me invaluable experience in management, coaching, contract writing, event planning, budgeting, problem solving. A great insight into business management – and the practical experience that I needed to land my first assignment at the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the UN in New York. It was also fascinating to work in a voluntary environment – as one has to motivate people to engage without being able to offer a salary. Someone with experience from work at a nation is usually a welcoming host with organizational skills – things I look for in a CV today.

 Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you travel and why?

Home. I love living in the countryside of Sweden. I am hoping for the European night trains to run soon again – in order for me to fly less. To others I would strongly recommend a summer trip to Moscow – an exciting, beautiful and biking friendly megacity – recently ranked among the top six urban destinations in the world.

Q: You have work experience from Sweden, Georgia, the United States of America, Switzerland, Russia and Poland. What is your advice for alumni interested in an international career?

I believe languages are key. And a social understanding of cultural differences. It is also important to understand the differences between a foreign employer abroad, a Swedish employer abroad and an international governmental organization abroad. For instance, at the embassy I mainly speak Swedish – and enjoy Swedish fika – while at the EU or the UN I speak (and get to practice) the languages most used at that office – but I also need to adjust more.

Q: You speak several languages, Swedish, English, French, Russian and Chinese, among others. What is your advice for alumni wishing to learn more languages?

To be brave and curious and social. And to try to live in the country. Although I have studied Russian at university – I did learn most of my Russian in taxis or in neighbours’ kitchens or by explaining the rental bike system in Moscow. I am genuinely interested in people and I never really mind making mistakes, quite the opposite – a linguistic faux pas may be a great icebreaker. I also communicate with all kinds of people – as long as they are nice and friendly – and in that way I learn so much about the culture and country in which I live. Also in Sweden.

If you are interested in following Elina, see the links below:

instagram.com/elinajonssonklefstad/

linkedin.com/in/elinajonsson/

twitter.com/elinaelinaelina

https://elinaelinaelina.blogspot.com/