Hej everyone! Our Scandinavian adventure is off to an incredible start. We landed in Sweden on Saturday (May 26th) with excitement levels through the roof. After settling into our hotel and catching up with classmates over dinner, we tried to get some sleep. But waking up at 5 AM, we couldn’t tell if it was pure excitement or jet lag—or maybe a bit of both.
Our first full day was packed with visits to the Volvo factory, headquarters, and The World of Volvo. Duke was particularly excited about this since he had been eager to see Volvo’s production line in action. The factory tour was fascinating; we rode a train through the production line and were amazed by the fact that 30% of Volvo’s workforce are women, the highest percentage in the industry. Most of the assembly is done by hand, with machines only used for tasks like putting windows on the trucks.
At the Volvo headquarters, we delved into their social media and strategic strategies. It was surprising to learn that their initial social media goal was merely to gain followers without tracking impressions. The day wrapped up with a visit to The World of Volvo, where we enjoyed dinner and connected with local college students. They even took some of us to their favorite bar, and let’s just say, we had an unforgettable time!
Fast forward to Tuesday (May 28th), we had an eye-opening visit to SAAB. After a warm welcome and a delicious lunch, we were treated to presentations about SAAB’s history and business operations. Did you know Sweden is one of the few countries that produces fighter jets? Impressive, right?
SAAB’s story is one of innovation and engineering brilliance. Their Gripen fighter jet is a testament to Sweden’s capability in the global defense industry. We also learned about SAAB’s collaboration with Boeing and their supply of fighter jets to Brazil and Thailand. It’s incredible how a company from a small country can have such a massive global impact.
The factory tour was a highlight, watching the final assembly of the Gripen was mind-blowing. The precision and attention to detail were awe-inspiring. Seeing the Gripen in the testing site was thrilling and gave us a real sense of the power and sophistication behind these machines. This visit left us with a deep respect for SAAB’s engineering prowess and Sweden’s significant role in the aerospace industry. The day was filled with learning and inspiration, showcasing how innovation and collaboration can lead to global success.
Stay tuned as we continue our Scandinavian journey, exploring new horizons and sharing our adventures. Until next time, skål!
