THE INTERNATIONAL HOT AIR

“It was a tough start due to the pandemic, but now I’ve gotten to know the staff, customers and the market better and can thus focus on developing operations,” says Ida. “I appreciate my multicultural team, the many international contacts and the exciting business climate. In addition, the whole family really enjoys life here in Dubai.”

Ida has the sea and shipping in her blood. Her dad was a captain and an uncle a pilot. But first came a degree in psychology and a few years with events in London. Ida gradually realized that it was shipping that she really wanted to work with, so she enrolled in the maritime program at the Chalmers Institute of Technology. After a trainee year at the Maersk Broker Agency, she was hired in 2012 by Stena Bulk’s new bunker department in Gothenburg. 

“When the question came up about working abroad, the answer was yes, with no reservations. I could imagine moving anywhere where Stena Bulk had an office.”

That attitude led her to working with chartering at Stena Bulk’s office in Singapore in the autumn of 2014.

“It was both challenging and exciting. A completely new role in a new city and in a new market.”

INTERNATIONELL INDUSTRY

She spent five years in Singapore. Intense and educational years during which her family’s two children were born, who are now four and two years old. The move to Dubai came in November 2019 when Ida was still on parental leave, and in January 2020 she began her new duties. What’s it like working in Dubai? 

“I’ve naturally had to familiarize myself with the local business culture, but since the industry itself is so international, I feel that the difference between working in Singapore and here is not that great. More negotiation skills are required here. The customers are mainly men, but it is not a disadvantage to be a woman in my role.”

Her start was hampered by the pandemic. During March, April and May of 2020, there was a total home quarantine and this naturally more difficult to find her way in a new job in a new market. Since June of last year, all seven employees have been back in the office, but the pandemic is still affecting their daily work.

“Travel restrictions still apply that prevent us from meeting our customers in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and India,” says Ida, who does not think it is a major problem. After getting to know her new market, she is now working to develop both the operations in the office, which has only existed for five years, and the business.

“My predecessor who started the office here in Dubai did a great job that I can build further on. Chemicals are a relatively new segment for us here, so we are still working on establishing the market,” she says. 

PROUD OF STENA BULK’S SUSTAINABILITY WORK

As a leader, Ida strives to be a good listener and easy to talk to. She is inspired by the international climate, appreciates having employees from different cultures as well as the cohesion and the positive atmosphere in the office.“We are a multifaceted team and our attitude is excellent.” 

Ida is very proud of Stena Bulk’s advanced position when it comes to sustainability. 

“We operate in a key branch and it feels good to have an owner who clearly strives to make our work as sustainable as possible. Here in Dubai, there is also a lot of focus on sustainability. There are investments in solar energy and recycling. But at the same time, they continue to produce fossil fuels in the region, so in that respect, there’s a bit of a conflict.”

LIFE IN DUBAI

Sunshine and hot weather are plentiful in Dubai. During the summer, temperatures rise to 45-50 degrees.

“During the hot months, we have to protect our garden and plants from the heat in various ways and take in the outdoor furniture. Ourselves, we stay indoors or in the pool, and there are plenty of indoor activities,” says Ida, who thinks that family life in Dubai works smoothly. She lives with her children and her British husband in a townhouse just a five-minute drive from the office and thus avoids spending time commuting. 

In addition, Ida is usually able to limit working hours to relatively normal office hours, even though the job is challenging. 

“Due to the geographical location, there was a lot of evening work in Singapore. This isn’t needed as often here, although we’re naturally available for our customers and ships around the clock.”