Hello CEO: Linda Swärd, HPE

In June 2022, Linda Swärd was appointed as the new CEO of HPE Sweden, Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Just over three years later, she looks back on a time that she describes as incredibly fun and educational.

- It's my first CEO job and the role itself involves a breadth and complexity that I appreciate - but it also means that I need to think about how I prioritize my time. The way the tech landscape looks today, and with HPE's offering, I've been able to tie together my previous experiences from hardware, software and the cloud world, which has been valuable. To be in an industry where development is moving at such a rapid pace is so inspiring, just the thought of how AI has accelerated over these years! We also have an interesting time ahead of us, with the acquisition of Juniper Networks that was finalized in July, and now we are working on the integration of the two companies.

Can you tell us a bit about HPE and where you are today?

- HPE is an American global tech company, founded back in 1939 in Silicon Valley. It has always been about innovation at the forefront of technology, and today we offer solutions in networking, hybrid cloud and AI; both hardware, software and services. We are a leader in business-critical technology, combining AI, cloud and networking to help businesses and organizations go further, faster. What makes us unique is that we don't just deliver technology, we enable change. We help our customers make better decisions, work smarter and get more out of their data," says Linda Swärd and continues:

- In networking, we are of course now strengthening our offering with the acquisition of Juniper Networking. We have solutions for private and hybrid cloud solutions, both the hardware itself with everything from servers to supercomputers, but also management solutions to take care of a diversified tech infrastructure. In the AI area, we are particularly proud to have just been named leader by IDC in "Private AI infrastructure systems". 

What do you see as important factors for your leadership?

- I am driven by curiosity, a desire to understand and learn new things, combined with inclusiveness; and would say that this is the foundation of my leadership. Achieving goals and results and making a difference, is also important to me - so basically it's about "How do we succeed better together?" So if I were to summarize in a few words, it's about curiosity, inclusion and drive.

What would you say is distinctive about HPE and its culture?

- What really sets HPE apart is its strong sense of forward thinking, innovation and collaboration. We combine technology and expertise with an inclusive approach, where employees are encouraged to contribute, challenge and grow. You feel that there is a genuine commitment to both people and technology, which creates a great work environment where it is easy to thrive and at the same time deliver results.

HPEis one of TechSverige's member companies. What benefits do you see with the membership?

- I would say that a major advantage is your combination of service, knowledge and meeting places that make it easy to get support and inspiration in the daily work. You drive industry-relevant issues with a clear focus, qualitative training and interesting networks where you can meet other companies and discuss common issues.