On our second day in Stockholm, we got to truly explore the city even more and we would be remiss if we didn’t mention our walks through Gamla Stan, or Stockholm’s Old Town, and Södermalm, the island south of Gamla Stan. Sandwiched between alleys with colorful houses and cobblestone streets, we wandered into tons of cool shops and got to people-watch while devouring many scrumptious meals.
Our recommendations: try out Portofino in Gamla Stan for amazing pizza and pasta, and Restaurang Prinsen for delicious Swedish/French food and a great outdoor seating area!
Now, onto the business visits, Spotify and ChallengerMode! We walked through the streets of Stockholm until we reached Spotify Headquarters. This was the visit we were most excited for and it did not disappoint!
At Spotify, we learned more about their work culture from Anna Lundström, the Vice President of Human Resources, about aspects including their work from anywhere policy which allows their employees flexibility in where they choose to work from. It’s very fascinating to see a company adapt to changes in the workplace and also changes in the world where companies are adopting more hybrid models of work environments for their employees. The environments that help make people most productive can vary, and it’s great to have those options to change up where you work. What we also enjoyed hearing about was Spotify’s collaborative culture and also how many employees they have across several continents in the world. It’s truly a global company that is able to combine many different perspectives and ideas from a diverse group of employees.
ChallengerMode was our afternoon visit, and we loved the office space and how inviting it was. We got to meet with Robel Efrem, the CEO of this company, who shared insights he’s gained after starting several companies, with ChallengerMode being one of them. ChallengerMode works in the video game and esports sector, and we got to see what they’re currently working on and hear Robel’s insights on the culture that they are trying to build in their company. Something that Robel emphasized was that besides looking for qualified candidates to join his company, another underrated trait to look for is niceness. At the heart of it all, everyone ultimately wants to work with others who are kind and great human beings, first and foremost.
We feel that throughout the business visits, many companies have reinforced the importance of community and teamwork, and finding people who are great cultural fits and with whom you would want to be friends with. This is vital to creating a healthy and collaborative company culture. In many companies we've been to, we see that work culture does not just encompass working hard and putting in the hours, but it also includes being passionate about what you do and contributing your unique input to help your teammates and company improve.
Something else we’ve been taking note of is how integral a company’s office space is to its overall aesthetic and feel. We’ve visited quite a few companies where there have been plenty of open spaces and common areas for people to gather and work together, which perfectly complements the emphasis on teamwork that permeates the culture of many of the businesses we have gotten to see.
This was definitely a packed day, and we were grateful for all the steps we got in! Not only did we get to meet with really cool companies, but we also got to enjoy scenic walks along the way!
