Focus on people and profession

He's also fond of people and solving complex problems – a great combination for leading extensive technology projects.

“I often talk to people to hear how things are going, not only with the project but also on a personal level. I'm curious, and I genuinely care. As a Project Manager, I have an excuse to get involved in all sorts of things. I get to meet a lot of different people, see and learn a lot,” he says, smiling broadly.

Joakim resides in a small place called Åmot, west of Oslo, with his wife Kristine and the children Ellinor (9) and Selmer (5). He describes himself as impatient, and at the age of 37, he has undoubtedly achieved a lot in a relatively short time.

In addition to a Master's degree in Industrial Economics and Technology Management, with a specialization in mechanical engineering and business economics, he has recently completed further education ¨within project management, a program offered by the company that he pursued part-time alongside work.

The project he's currently leading involves a development project for the upgrade of weapon stations for the French defence.

“Obsolescence is challenging in our industry because the electronics market has a much faster turnover than the defence industry. Keeping the customer's products alive requires a lot of effort,” Joakim explains.

He's also a technical project manager on another project, working on issues that require extra attention from the project.

“It's the complexity and being part of something that's truly difficult to achieve that makes this job so interesting,” Joakim passionately states. “The technical width is incredibly vast, I don't think it's possible to run out of new areas to delve into. There's always something new to learn in this company, and we are well ahead within the scope of possibilities in our industry.”

He enjoys the shift between delving into details, understanding crucial connections to enable establishing long-term and overarching strategies for both projects and the company.

All projects have a planning phase, an execution phase, and a closing phase.

“And there's quite a difference in being a project manager through these three phases,” Joakim explains.

He personally enjoys the planning phase the most because it requires the most intellectual effort, and it's where you lay the groundwork for a successful project or inadvertently create obstacles for yourself. Not surprisingly, he's an enthusiastic user of Excel and has a fondness for numbers and structures.

“As a Project Manager, I'm responsible for ensuring that project members have the opportunity to do a good job,” Joakim says. “That's why it's also important to have an understanding of how the various processes are interconnected and how they affect each other.”

He also greatly appreciates the opportunity to meet new people and expand his network, both domestically and internationally through travels to customers and suppliers.

Working for a company that's relevant from a societal perspective is also a significant motivational factor for the young Project Manager. He feels closely connected to what's happening in the world and takes pride in actively contributing to creating value that supports both national and international defence capabilities.

“There are many historical examples of countries with strong defence systems avoiding hostile visits. Sweden's strong defence during World War II contributed significantly to their neutrality. The Swiss are another example. The deterrent effect of a good defence is so substantial that I would say it contributes to maintaining peace,” he says.

But his most important driving force comes from his colleagues.

“There are incredibly skilled people working here, with high competence, integrity, and good attitudes. This creates a reliable culture and allows us to focus on the important work we're doing together,” he concludes.