SPEED OF LIFE

– Building a strong and sustainable Life science sector – together

Uppsala profile – Christel Bergström

Okay, so what defines you? I think if I look back on my career, I would not say that I’m goal-oriented. I think people would view me as very goal-oriented, but maybe rather challenge-oriented. And that challenge could be either professional or personal. Trying to get myself out of my comfort zone every now and then, just to check out what would happen.

And having a bit of a mindset like what is the worst that can happen? If I do this, what is the worst that can happen?

What is the worst that can happen? Typically the worst does not happen. So if you step outside your comfort zone, you will explore, and learn, you will meet new competencies, new colleagues, new friends, maybe for life. And for me, at least as a scientist, that has changed my research field or direction a number of times, always for the better.

But definitely, it has been very difficult, and costly with regard to both my efforts and time. It’s not the easy way out, but extremely rewarding.

How do you see setbacks? How do you handle them? We all have setbacks and they can also be of the smaller or larger kinds. No, I’m very persistent. I don’t necessarily need to have a delivery tomorrow. I think that’s more or less a demand, being in the position that I am. But being very persistent, believe in the idea or the strategy that I rolled out.

But also be open minded to change a little bit or add a little bit, listen to potential additions that need to be made to that particular, whatever it is that I work on. And not be… I have been better with the years, I think, to be kinder to myself with regard to setbacks. Yeah.

So I step back a bit, and reflect over those. And of course, all of us, how successful you are, you have more of the setbacks than the successes. But we don’t show them. We don’t talk about them that much. So I mean, even if the CV looks stellar, there are a lot of setbacks in that CV. So the setback CV would probably be double or triple as long.

But be kind to yourself and I think that’s important and have the persistence to continue. Don’t give up, never give up.

How do you perceive rivalry or competition? I think competition is good. I think we need competition to become better. I for sure need competition. Because I also, I mean, these, some of the highly competitive guys have been my heroes, the ones that you have looked up to, learned from.

I believe in competition, but I also believe in sharing knowledge, being generous with ideas and competencies, and to work together. But one is not excluding the other. I still think, I mean, if there only would be one good group in the world, it would be a not as good world as we have today. So for sure, competition is good, but it depends on how it pays out.