Meet Johan Carlegrim, General Manager
Johan’s education: Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management, Design & Product Development
What made you apply for a position at Sectra?
I got to know some of the people who work here while I was doing my master’s thesis at Sectra. I felt like Sectra had a culture of openness and high quality, and that this was the kind of employer I was looking for. Linköping is my hometown and I like living here, so to combine that with working at the headquarters of a world-leading international company with super exciting products felt like a great opportunity.
How long have you been working at Sectra?
I started working for Sectra in September 2012 as soon as I finished my master’s thesis. My first position was as Product Marketing Manager, where I focused primarily on the packaging of existing products. Three months later, I was offered a position as Product Manager for a very small product area. For seven years, my products grew significantly, they were launched in new countries and I became responsible for additional products, twice through acquisitions of other companies. In 2019, the products I was managing were being used in hundreds of hospitals around the world, and I had been given the chance to practice many aspects of product management.
Towards the end of 2019, I began to feel that it would be fun to try something new. I love working at Sectra, and fortunately, the company is large enough to offer a lot of internal career paths. After taking sabbatical leave for two months, I took on the role of General Manager for Sectra’s Business Unit for Medical Education. From having worked with solutions for hospitals, I am now in charge of our team supporting universities and institutions around the world with solutions to improve their teaching and training of future medical professionals.
For me, Sectra is a great place to work. While everyone at Sectra is highly skilled and professional, they are also easy-going and friendly. I think this combination is vital for achieving a team spirit and obtaining top results. I consider many of my colleagues to be my personal friends. The culture is very strong, and the company takes really good care of its employees, which is probably the two key reasons why people tend to want to stay at the company for a long time.
What do you do on a normal day at work?
There are very few normal days for me – things rarely get boring. In my position as General Manager, I am responsible for a team of about 20 people involved in everything from sales to support, product management, and product development. While this is still connected to Sectra, it feels a lot like having my own start-up business. As a Manager at Sectra, one of my main tasks is to empower the members of my team to be the “Best People” for our customers. To help them succeed by setting goals and priorities and supporting their individual development. In my team, we have eight nationalities, and I have employees in such countries as Mexico, Colombia, China and Russia. I am overseeing the work of establishing strategies related to the product and sales, and I also spend a lot of time directly with customers and partners. Being a General Manager is very much about having an overview and ensuring that we maintain clear goals and overall direction, and that the team is equipped with the resources and competence required to be successful. Our products are sold in over 60 countries across six continents, so fortunately I like to travel. I find it extremely fun and exciting to work in a multi-cultural team on a global arena.
What are you most passionate about?
I am passionate about teamwork. I have played team sports all my life and it’s such a rewarding feeling to share achievements with other people. The team spirit at Sectra is very strong, and what I like even more is how we carry this over to our customers. It is very rewarding to work so closely with our end-users, helping them to meet the healthcare challenges of the future more successfully.
I am also a passionate traveler and I love learning about different cultures. During my sabbatical leave before I began in my current role as General Manager, I spent November and December back-packing in South America, finishing up my trip on the Galapagos Islands. It was a real adventure and a good mix of exploring culture and nature on the other side of the planet.
How would you describe Sectra as a workplace?
For me, Sectra is a great place to work. While everyone at Sectra is highly skilled and professional, they are also easy-going and friendly. I think this combination is vital for achieving a team spirit and obtaining top results. I consider many of my colleagues to be my personal friends. The culture is very strong, and the company takes really good care of its employees, which is probably the two key reasons why people tend to want to stay at the company for a long time.
If you could describe Sectra in a few words, what would you say?
Team spirit, quality and personal development.
Why would you recommend applying for a job at Sectra?
If you are looking for a top-quality company that is dedicated to a good cause on a global level but is also focused enough to pay attention to and appreciate both its customers and employees, Sectra is a great option.
