Chair, Gothenburg Committee
Chicago Sister Cities International
Nonprofit Organization Management industry
May 2010 – Present (1 year 4 months)
On May 26, 2010 appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley of City of Chicago to revitalize the Gothenburg Sister City committee in the areas of business, education and culture. Recommended by the Honorary Consul General of Sweden in Chicago. Currently rebuilding the committee. On June 28 -30, hosted a delegation from Gothenburg, led by Mayor Anneli Hulthén.
Recommend Agneta’s work at Chicago Sister Cities International
Board of Directors, Officer and VP of Communications
Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce – Chicago
International Trade and Development industry
January 2005 – Present (6 years 8 months)
General board work. Responsible for one significant event per year: March 2010 – eHealth; Feb 2009 – Using LinkedIn, April 2007 – IT Cluster, SACC-Entrepreneurial Days.
Since January 2008, I’ve been both an Officer and the VP of Communications. Among other things, I’m responsible for FLASH, our monthly newsletter, submitting local articles to a national magazine and to driving initiatives to improve staff efficiency and communications among our members. During 2009, I initiated the overhaul of the web site to allow our staff to make updates more easily.
Agneta has 2 recommendations (2 partners) including:
2nd Mark Podemski, President, Swedish American Chamber of Commerce Chicago
2nd Beata Krakus, Associate, Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C.
Recommend Agneta’s work at Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce – Chicago
President and Founder
Interim Ventures, L.L.C.
Partnership; Management Consulting industry
May 2000 – Present (11 years 4 months)
Strategy, marketing and business development consulting for Internet, wireless, software, hardware and service companies.
CURRENT ASSIGNMENTS:
• Attracting U.S. data centers to Northern Sweden – key features: Cold climate, low humidity, renewable energy sources, third-lowest cost energy in Europe, low real estate and operating costs – with outstanding business climate and highly skilled manpower.
• For a European Interim Executive management company, assessed market trends and opportunities in the U.S. Staffing, Turnaround and Interim Executive market and identified potential partners. Currently meeting with potential partners to evaluate interest and fit.
EXAMPLE OF PREVIOUS ASSIGNMENTS:
• Arranged meetings with potential investors, strategic partners and customers for a Swedish eHealth company resulting in an initial foothold, including a bridge financing.
• Organized meetings for 12 members of the Swedish Venture Capital Association with West Coast VCs, resulting in the foundation of the incubator Acceleratus.
• Performed comprehensive market analysis of a sleek, extremely easy-to-use and great sounding audio guide.
• Doubled U.S. revenues for a Swedish online genealogy company in the 2nd month of partnership by creating a permission-based e-mail campaign and performing SEO and SEM.
• For Scandinavian SIS company, performed U.S. market research and developed go-to-market strategy. Work led to partner agreements, trade show participation, updated pricing and contract terms and relations for acquiring the “.com” address.
• Developed marketing plans for a baby product company. Created marketing collateral, POS materials, packaging, processes, partnerships and website enhancements.
• Assessed market opportunity, formulated strategy and performed strategic U.S initiatives for Swedish technology companies in the areas of wireless, simulation-based e-Learning, web surveys, online sales configuration and software localization.
Agneta has 4 recommendations (3 clients, 1 partner) including:
2nd Jan Segerfeldt
2nd Carl-Martin Laner
Recommend Agneta’s work at Interim Ventures, L.L.C.
Board Member, President
SWEA-Chicago
Nonprofit; Nonprofit Organization Management industry
August 2004 – December 2009 (5 years 5 months)
2009 – Board Member of SWEA Regional Committee, Secretary
2006 – 2008 Board Member, President, SWEA – Chicago
2005 – Board Member, Vice President, SWEA – Chicago
2004 – 2005 Responsible for ad sales to support printing of bi-annual magazine and Annual Membership Directory. Quadrupled ad revenues.
1990-1991 Board member, Secretary, SWEA – Chicago
Agneta has 1 recommendation (1 report) including:
2nd Tina O’Malley, Boardmember – In charge of Membership, SWEA Chicago
Recommend Agneta’s work at SWEA-Chicago
IT Managing Consulting Leader
Swedish Trade Council of North America
Government Agency; Management Consulting industry
August 1994 – May 2000 (5 years 10 months)
• Built a 5-person IT management consulting group that specialized in developing U.S. business strategies for Swedish companies in the software, hardware and telecommunications industries. Increased IT management consulting practice revenues with 650% from 1995 to 1999. Responsible for hiring and staff development.
• Served more than 30 clients from small startups to some of Sweden’s largest IT companies covering technologies such as ERP, EIA, middleware, ESD, CRM, Internet infrastructure software, mobile Internet, e-commerce, interactive training and e-Learning. Performed assignments that included analysis and development of market strategies, business plans and company and product presentations, identification of competitors, partners and target customers, product positioning and new product development, assessment of market potential, refinement of value propositions and arrangement of meetings with potential customer and partners.
• Initiated and was responsible for Sweden at COMDEX’98, the largest Swedish IT promotion initiative to date with a $1 million budget and 12 participating exhibitors. This initiative led to Swedish companies placing first and second in the Internet Software Best of Comdex Awards.
• Provided assistance in attracting venture capital investment – worked with eight IT companies that received venture funding from $1.5 to $6.5 million.
• Supported AU-System, the largest Swedish telecom/wireless systems integrator, in developing corporate and financial strategies. At 5 occasions, arranged meetings with U.S. venture capital firms, investment banks and potential partners in the Internet security space. Based on the learning gathered, the company was able to develop a compelling story that led to a $6.5 million venture capital investment and subsequent strategic investment. This ultimately led to one of the highest exit values in Scandinavia.
Agneta has 4 recommendations (1 report, 2 co-workers, 1 client) including:
2nd Anders Kuikka
2nd Jon Linden, Consultant, Swedish Trade Council
Recommend Agneta’s work at Swedish Trade Council of North America
Business Recovery Consultant
IBM – Consulting Group, Chicago, IL
Public Company; IBM; Information Technology and Services industry
February 1991 – August 1994 (3 years 7 months)
• Helped clients reduce exposure to disasters and improve recovery readiness. Responsible for selling and performing business recovery consulting engagements. Served 45 clients in insurance, finance, manufacturing, health care, services, distribution, and telecommunications industries.
• Established a marketing strategy for the Midwestern area midrange market for both hot site and recovery planning services. Planned and coordinated special events, among other a one-day seminar titled “One year after the Chicago flood,” which The Chicago Tribune covered on the front page in the Business Section.
• Developed a proposal approach that later was implemented throughout the entire Unites States Business Recovery Planning practice.
Recommend Agneta’s work at IBM – Consulting Group, Chicago, IL
Systems Engineer
IBM – Sears Enterprise / Distribution Branch, Chicago, IL
Public Company; IBM; Information Technology and Services industry
June 1984 – February 1991 (6 years 9 months)
• Improved fourfold a large retailer’s critical claims processing application performance by mobilizing IBM’s diverse resources.
• Guided an international customer through growing its end-user base from a few hundred to more than 90,000 users.
• Provided project management and technical guidance for the roll-out of 60 midrange systems to several thousand users.
Recommend Agneta’s work at IBM – Sears Enterprise / Distribution Branch, Chicago, IL
AIESEC Intern
IBM – NAD Videotex Market Development, White Plains, NY
Public Company; IBM; Information Technology and Services industry
June 1982 – December 1983 (1 year 7 months)
• Performed Videotex usage market research and forecasting. The Videotex Market Development group later became part of Prodigy, initially a Sears-IBM videotex joint venture.
Recommend Agneta’s work at IBM – NAD Videotex Market Development, White Plains, NY
National Committee Project Manager
AIESEC
Nonprofit; Human Resources industry
May 1981 – June 1982 (1 year 2 months)
Responsible for special projects, including planning, promoting and launching a simulated business game competition among eight universities in Sweden. Acquired sponsors, including SEB, GE and SAS.
Recommend Agneta’s work at AIESEC
Gothenburg – Local Committee Member
AIESEC
Nonprofit; Human Resources industry
September 1978 – May 1981 (2 years 9 months)
Each year, our committee raised about 40-45 internships at Swedish companies for students from all over the world. I was the “Reception Officer” in August 1980, accommodating all students and organizing activities. Also, I initiated and arranged a 10-day trip to the French Alps for 45 Swedish and 45 French students.
Recommend Agneta’s work at AIESEC