Why did you want to take on the role of CEO at Groth & Co?
Groth & Co is a very interesting and unique company that I am very proud and humble to be a part of.

What primarily attracted me were two things. First, Groth & Co's management and employees have always been innovative and have allowed themselves to be inspired by their customers to find the most optimal solution for each customer's situation.

Second, the strong corporate culture that our company possesses. Groth & Co very much embodies the corporate culture that I believe should prevail in a healthy company. It became very clear to me during the pandemic when I truly missed the creative discussions and the joyful laughter in the corridor. At Groth, not a day goes by without hearing laughter in the office.

Groth & Co possesses a unique combination through our two departments, Legal/Trademark and Patent. This, along with the strong, innovative, and value-driven culture the company has, made me find the CEO role extremely exciting. At the same time, I feel a great humility in continuing the legacy in the future while, together with my colleagues, working for the company's ongoing development.

What is your leadership style?
‍I see my role as highlighting my professional and knowledgeable colleagues. I lead by always trying to be humble, inclusive, and setting a clear goal. By creating a clear direction that all employees are involved in, and when everyone's unique competencies have the opportunity to shine, the entire company is strengthened.

As a leader, and Groth & Co as a company, we will never be better or stronger than those we work with. For our company to continue to be successful, it is important that we all agree on where we are going and how we will get there through a common and clear goal.

You have been the chairman of SEPAF (Swedish Patent Attorneys' Association) for the second year – what lessons have you taken from there into your CEO role?
‍During my time as chairman of SEPAF, we have developed a clear strategy for SEPAF until 2025 while focusing on collaboration with other organizations and authorities. Many in the industry are passionate about raising awareness and the importance of intellectual property and spreading knowledge about intellectual property among businesses and authorities. So, what I have learned is that there are many "open doors" in the market that are eager to collaborate with us, among others.

I have become even more aware that governments for several years have not been aware that Sweden lacks knowledge and awareness of the administration and creation of intellectual assets, which hinders the entire country from reaching its full potential. At the same time, many in the industry are actively working to raise awareness among our politicians and get them to prioritize intellectual property on the political agenda. Here, I believe that SEPAF will be one of several important actors that can influence the future.

What motivates you in your leadership role?
‍My great driving force is curiosity in this incredibly exciting industry in which we have the privilege to work. I am motivated by all the incredibly dedicated employees and innovative customers I work with. And as one of my colleagues often says - I learn something new every day!

If more people had insight into our exciting industry, they would be impressed by the incredibly creative and entrepreneurial people in Sweden – it's an incredible inspiration!

What challenges do you see in your role as CEO?
‍The perhaps biggest challenge as a leader is never to stop as an individual, but to continue to develop as a leader and an individual to be able to meet the future and be a relevant leader.

Considering all the changes happening both within and outside our society, the role of a leader has never been as important as it is today. I'm not just thinking about the hybrid society created by the pandemic, but also the rapid developments in AI and the changing conditions in the world.

How important is corporate culture for achieving success?
‍I would say that corporate culture is crucial for a company's success.

A company is entirely dependent on the sustainability of its corporate culture. If the company is to continue to develop and grow, we must have satisfied customers, and satisfied customers are only achieved through satisfied, secure, and competent employees who enjoy their roles and thus create the best conditions for the customer.

For me, it is important to create a culture where colleagues are happy and find it stimulating to support each other but also have a commitment to each other and the company.

In addition, today's companies must see their role where they operate and contribute to their environment, for example through CSR projects. Groth & Co's corporate culture must also reflect our customers' corporate culture. And our customers, whom we work with, are innovative and stand for sustainable development.

Since 2009, Groth & Co has contributed to various CSR projects. We have, among other things, built wells for a school in Africa, supported entrepreneurship among women in developing countries. This is an ongoing project, and currently, we are supporting the education of young people, both locally and in Kenya.

What trends and challenges do you see in the industry right now?
‍The general challenge, given that intellectual property is rarely included in education at universities and colleges, is to create an understanding among small and medium-sized companies about what intellectual property is. Small business leaders often have limited IP knowledge and often lack an understanding of how it contributes to the success of their business. Groth & Co hopes to spread knowledge about intellectual property through, among other things, our seminars.

Another major challenge the industry faces is the recruitment of patent consultants. Today, patent consultants are in high demand in the market, while there is a shortage of engineers in Sweden. This will affect our industry, and a possible scenario is that we will see consolidation of companies working with intellectual property or other forms of collaboration. However, AI can be a helpful tool along the way, depending on how AI develops.

How will you lead Groth & Co into the future?
‍My and the management's ambition is for Groth & Co to grow organically, and for every employee to understand how they contribute to Groth's goals and ambitions. We aim to continue being a forefront IP company with expertise in creating optimal solutions for our customers. We will continue to work with our sustainability strategy, which should permeate everything we do. This, of course, places demands on the right skills and the continuous development of our company. Right now, I am focusing on some recruitments to best meet the demand of new and existing customers.