Meet Frida, Manager Business Navigation HQ and lipstick lover

Frida, Manager Business Navigation HQ at Axis, standing in front of the Grenden building, smiling.

How did your Axis journey start?

I joined Axis in late 2018 as a business controller for the operations team. After about three years, the finance department was reorganized, and a new department called Business Finance was created. I was given the opportunity to lead one of the groups within the department, Business Navigation HQ. It’s been a very rewarding role where I’ve had the chance to transform how we work from a more traditional business controller to a business navigator, which is much more proactive, involved and operates closer to the business.

What was your background before joining Axis?

I’ve always worked in finance. Prior to joining Axis, I spent around 10 years at one of Sweden’s highest-volume bakery businesses as an accountant and business controller.

What does a typical day look like for you and your team?

I like to think of the navigation team as the bridge between finance and the core of Axis. The six navigators on the team are each dedicated to a specific function within Axis. Our job is really about connecting people, plans and data. We work with forecasting, deep dive analysis and cost control, simulations, performance and margin analysis and so on. Our days are a balance between highly detailed analysis and maintaining a solid strategic overview of finances.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I really appreciate that I am trusted to be actively involved in the business. My team is integrated into each function across the company, which makes the role very hands-on and enables us to be both strategic and detail-oriented.

In these turbulent times we are living in, with geopolitical conflicts and other issues causing supply chain disruptions, our role has become even more relevant. I feel that I can really make a difference and have an impact, helping the business and our stakeholders understand and navigate these situations and make well-grounded decisions based on facts.

But at the end of the day, it’s all about the relationships and the network. At Axis, everything is built on helping each other out. I don't see my team as people who just deliver reports and analysis; we are business partners.

As a manager, I really enjoy seeing my team grow and find the confidence to truly take their place in the management teams and other forums where they support. For me, leadership is about creating a team where we are curious and generous with our knowledge. If we have that trust within the team, we can build much stronger relationships with the rest of the company too.

What qualities do you need to do your job?

When I am recruiting for my team, I am looking for people who can think strategically and have an eye for detail. But you also need to be really open and enjoy building relationships with colleagues and networking. This role is all about getting out there, being curious, gathering information and turning it into fact that actually mean something to the business. In other words, we’re looking for those extroverted finance people. They aren’t always easy to find, but they do exist!

How would you describe the Axis company culture?

In my role, openness and inclusion are critical to success. At Axis, we really live by our value of always being open, which makes a huge difference to the quality of my day-to-day. I know I can always pick up the phone and ask a colleague for advice - no matter their role or position, they are always willing to help. We have a strong can-do spirit as well, which is really motivating and means that things get done and people are empowered to be proactive.

What do you like doing with your spare time?

I love fashion and beauty! I guess I am a bit of a nerd when it comes to testing new skin products and make-up, it’s so fun to try new things. I also love traveling, and an ideal day off would be spent somewhere sunny with some good food and drink.