Matilda Karlsson has recently been appointed Sales Director at MilDef, one of Sweden's fastest-growing defence companies. Matilda's fascination with the defence sector was sparked during her studies at Linnaeus University, where she took a course module in security policy. That interest led her to an internship in Brussels, where she gained insights into the connections between politics, business, and military operations. With studies in war studies from the Swedish Defence University (Försvarshögskolan) and three years at the defence industry association the Swedish Security and Defence Industry Association (SOFF), she is now taking on a new challenge at MilDef. Nordic Defence Sector met her for an interview about her new role and her observations on 2023.
NDS: Why did you specifically apply to MilDef?
MK: Right now, MilDef is in a very expansive phase and is solving pressing problems for its customers. I think it will be very interesting to work in the private sector. There is some overlap between what I did at SOFF and what I will be doing at MilDef, but overall there is a great deal that is new.
NDS: What are your personal goals for the rest of the year at MilDef?
MK: During 2023, I will focus on settling into the role and getting to know the company inside and out. I am humble about the fact that I am new to the job, but I will be as generous as possible in sharing my experiences and lessons from SOFF and Brussels. Beyond that, I want to build as many useful contacts as possible for MilDef.
NDS: If we broaden the perspective a little, what do you think the defence industry as a whole should do more of in its engagement with government agencies?
MK: We in the industry have become much better overall at making ourselves visible and daring to take up space, but having said that, we must continue that journey. We need to be even clearer in our communication with government agencies, and we need to have more frequent and deeper dialogues.
NDS: And conversely, how should the defence agencies improve their relationship with industry?
MK: Once again, I would argue that everyone needs to become clearer. The agencies should clarify their requirements and be more transparent in their procurement processes. It is important that the agencies understand that companies have limited resources and that they will choose the procurement opportunities that are best suited to them.
NDS: What trends do you see in the industry and sector in the near term?
MK: Above all, there is a much greater focus on building up stockpiles of consumables and other materiel. The enormous demand for ammunition in Ukraine has not escaped anyone's attention. Beyond that, there are extensive discussions at the political level about building up overcapacity in production, both domestically and at the European level. There seems to be greater acceptance and understanding from politicians that the scale and duration of orders must be allowed to increase, if companies are to be able to shift gear and scale up their production lines. There is also a consensus that everyone must do their part to shorten lead times. I also believe that since Russia's renewed invasion, politicians have generally become more humble about how long lead times in the industry actually are.
NDS: Final question: if a secondary school or university student came up to you and said they wanted to find employment somewhere in the defence sector after their studies, what advice would you give?
MK: Go for it. Be clear about what you want. Reach out to people who seem interesting to you. Allow yourself to be curious, and dare to be personal and informal when you contact people who seem exciting to you. Get on LinkedIn and make yourself accessible, attend events, and join voluntary organisations too. This is also a message to those who are already established: be available for questions, and say yes if a student wants to meet for a coffee and ask questions.
NDS has previously interviewed, among others, Tobias Billström and Karin Swanson in this series. If you know someone who would be suitable for this interview series, or feel that you yourself would be a good fit, NDS can be reached at news@nordicdefencesector.com. Please mark the email "New on the Job".