This week's profile:
Name: Maria Engström
Role in the company: founder and CEO of Reunion And soulsists.
Age: 59 years
Family: Yes!
Pets: Three dogs Alva Icelander 13 years, Malte Chocolate Lab 2 years, Zoe Russian street dog 2 years. Two farm treasures Kling and Klang, almost 1 year.
Hello Maria!
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
I started Reunion 2003-We celebrate the 20th anniversary this year! It started with the fact that I found a cinnamon soap and a crane with the form of an ant at a resort in Thailand. I took these products to Sweden and then we were up!
I am a marketer from scratch. Has worked for many years in the advertising industry in Stockholm and Malmö. Around 2000 I left the advertising industry and entered the start up world. I had to both build and dismantle companies before I started my own in 2003.
What is the biggest challenge in your job?
As a self -employed person, you get challenges all the time. There may be difficulties in production, delayed or missing deliveries. Current challenges that we are in the middle of right now are pandemics and war, which affects people's personal finances and freedom of movement. To keep the economy in balance in a large company that Reunion, is perhaps the very biggest challenge. Both most difficult and most fun. You must never settle down.
What does a typical day look like for you?
There are probably no typical days hahaha ... I usually start by driving to Reuniongården or our warehouse in Borrby to take care of orders that have to be packed and go away. At the same time, I work in my head with interior design of new environments at Reuniongården. I talk to my producers in Italy and plan collections, visits, deliveries, colors. I order goods from different colleagues around Scandinavia to fill the Reuniongården and our webshop with beautiful things. I plan food economy and commodity deliveries for our café and I make sure the Reuniongården stays nice and clean. If I need help with that, I call Kenneth who is our property manager and my right hand when it comes to all the properties. Some days I go in and work active if someone in the staff is ill or vacant. One week a month I go to Italy and our production there. My job is incredibly changing and I really love every minute.
What is the most memorable thing you have experienced in the company?
There are so many memories that have etched themselves. We have a lot of fun and it permeates the business. A memorable moment was when we were named this year's store 2021 by the magazine Skåne. It was a fantastic rating for my entire staff and all the hard work we put together together.
What interests do you have outside of work?
Being an entrepreneur is a 24-hour job. 24/7. The thoughts never stop spinning. There is always development potential to grasp. While I am thinking about the future, I like to cook or bake. It's my relaxation. I love cookbooks and I love to cook together on the weekends. It is the height of happiness to enjoy all the hacking, conversations and to enjoy a good wine in the meantime. I read pretty much and I love my dog walks every day. Nature is a great source of refilling for me. And long wonderful conversations about just about everything, with mine close. Art and decor are also warm to me. Seeing a theater performance or an art exhibition can give me energy for weeks.
How do you describe yourself in three words?
Oh so hard. Loyal, driven, loving.
What is the most valuable thing you have learned in life?
That everything resolves. That all crap, pressing or nightmarish passes. Believe me. Even when you think you are calculated, give that last push a chance, everything works out. Everything will be fine.