“Every Day is a New Day for Learning”

After earning a degree in Business Administration from Linnaeus University, Klara Otteborn decided to apply for SEB’s International Trainee Programme. Today, two years later, she works as a Product Owner within Life & Pension and emphasises the extensive development opportunities as the biggest advantage of working at SEB.

Klara Otteborn first discovered SEB through Traineeguiden, a platform highlighting some of Sweden’s top trainee programs. “SEB stood out to me immediately. The programme seemed well-structured and offered the chance to go on international rotations, which was very appealing. After speaking with representatives from the bank. I decided to apply and was fortunate enough to secure a position as a Business Developer within Life & Pension.”

Klara describes her trainee period as the perfect transition from studying to working. “I grew so much, both professionally and personally. Alongside other trainees, I got to know SEB’s various divisions and attended numerous training sessions, including leadership courses.” These courses sparked her interest in leadership issues, and at the end of the trainee programme, Klara decided to pursue a different role within the bank. Since the summer of 2023, she has worked as a Product Owner for the traditional insurance within Life & Pension.

Tell us more about your current job! What makes the Product Owner role so exciting?

“I work in a team that, apart from me, includes IT Developers, Product Specialists, and Testers. Together, we manage and develop the product for SEB’s traditional insurance. As a Product Owner, my responsibility is to prioritise and ensure the products progress by determining the greatest needs and what generates the most customer value before the team starts with developing new features.”

The best part of the role, according to Klara, is the collaboration and sense of belonging within her team. “Taking on a leadership role at a young age isn’t always easy, but everyone has embraced me incredibly well. My colleagues are always willing to explain things and possess great expertise in many different areas, making every day a new day for learning. This reflects SEB’s overall culture very well.”

How would you describe SEB’s culture?

“When I first started at SEB and walked into the office in Solna, I felt a bit lost – everything was so big and there were many new impressions. But I quickly started getting to know people, and soon enough the bank began to feel like my own hometown. We have a very welcoming culture where people learn from each other and are deeply committed to others' development. If you reach out for help, you always receive support or even a clear, individualised career path. Because SEB is such a large organisation, there are no barriers to changing roles, just as I did. If you, like me, enjoy the feeling of continuous development, it’s perfect.”