Dare to Dream scholars: A unique year of learning and opportunities

“This incredibly enriching and unique experience has provided immense inspiration and opportunities that I had only dreamed of until now. Learning from Stefan Larsson's insights and perspectives has truly helped me to grow both professionally and personally”, says Hägerström. 

Ahlskog agrees, saying that Larsson has been a great support in her growth.  

“Above all, the mentorship has inspired to dream big. With firsthand experience in building a globally successful career after graduating from Hanken, Stefan’s perspective has been a great inspiration and support in important career decisions and recognising future opportunities”, says Ahlskog. 

Stefan Larsson explains that launching his Dare to Dream mentorship programme was a way to give back to Hanken for all that the school has given him.

“It was during my Hanken years that I learned to dream big and believe in that all of us can do truly great things, if we just dare to dream and then go after it. A big part of this for me was to study for Professor Christian Grönroos and firsthand learn from someone who had done just that.”

Valuable advice and exclusive visits  

Over the past year, marketing students Hägerström and Ahlskog have had individual mentoring sessions with Larsson once a month.   

“The first sessions were shaped by the scholarship title Dare to Dream. The importance of having a dream, setting goals and understanding their impact has been a recurring theme in our conversations. Also, that there isn’t just one career path; it’s about discovering your own unique way”, says Ahlskog.  

“The conversations have been deeply inspiring, especially hearing how Stefan reached his position today. He has helped us realise our full potential and understand the importance of stepping outside our comfort zone. He has been a great source of inspiration and an incredible support”, says Hägerström.  

The scholarship included a week's visit at the global fashion company PVH Corp's headquarters in New York City. PVH owns Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger and during the week Hägerström and Ahlskog met leaders from all functions of the company.  

“The visit gave a very authentic and broad insight into the entire value chain of a global company - everything from strategy and leadership to the final product. The week left us with many valuable learnings, such as the importance of collaboration, being surrounded by a good team and having a shared vision”, says Ahlskog.  

“We also had the opportunity to visit the Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger stores, as well as to explore past collections in the historical archive. It gave us valuable insight into how the brands have evolved over time”, says Hägerström.  

One of the highlights of the week was getting an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the Calvin Klein show during New York Fashion Week.   

“It was truly amazing, and we had to remind ourselves many times to believe everything we got to experience. Everyone was so engaged, and the programme during our week in New York was exceptionally well-organised”, Hägerström says.

Stefan Larsson says that, given this is the first year of the programme, he approached it with an open mind and humility, eager to learn and discover how to add the most value to his mentees.

“Now, almost one year into it, I couldn’t be more proud of them. Both Aileen and Anna are uniquely strong talents to start with, and it made it very easy to help them build on that. Their can-do attitude, curiosity and willingness to challenge themselves to think differently, especially in terms of getting clear on their dreams, dare to building it out with clear objectives, and then see how they took massive action to go after it – was truly inspiring.”

Larsson adds that he can’t wait to see where Anna and Aileen will go after Hanken.

“I always say to them – you already have everything you need inside of you. Now you just have to get that equally clear to the rest of the world. And seeing them do that made it so meaningful to do the work together with them. One thing is for sure: in their own individual way, I know that they will have such a positive contribution on whatever they set out to do.”

Leaving the comfort zone  

So, what do Ahlskog and Hägerström dream of in the future?  

“I am particularly curious about opportunities to combine business strategy with a creative industry on an international level. In the short term, I look forward to working in an exciting environment and continuing to learn as much as possible”, says Ahlskog.  

Hägerström says she has always been fascinated by the fashion and cosmetics industry.  

“Right now, my dream is to work in these areas, to develop, take responsibility and feel that I am contributing to something bigger. I look forward to continuing to work with the tools and lessons learnt from Stefan.” 

Ahlskog and Hägerström are graduating this spring and are grateful for all the valuable relationships they have created during the scholarship year. They would like to extend a warm thank you to both Stefan Larsson and Hanken.  

“This mentoring programme has truly pushed us out of our comfort zones, making it an incredibly educational experience. Now we dare much more!” 
  
Text: Jessica Gustafsson  
Photo: Private
  
You can now apply for Stefan Larsson's next Dare to Dream scholarship. Read more here: Apply for the Stefan Larsson “Dare to dream” scholarship!