– The program accelerated my executive career
Executive Management Programme at INSEAD is celebrating its 10-Year Anniversary, and in that occation they have interviewed our founder Solveig Ellila Kristiansen.
See the original interview (in Norwegian) at www.se-institute.no.
Solveig Ellila Kristiansen participated in the Executive Management Programme at INSEAD in 2013.
In 2013, Solveig Ellila Kristiansen participated in the Executive Management Programme at INSEAD, and now, ten years later, she emphasizes that the learnings from the program are still highly significant. She acquired an extensive toolbox of knowledge, propelled her executive career forward, and also gained a network group that she still maintains contact with - and this year they are celebrating their 10-year anniversary.
Solveig Ellila Kristiansen was originally planning to become a doctor, or at least that was her initial dream and ambition. However, as her father's background in electrical engineering gradually became a major source of inspiration, the technological field became the foundation for her professional career. Today, she is the CEO of her own business, Hockeystick Impact AS, which she founded a few months ago. The company provides services ranging from advising on the digital customer journey to insights on how companies can make more sustainable business decisions. Despite weaker prerequisites or market trends posing challenges, a strong team with the right insights can implement excellent, insightful, and multiple initiatives that lead the company to growth.
"In this service, I utilize my background, experience, and insights gained from many years as a top executive in various PE owned technology companies. We are a team of experts who assist advisors, not only by providing insights to navigate through critical growth phases, but also by helping our clients attract the right type of investor capital, acquire the appropriate expertise, and be prepared for the phase they are entering. Our advisory services enable CEOs to be well-prepared to scale their businesses in a sustainable manner," says Solveig Ellila Kristiansen, adding:
"By the way, the name 'Hockeystick Impact' is not coincidental. It accurately describes what a company experiences during different growth phases. Growth companies need to move their own 'hockey sticks' by making bold strategic moves and changing how they make decisions. This involves challenging the status quo, changing the management structure and culture, and being more open to innovation and experimentation."
Milestone in a leadership career
But let's take a brief look back. Solveig Ellila Kristiansen studied at, where she obtained a degree in industrial electronics. Subsequently, she worked in a series of sales leadership roles in companies such as Texas Instruments, Canon, Olivetti, Compaq, Telenor, and Sun Microsystems.
"My career has largely been influenced by my commercial interest in digitalization, new ways of utilizing digital services, and the development of digital business models. I have thrived in working with value creation, change, and transformation, and what it takes to challenge the existing norms. Undoubtedly, digitalization has been a common thread," she states.
In 2013, ten years ago, she participated in the Executive Management Programme offered by the Scandinavian Executive Institute in collaboration with the French business school INSEAD. The program consists of one module held in Denmark and two modules conducted at INSEAD.
"I chose to participate in the Executive Management Programme at INSEAD in 2013 because I wanted to strengthen my competence in strategic leadership and expand my insights in the field. I had heard from others beforehand that this program was excellent. In hindsight, this has been a significant milestone in my leadership career. The program provided me with insights into international best practices in important strategic and managerial areas, and, in short, it accelerated my executive career. At the end of 2013, I assumed the role of General Manager at DELL Norway, a company with an annual revenue of over 1.8 billion Norwegian kroner," she explains.
