"I'm an introvert, I’m observant, making me good at noticing details others miss. I'm a thoughtful networker. I prefer making a few meaningful connections rather than having many superficial encounters that don't have a lasting impact." says Ashley.
What's your overall background?
Sweden upended my career trajectory.
I used to be a dietitian. I have a master's degree in food science and nutrition. I was working in a large and busy city hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota, during the 1st year of the COVID pandemic when my husband got a job offer located in Malmö, Sweden.
Had we stayed in Minnesota, there's no doubt that I would still be a dietitian, working in that hospital, helping people heal and improve their quality of life through food. But I'm not in the U.S. anymore, and I'm okay with never being a dietitian again.
Moving to Sweden allowed me to start fresh on a new career path. I thought a lot about what that career might be during my first few months in Sweden. I've always had a creative side, so I decided that this time, I would try out a job that allowed me to access that side of my brain. I chose marketing.
Since then, I've become a sponge, absorbing as much information as possible about marketing, digital marketing, and content creation. I became a content creator for a local fitness company, a marketing and communications intern for a non-profit organization, and landed my first full-time marketing position in the startup community of southern Sweden.
What was your role at Skåne Startups?
I helped coordinate and organize Women in Entrepreneurship events, and Startup Live! in Helsingborg during H22. Most recently I helped co-organize The Drop climate tech conference and implement marketing and communication strategies. The event brought over 600 climate tech investors and founders in Malmö.
What did you enjoy the most in Skåne Startups
The people and the community. Skåne Startups is full of international talents with diverse life and work perspectives, which creates an open and accepting environment where you have the chance to get to know, and make friends with people you would have never met otherwise.
The startup community in southern Sweden is optimistic and full of energy. I felt super grateful that I got to wake up everyday to work in a community where everybody is there to make a positive impact.
Tell us about your current work?
Working in communications, marketing, and event & project coordination within the climate tech space. I'm forever looking for opportunities to learn and grow both as a person and professionally.
I'm an introvert, I’m observant, making me good at noticing details others miss. I'm a thoughtful networker. I prefer making a few meaningful connections rather than having many superficial encounters that don't have a lasting impact. Including and connecting people fullfills me.
What is your advice for talents in the tech community?
Be yourself, the tech community is full of go-getters and people with big dreams. To stand out, be your most genuine self and network, network, network.
I always welcome opportunities for insightful conversation over fika! I would also love the chance to connect with fellow marketers who are willing to be a mentor or share their expertise with me.
Something you are unreasonably passionate about?
Connecting people. It seriously makes my day when I get the opportunity to build bridges between people and groups.