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SUSANNE CANERSTAM
Energetic PA driven by
entrepreneurial spirit
Susanne Canerstam completed her first day at Mellby Gård a shade over
seven years ago. She was ready for a new challenge after spending nearly
20 years in the construction industry. Someone told her about Rune
Andersson when she was looking for speakers for an in-house conference,
and that’s how she came to discover Mellby Gård. Quite by chance, they
were advertising the position of PA to the CEO on their website.
“When I read the details on the position, I felt straight “When it comes to our community engagements, I think it’s so
away that they were looking for me. I like it when things inspiring to be able to help out with the causes closest to our hearts
happen, and I’ve always worked with entrepreneurs. I get here at Mellby Gård, such as the right to an education for everyone and
to do precisely that at Mellby Gård. There are always loads of projects the importance of embracing entrepreneurship.
on the go, short decision pathways, people are always having new
ideas, and there are projects where everybody can get involved. People “Mellby Gård is a small organisation where everybody plays their part
are brave enough to try new things, even though they don’t always in their own way, everybody is included in whatever’s going on, and
get it right. Entrepreneurs are always aiming for something, and they there are always loads of things happening – new projects, or activities.
always have something on the go.”
She never takes her foot off the gas, whether she’s working or having “The Andersson family are good at making sure everybody is happy
time off. Above all, she’s fascinated by motorbikes in general, and road and feels a sense of commitment to what we do. They’re also good
racing in particular. She’s done lap after lap of the Ring Knutstorp at giving their staff a boost and helping them to develop, and they’re
circuit over the years. Susanne is a road racing instructor, too. She happy to share their experience and expertise.”
recently discovered downhill skiing and is doing a harness racing
course, too. PANDEMIC BROUGHT ABOUT CHANGE
“I’ve been interested in road racing for a very long time. I even met The past year has presented a number of challenges too; for the
my husband because of the interest we both have in the sport. It’s companies co-owned by Mellby Gård, and when it comes to making
good that we share our interests, because our activities take up a lot of the switch to a more digital way of working. But the Mellby Gård
our time. But there are times when we wind each other up – if one of us strategy remains the same and focuses on responsible, active, long-
gets the urge for a new bike, for instance!” she laughs. term ownership.
“I’ve always enjoyed trying new things. I put skis on for the first time
five years ago. I really enjoyed it, and the family and I have been up to “Business has been fantastic in spite of the pandemic, and most of
the mountains many, many times. I’m doing a harness racing course at our companies have been able to adjust, adapt and recover. I can see
the moment, too. I deal with the administration of Mellby Gård’s 100 major benefits to adopting a long-term position on our investments.
or so harness racing horses on a day-to-day basis, so I thought it was When we buy companies in order to retain and develop them, this
time to get more involved in the sport by actually learning harness provides our companies with another level of security and support and
racing for myself.” we benefit in the long term. I love seeing how our companies develop
over time, too.
THE SPIDER IN THE WEB
Susanne is the spider in the company’s web in her role as PA to the “We’ve gone pretty quickly from nought to sixty in our use of digital
CEO. She helps the Andersson family and her colleagues with all kinds tools in recent years, too. People have become even more inquisitive
of tasks and oversees the day-to-day running of the office, including about new digital tools during the pandemic and have learned how
technology, IT equipment and digital tools, as well as managing in- to use them. And when people have seen the benefits on offer, this
house and external communications for the company. She also helps to process has sped up.”
coordinate and select the various community engagements that Mellby
Gård will be involved in. Looking ahead to 2022, Susanne is very much looking forward to
the business starting to move, from working mainly on supporting all
the companies through a few turbulent years to focusing once more on
helping companies make the transition from promising to leading.
“The next project is always the most enjoyable one. Challenges and
curiosity are what really drive us here at Mellby Gård!”
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