Headspace: Lennart Edström

What are you thinking about right now?
How am I going to meet the ever-increasing cries from insurers for more and more premiums? I may go elsewhere or I may ignore it. I may choose to increase retentions and change the policy wording. I could just pay it, of course, or just jump from the nearest bridge. Another matter occupying my mind concerns critical supplier dependencies
within our group.

What is your greatest fear?
That someone in my family dies before I do. That absolutely terrifies me. I think I can cope with most situations but not that. Maybe that is an egotistic view but that is
the simple truth.

What was your most embarrassing moment?
I am convinced I have embarrassed myself on more than one occasion. But digging deep into my mind, I can’t find anything special. I guess that is a gift in itself, being able to quickly forget my shortcomings.

What is your most treasured possession?
Any “most treasured possession” is temporary, which indicates the low value that possessions really have in my mind. That said, it is probably my iPad (after my kids taught me how to use it).

What makes you happy?
Seeing my kids (who are not really kids anymore) handling themselves in a good way. That makes me really happy.
It means that my mission is (almost) completed.

What makes you unhappy?
Calling IT helpdesks is undoubtedly one of the most deeply unhappy things a man can have to do.

Who is your greatest hero?
That changes from month to month. Right now I think it is our cat (it has patiently followed us from place to place. Most recently, we moved from a suburb of Stockholm into the city itself. A difficult thing for a cat to get used to). Seriously speaking, a hero for me is anyone who dares to stand up for what they believe in, regardless of the consequences, even if it costs them their job.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?
Without a doubt, it was marrying my wife. She turned out to be a winner but that must be the most risky decision I have ever taken in my life. Considering the state you are in when you actually take that decision, I don’t think you really have a crystal clear view of the pros and cons. The infatuation makes it hard to separate north from south and west from east. But as we all know: no risk, no reward!

What is the worst job you’ve ever done?
It has to be when, in my late teens, I worked for the Swedish telephone company in their workshop. I had to set up the cable work behind switchboards. It was very tedious and boring work. If I had been my own boss, I would have definitely kicked me out without mercy.

What is your greatest achievement?
Hmm, still to be done I hope. Possibly in the 1990s when I arranged a fantastic trip to the wilderness in northern Sweden with some underwriters from London and Scandinavia. As it turned out I simultaneously managed to negotiate a fantastic premium discount for my former employer. Today, this kind of deal might be classed as bribery - but it was a different era back then.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned?
That people matter. Every single person wants to do a good job. Given the right motivation and trust, they will excel.

Tell us a secret?
Hey, if I did, it wouldn’t be a secret.