Hello CEO: Rana Ersgård, Beetroot

With a large number of employees in Ukraine, mental health and long-term commitment are central to Rana Ersgård's leadership. A year ago, she became CEO of the Beetroot consultancy.

- It has been intense, fun and at times difficult - but above all instructive. I came into the role gradually, first as Head of Strategy and then as co-CEO together with the founder Andreas Flodström. When I took over formally, I was already well acquainted with the company, but having the formal responsibility is still something else," says Rana Ersgård and continues:

- "We have gone through a tough period, just like many others in the industry, and now a lot is about growing further and executing our new strategy. It's a shift from navigating uncertainty to building for long-term growth and stability.

How do you describe your business to someone who has no idea what you do?

- Beetroot is a tech consulting company that develops software solutions and builds long-term expertise in digital development - with a growing focus on AI. We combine technical expertise with a strong culture and a multi-country presence, primarily in Ukraine, but also in Poland, Bulgaria and Vietnam. Together with our sister company Beetroot Academy, we also work on skills development, both internally and together with customers. This allows us to support companies in several ways - from building teams and running projects to strengthening their own organizations.

What is high on your agenda right now?

- Right now, a lot of it is about making sure the organization is at the forefront. We are strengthening our technical capabilities, investing in skills and looking at how we can become even more efficient through automation and smarter ways of working. It's a continuous effort to make us stronger and more agile. Security and AI are high on the list, both as opportunities and risk areas. DefenseTech is a natural focus for us, where Varangians Invest is an important part of our growing ecosystem. And our engagement in Ukraine continues - including through our partnership with Spiltan Invest, which recently doubled its donations to Aid for Ukraine in memory of Cecilia Stegö Chilo. It reminds us of the importance of perseverance and continuing to contribute, even when it is no longer newsworthy.

What challenges do you see for Beetroot's further development?

- Taking care of people. Many of our employees are in Ukraine, and their everyday life is far from normal. Mental health and long-term commitment become key when managing remotely and across borders. At the same time, there is huge potential - which is also a challenge in itself. We have so much we could do, but success is about choosing the right things and focusing. Growing sustainably, both business-wise and culturally, is perhaps the biggest task ahead.

Ny recently became a member of TechSverige. What do you see as the benefits of your membership?

- TechSverige brings together many of the actors who shape the industry. For us, membership is about being part of that development, contributing our perspectives while learning from the experiences of others. It's a way to both influence and learn, especially in areas like AI and the role of technology in societal development. And we like the idea that the tech industry can drive real change - not just through innovation, but through collaboration.