Katarina Atteryd Eckerwall, winner of Female Leader Engineer 2014

Katarina Atteryd Eckerwall participated in the program in 2014 and was also named the winner. She won a rotating trainee program that gave her the opportunity to work at three different companies, one of which was Fortum. Katarina has had a rapid career progression within the company and today she works as the head of Fortum’s 124 hydropower plants in Sweden and Finland. She is passionate about leadership, strategic work, and the opportunity to influence the energy sector. Her advice to others is to choose a good manager, stay open to development, and trust the process.

Tell us briefly about your journey in Female Leader Engineer:

I joined the program in 2014 and was selected as the winner that year. I chose to do my trainee placements at Fortum, where I worked with B2B sales in financial trading; at Skanska, where I worked as a requirements engineer in the planning of ESS outside Lund; and at Ericsson, where I worked with change management in the development of 5G. So they were three very different and rewarding experiences.

Tell us about your role today and your journey to get here:

Today, I have a role where I am responsible for our 124 hydropower plants in Sweden and Finland, as well as our maintenance staff. If you had asked me five years ago, I would never have imagined I would have this role today.

After the trainee placements, I started at Fortum as a Business Developer within hydropower, and after about two years I became the manager of our small Operational Excellence team. That later led to a larger role with responsibility for the entire strategy and development team for hydropower, and I also became part of the management team. I thought I would stay in that role for a long time since development suited my background well, but my manager asked if I wanted to take on the role of Head of Asset Operations instead. I am very glad I decided to take that step, because it is the most enjoyable job I have ever had.

 

If you had asked me five years ago, I would never have imagined I would have this role today.

 

What is the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is the variety of tasks and environments. One day I am sitting with the management team, working on strategy and developing a business plan for what we need to do today in order to reach where we want to be in five years. Another day I am out at one of the most beautiful places in Sweden, standing at a power plant dam or inside a hydropower station, talking to maintenance staff about their daily work and what we need to do to make their jobs as efficient and safe as possible.

Why did you choose to study engineering?

For me, it was a fairly easy choice. I have always enjoyed mathematics and physics, and what you enjoy is often what comes most naturally to you. But just to be sure, I actually started by studying law for one semester in Lund, but I missed mathematics and technology too much.

Why did you choose Fortum after your trainee program?

There are three reasons why I chose Fortum. The first was that I think the energy sector is an incredibly exciting industry and one that has a major transformation journey ahead, which I want to be part of driving. The second was that I saw there were several different career opportunities at Fortum as second and third steps in my career, and that has certainly proven to be true. The final and most important reason was that I was offered a job by an amazing manager that I really wanted to work for.

What makes leadership so enjoyable?

I am motivated by working with people and seeing them develop. Whether you are newly graduated or have worked for 40 years, there is always room for growth. Being able to provide the support and coaching needed to make even the smallest change happen is what makes leadership enjoyable for me.

 

The first was that I think the energy sector is an incredibly exciting industry and one that has a major transformation journey ahead, which I want to be part of driving. The second was that I saw there were several different career opportunities at Fortum as second and third steps in my career, and that has certainly proven to be true. The final and most important reason was that I was offered a job by an amazing manager that I really wanted to work for.

 

What qualities should a good leader have?

A good leader should be attentive and listen carefully to their employees in order to understand what experiences they bring with them and where they are in life at that moment. They should be humble about what they know and do not know, and be open about it. I would never have succeeded in my role if I had not been honest with my team about what I do not know, while also recognizing that they are the experts.

A good leader should also be brave and willing to have difficult conversations in a constructive way. If you avoid those conversations, it becomes much harder to create real change among your employees. In most cases, people appreciate direct and honest communication with “radical candor.”

If you could tell Katarina in 2014 one thing, what would it be?

The path will not be straight, and it will not be what you expect, but it will be educational and rewarding. There will be people who doubt you and your abilities, but above all there will be people who see your potential and support you along the way. So trust yourself and trust the process.

 

The path will not be straight, and it will not be what you expect, but it will be educational and rewarding.

 

What is your advice to others who want a career at Fortum?

Do not focus on finding the perfect first job. Instead, choose a good manager who can support you on your journey, and pay attention to the opportunities available within the industry.