Hello CEO: Maria Wasing, Axiell

Curiosity, openness and clear communication. These are the foundations of Maria Wasing's leadership. She has been CEO of the IT company Axiell for almost two years.

- It has been an exciting, challenging and instructive period. I've made a point of using the time to meet with our customers, employees in offices around the world - and even competitors - to shape and validate our strategy. The focus has been to direct our business towards what creates the greatest value for our customers, while investing in developing our technology platforms. It's incredibly inspiring to meet customers - from major museums in the US to the local library in Sweden - and see how our technology helps share knowledge and culture with the world every day. It's that realization that drives me the most.

Maria Wasing describesAxiell as a global IT company operating in the cultural sector, with customers in over 60 countries. Its focus is on libraries, archives and museums, but it also has a division that manages personal data in Commonwealth countries and the US.

- "Our core business is collection management - structuring and making data available so that our customers can use it to create value for their users. In our platforms, we manage over a billion items and enable more than 250 million library loans every year. Our application is often central to the customer's business, as we manage their core data. That's a big responsibility, and it shapes how we act as an organization. Axiell has grown through acquisitions, but we are now in a phase where we are focusing on organic growth, consolidation and sharpened focus on our platforms that we develop ourselves.

What do you think is important for leadership?

- Curiosity, openness and clear communication are the foundation of my leadership. My goal is to create commitment and structure that allows employees to grow. It is a collaboration throughout the organization that is required for it to be good and the importance of those of us who lead the company working together and steering in the same direction. Axiell has grown through acquisitions and operates globally, making teamwork and a sense of belonging essential. We need to constantly improve the customer experience and understand the needs to develop relevant solutions and manage the long-term relationships that characterize our industry. This requires presence and expertise to deliver complex, business-critical solutions. I prioritize building a strong internal culture where leaders and employees are confident in our ability to meet and exceed customer expectations. As a leader, I am hands-on and engaged in our key processes - from sales and technology to customer communication and delivery processes. This gives me insights that are crucial to making decisions and driving the business forward.

What's high on your agenda right now?

- High on our agenda right now is helping cultural institutions realize their mission in a digital world. We are in the midst of a time of profound digital transformation, where organizations are redefining how they operate, how they serve their communities, and how they unlock the value in their data. For our customers, it's not just about technology - it's about making knowledge more accessible, collections more searchable and businesses more efficient. Our solutions are business-critical, which is why we work closely with our customers to ensure their data is used in a secure, efficient and value-creating way. The demands on security are high and it is an area that is in focus, but on top of that we build innovation and products and services for business improvements for our customers.

What challenges do you see for Axiell's continued development?

- Access to the right skills is a key issue, as well as continuing to drive innovation together with our customers. We want to develop our role as a strategic partner - helping them navigate complexity, modernize their infrastructure and build solutions that are sustainable, scalable and aligned with their goals. AI is fundamentally changing business models, and that's something we need to address proactively.

Why is Axiell a member of TechSverige?

- As CEO, I see the strength of the Swedish model, where collaboration between employers and industry organizations creates stability and a long-term perspective. By being an active part of TechSverige, we ensure that issues relating to innovation, skills supply and investments in technology are handled jointly - something that strengthens the entire Swedish tech sector and benefits our customers. For our employees, this means security and structure, and we continue our tradition of involvement in employer organizations in the Nordic region to contribute to a sustainable and competitive industry.