Mikaela; you have an exciting mission - to build and lead an expansive hotel chain! We are curious - how do you do this and what is the most important thing to think about?
I have a fantastic exciting assignment as CEO of Jula Hotell, where we have a clear vision to grow by 2 hotels per year and continue the expansion journey we have started. The owner of the Jula Group, Karl Johan Blank, is a fantastic entrepreneur and visionary who wants to invest for the long term, so when we are looking for new prospects, it is important that the hotel properties are also for sale.
What is a very important piece of the puzzle is of course the employees; many left our industry during Covid and the whole industry suffered a major loss of knowledge. It requires the organization to have employees who are committed and brave, who want to be part of our expansion journey and want to build this together with me. I think we have succeeded in this and continue to work hard for it.
What demands does it make on you as a leader to succeed in this?
I need to be both a strategic visionary and operationally show a clear way forward for the organization. We work with people so my commitment and presence is very important in the organization. I really believe in a present and modern leadership. It is important to create secure employees who are given responsibility, trust and a mandate. Then, of course, we should have fun at work and create a great atmosphere and culture. Happiness is contagious to our guests; you should feel it when you come to our hotels and are greeted by a big smile.
What experiences and lessons have you learned so far?
Every day is a new experience. I have learned that anything can happen if you are the CEO of a hotel chain and no day rarely turns out as you planned. That's also the great charm and fun of my job. The biggest lesson is that renovating properties that date back to the late 19th century requires both courage and patience.