Rebecka, you are a biologist with many years of experience as an environmental consultant and now Group Leader of the Green Party. What environmental issues are you most passionate about?
"I am most passionate about reducing climate change and promoting biodiversity. Together, these are the basis for our continued survival on the planet and I believe that we need to change society so that we take the limits of the planet into account when making decisions. It is clear to me that politics and business both have roles to play in this transition and it has been incredibly fun and stimulating to drive development in the business sector and then move on to do it from a political perspective.

At the age of 37, you stepped in as chairman of the board of the billion-euro company Tekniska verken. At the time, you had limited experience of board work, how did you approach this responsible task, practically and mentally?
Practically, I familiarized myself with the company through a solid training program and many study visits to the business. I also took courses in board work through the Board Academy and had great support from the Vice Chairman and CEO. As a consultant, I had done a lot of work in the energy industry, which helped, as it meant I learned the business quickly.
Mentally, it was a bit more challenging, partly because I was considered young - I was the second youngest on the board, and partly because I was a woman in a male-dominated environment. So I decided early on that the company needed a chairperson who could demonstrate that she was an adult and capable of making the decisions that needed to be made, and that I needed to be that person. It was like I stepped into the role of chairman and once I did, I felt much more confident and could relax.
The reception at Tekniska verken was also fantastic! Everyone, both the management and the board, made an effort to get me up to speed quickly. However, the first few months felt like being in a tumble dryer, where one day I talked about my leadership in front of 300 leading people in the energy industry and the next day defended our decisions in Rapport. But you can do so much more than you think, and being chairman of Tekniska verken is the most fun thing I've ever done.

Relatively immediately, the board was tasked with recruiting a new CEO. What tips do you have for others who are facing a senior recruitment? In your experience, what is important to consider?
The most important thing is to think about where the company is going and to develop a clear requirements profile. Then enlisting the help of a professional recruitment and search company is also crucial. Get references from a few recruitment agencies and then work closely with them. As our board was so large, over 20 people, we chose a recruitment team of four people who had the dialog with the recruitment company and conducted the interviews, which made the work easier. Finally, it is important not to settle until you have a candidate that feels really good. Recruiting at this level takes a lot of time and it is important to let it do that.