Interview with Maria Åslin, project manager for Bünsow Business Growth Forum
Why was the theme “Northern Sweden in the world” chosen for this year’s Bünsow Business Growth Forum?
– After each forum, we send out a survey to our visitors to get an evaluation of this year’s event. In connection with this, all guests are also given the opportunity to make suggestions for new speakers and next year’s theme. It is incredibly valuable for us to receive so many good ideas on how we can develop the Bünsow Business Growth Forum. We also have partner meetings where we discuss the future development of the forum and next year’s theme. All input and concrete proposals are processed by the management group, which makes the final decision on this year’s theme.
Today, northern Sweden and our surrounding countries play a critical role in leading the way towards a sustainable and secure future. Issues such as security, preparedness, the world economy and the geopolitical situation have an obvious place when we talk about the future and development. This year’s forum will explore how collaboration and forward-looking insights create a foundation for security, preparedness and a greener future.
As project manager of the Bünsow Business Growth Forum, what specific responsibilities or steps in the planning process do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
– I am now in my sixth year as a project manager and I find it extremely inspiring to work on the content of the forum, how we should organize the main theme, and which speakers we should invite. For me, it is very stimulating to build up the day with our awesome program committee and project group. Everything from finding new ideas to working to attract all the star speakers we’ve had on stage over the years.
I have always liked complex challenges and being the project manager for Bünsow is a dream job. An evolving challenge to balance all the wishes and ideas from hundreds of guests and all our partners, to constantly work on the development of the forum, and at the same time keep everything together so that we live up to our project directive and basic objective.
Could you share some personal goals you have set for yourself in 2024, both inside and outside of work?
– I work as the CEO of GB Verkstads- och Industrivaror and we have outgrown our premises, so in April, we will be moving to a new facility. It’s a manufacturing plant for hydraulic hoses, a warehouse, and a production facility with almost 40,000 industrial items to be relocated. So the goal is to carry out the move as efficiently as possible and continue to deliver, even though it will be an intensive period. The result will be really good and I am really looking forward to continuing to develop the company in our new premises with completely new conditions.
In my spare time, I have several voluntary association assignments, including in Juniskärs Väl. We have just been granted a major project by the Swedish Board of Agriculture to build a new jetty and petrol pump in Juniskär. It is a fun goal to land that project so we can receive all boat guests this summer. During the years when I drove the girls’ classic and the Sundsvall classic, I fell in love with cycling, but I haven’t decided to buy a racer. It will be my personal goal for the summer… buy a new bike and go out on the roads again.