Interview with Tommy Ytterström, CEO of Pro&Pro
You have previously been partners to Bünsow Business Growth Forum but now choose to take your commitment to the next level, by also being partners to Unga Bünsow. What was it that made you want to switch up your commitment?
For us, involvement in the development of society is part of our DNA. We are passionate about giving young people, regardless of background, opportunities for knowledge and development, just as we are passionate about the development of society. Young people who can take on leading roles create growth and in this way, Unga Bünsow and Bünsow Business Growth Forum are integrated to create long-term success.
You are used to working with students, organising the Bright Minds programme, internships and thesis work. Which students are you looking for? Have you learnt any tips over the years that you would like to share?
For us as a management consultancy, students do not need to have completed a specific programme. The most important thing is that they have completed a 4-5 year programme that has been challenging. It can be a civil engineer, economist, journalist, etc. For us, it is important to complete the education with very good results and to be characterised as a person by being able to express their high ambition, passion, entrepreneurship, humility, analytical ability, high goals in results and development for customers, society, Pro&Pro and themselves! It is also important that the students contribute to the well-being of others and to be good at communicating in speech and writing.
A fast-paced programme with constant new things to learn and clear deadlines to deliver, in a project or exam, is very similar to our job, hence it is important for us to have completed the programme with high results.
To attract this target group, we as a company and employees must be perceived as we want students to be. It is important to be active and apply for students at many universities in the country and that we can attract the right target group through our offers. One important tip is to have clear selection processes as the target group is attracted by being selected. Another tip is to generously offer knowledge and experience and to let students be seen. The most important tip, however, is that you must love contributing to people’s development in combination with loving school and knowledge.
Tommy, you are also part of the Unga Bünsow steering group and involved in the strategic discussions around Mid Sweden University students. What is your involvement behind the scenes, and what do you hope to contribute to this year’s forum?
I usually say that I am a real so-called ‘school product’ who loved going to school, from the first year of primary school to the graduation day at technical physics and electrical engineering in Linköping. My graduation days have been characterised by shedding a tear of leaving what I have so enjoyed, but there have always been new courses to take and new knowledge to learn. Based on this, I would like to emphasise that education and knowledge are very important. For me, it has been a fantastic foundation to stand on and I want to pass that on to others. An important foundation regardless of whether you want to become an outstanding business leader, engineer, business developer, entrepreneur, or a combination. I also hope to help ensure that we in business recognise that we need to offer roles and development that meet the expectations of ambitious students, but also that universities recognise that they need to set high expectations and meet the expectations of ambitious students. We cannot expect ambitious students to study or to work with us in the region if we do not meet their needs.