Launch of our new Nordic Texas Connections Initiative
Join Gothenburg U-GOT KIES for the launch of our new Nordic Texas Connections Initiative!
In collaboration with the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce in Dallas and the Honorary Consulate in Dallas, we are launching the Nordic Texas Connections Initiative.
Maureen McKelvey, Professor, Director of Gothenburg U-GOT KIES & Helene Honeybone, Honorary Consulate of Dallas, SACC-Dallas, welcome you to the launching mingling and panel event with the theme Entrepreneurship and Leadership: Comparing Gothenburg and North Texas.
Program
15:00-16:00 Fika
16:00-17:30 Panel discussion
Prominent experts from both Texas and Sweden will participate in the event. The panel will explore several key topics on Gothenburg and North Texas (Dallas-Fort Worth), including:
- Why do people move between these two regions?
- What business opportunities exist?
- How are Gothenburg and North Texas similar or different in entrepreneurship and leadership?
Texas boasts a dynamic economy, with Austin leading in entrepreneurship and sharing its status as a business and tech hub with Dallas and Houston. Texas is the largest US producer of energy, excelling not only in petroleum but also in renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, which make up 25% of its grid.
Sweden has an increasing presence in Texas, highlighted by the visit of the Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs in May 2024 for fostering further working relationship with the region. Innovative Swedish companies with presence in Texas include AstraZeneca, Oatly, ABB, Tetra Pak, and Ericsson, as well as numerous entrepreneurial ventures in AI, IT, and life sciences.
The panel
Helene Honeybone
President and Founder of Practical Advertising in Dallas, Texas. Helene is a marketing executive with 25+ years of agency and corporate marketing and communications experience where she has worked closely with clients in the development of their identity and marketing programs, including several Nordic companies looking to establish a presence in the US market. Since May 2022, Helene also serves as Honorary Consul for Sweden in North Texas representing Swedish interests, helping promote Swedish culture and industry, and by supporting Swedish citizens with Consular matters. She is on the Board of Directors of the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce Texas and is very involved in the international community in Dallas-Forth.
Per Treven
Graduated from Chalmers University of Technology in 1990 and was during a challenging economy was able to find work at Ericsson. Ericsson became Per’s “home” for 34 years and when reflecting on the time there he realizes he was very fortunate to be part of the telecom revolution. Going from basic wireless 2G communication to 5G and all the changes from basic Wi-Fi to multimedia communication. Working for 6 years in Sweden before moving to Dallas Texas and continuing his journey there. After many projects, challenges, awards, upturns and downturns Per decided it was time to start his own business and leave the corporate world, turning his hobby in home repair and construction into his business.
Johan Karlberg
Senior Director Business Development USA at Business Sweden. Johan has extensive cross-industry experience, with focus on Industrial Products & Services, Passenger & Commercial Vehicles, and Consumer Durables. He has taken leading roles in major transformations and projects in several international contexts and has worked across 20+ European countries, 3+ years in North America, 4 years in China, and additional projects in Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore etc. Furthermore, Johan is certified as supervisory board member by European ecoDa and Swedish Styrelseakademien, with experience from several supervisory boards.
Maureen McKelvey
Professor of Industrial Management and head of Unit for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, at the Department of Economy and Society at the University of Gothenburg. Maureen is also Director of the University of Gothenburg centre on knowledge-intensive innovation ecosystems (U-GOT KIES), which draws together a multi-disciplinary group of scholars, across the globe, and organizes activities. Maureen has extensive knowledge and insights into both Texas and Sweden with one foot in each. She was born and raised in Texas and makes frequent visits while having lived in Sweden for 35 years.
Further events in the Nordic Texas Connections Initiative during fall 2024
- September 25th: Mingling and panel event with the theme Entrepreneurial insights on business cultures in the Nordics and Texas. More information and link for registration will come in early September
- Faculty-led trip in late October to Dallas-Fort Worth for selected Master’s students in Knowledge-based Entrepreneurship