“Both now and in the future, being a leader brings you up against increasingly challenging and complex problems that you are expected to solve quickly and respond to so you can steer your business in the right direction. You need world-class service, efficiency and innovation to keep your business alive and competitive. I want to be up to this challenge and be a driving leader,” says Niclas Freijd, Implementation Manager at Kloosterboer and one of the participants starting the Leading Impact – Executive Management & Leadership Program in October.
Hello Niclas. You’re starting Leading IMPACT in the fall. What made you choose Leading IMPACT?
I wanted a challenge that is aligned with my future development and career. My manager inspired me and made a point of sharing his opinion that taking Leading Impact would suit me well. The program is timely, and I think the mix of content is perfect. I think it will help me develop both as a leader and as a person, in addition to giving me much knowledge to bring into our exciting future.
What made you choose Leading Impact in particular?
Innovation, digital leadership and strategy development with a focus on the future are key parts of the program content for me. I also like the structure of work on real-life business challenges in teams and the ability to involve my local teams. Leading Impact feels hands-on and being able to dive into the process directly without too much theory suits me well.
What expectations do you have?
It will be fun to work with like-minded people and challenge each other in this program. I expect to gain new knowledge, new tools and a new network. I would like to work on being a better leader of tomorrow, given that much will change in a short period of time. I want to be up to the challenge and play a driving role as a leader.
Tell us about your role at Kloosterboer
In my position as Implementation Manager, I am responsible for development efforts for Sweden and the Nordic market. My team comprises technical project managers and system specialists. We engage in system development, new system implementation, technical solutions and integration. My team is often involved when Kloosterboer starts up new facilities and write specifications or conducts tests. We also work on improving existing processes and supporting operations.
What qualities are important to succeed in your role?
One key quality for succeeding in my role is knowing my way around methods and tools that provide a structured capability to see into the future but also challenge the present. Usually I’m the one who provides the structure and helps my team succeed with their projects. I’m a process thinker and I always have something to contribute – you’ve got to be quick on your feet.
How would you describe your leadership style?
As a leader, I am passionate about developing people. I do that by challenging individuals to go a step further and learn to reflect on their performance. This involves considering the what and the how of tasks and challenges both small and large. I know my way around many methods and tools for lean leadership, which I often can rely on to get the job done. This provides the stability that enables me to ask the right questions and be creative. I’m not afraid to say what I think, and I take much inspiration from my sports background – I want to win as a team with others.
