“Whether male or female – a CEO is a CEO.”

March 31, 2022

Why should there be a difference? Whether male or female – a CEO is a CEO. Catarina Dahlin, CEO of Dagsmejan, sees it the same way. She shares more in an interview with NZZ.

You founded Dagsmejan together with your husband Andreas Lenzhofer. How much acceptance did you experience in the beginning as a female CEO?

As we are the founders of the company, it was never really an issue. I think it can be more difficult when you join an existing organisation and have to prove yourself there. In my experience, however, this is independent of gender. Both my partner and I also had successful corporate careers before founding Dagsmejan. I had previously led larger teams of up to 50 employees, so taking on leadership responsibility was not new to me.

I have also often been asked whether I feel that people do not take me seriously as a female leader. My first reaction is: Why wouldn’t they? There is a difference between entering a situation expecting to be disadvantaged as a woman and entering it with the expectation of being respected just like everyone else. This is not about downplaying the very real challenges many women face, but about encouraging everyone not to internalise them and, as far as possible, to move forward with the expectation of respect and equality.

What have been the biggest challenges for you as a woman in entrepreneurship?

Although I have sometimes faced challenges as a woman during my career, I cannot say that I have experienced any gender-specific challenges as an entrepreneur. I think my experience of working in fairly tough professional environments in different countries has also prepared me in the sense that I have developed quite a thick skin. If someone has a problem with the fact that I am both a leader and a woman, I always try to leave it at that. As their problem, not mine.

Although Switzerland is considered one of the most modern countries, it still lags behind others in some respects, such as your home country Sweden. How do you explain that? What does Sweden have that Switzerland does not?

Sweden is far from perfect, but when it comes to women’s rights and balancing work and family life, Sweden has come much further than most other countries I know. Switzerland is a wonderful country that offers many opportunities for female entrepreneurs, but compared with Sweden there are some greater challenges for women. This is particularly true when it comes to family life. In Sweden, for example, parents are entitled to 480 days of paid parental leave, which can be used until the child turns 12. Parental leave is paid by the state. Childcare is also subsidised so that parents can return to work at an affordable cost. I remember returning to Sweden after working abroad for several years and initially being surprised when, at 4:30 p.m., a man or woman would stand up in the middle of a meeting and simply say: “I have to pick up the children from daycare.” Nobody reacted negatively or questioned it.

What advice would you give to young, ambitious women?

Women in business have a great future ahead of them. There is much more awareness around issues such as sexual harassment and discrimination in general, which creates a platform for changing the environment. However, this will be a gradual process that requires a great deal of courage from both women and men. It is also important to understand that not everyone has to agree with every decision you make in life. Try not to internalise other people’s opinions too much. Find your own path and surround yourself, both at work and in your private life, with people who cheer you on when you succeed and lift you up when you feel down.

Do not be afraid of making mistakes – they are the best way to learn and grow. Learn to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. And finally: be fair to yourself and to others.