Former student in Digital Leadership, MSc
Chandraprabha Jha, called Chandu, found a job at Volvo Buses that fitted him and his skills like a glove. Chandu is originally from India but decided to invest in getting a job in Sweden, despite language barriers and other challenges.
Service innovation and digital infrastructures
– I work in a department at Volvo Buses called Digital Services and Solutions, says Chandraprabha Jha. We are a global function responsible for accelerating the sales of services and solutions. In this position I can actually apply almost everything we learned from the everything taught in the Digital Leadership master's programme. We touch upon service innovation, digital infrastructures, platforms, standards, data and analytics, AI, digital solutions to support operational efficiency, and partnerships – you can think of it as open innovation – with external players.
– Since there are not many people in our team, I get to do a lot of different things – sometimes I ask for it, and sometimes I just get to do things., says Chandu. My formal role is called Digital Channel Lead for Volvo Connect. It is a platform, a fleet management system, where end customers have their digital home and can consume their digital services. I am responsible for taking care of Volvo Connect. Currently, my main focus is on increasing the adoption of Volvo Buses' digital services and solutions and leading change management activities to secure the adoption of the Volvo Connect platform. I also get to drive projects, and these days I am getting more involved in business development and partnerships with third-party service providers.
– As a team, we are trying to enable our customers' success through digital services and solutions by providing great customer experiences, omni-channel experiences, innovation, and partnerships.
– The nature of my work exposes me to a variety of tasks and topics, which keeps me hooked most of the time. Activities like getting involved with service development and innovation, discussing ideas, designing trainings, entering new markets, and visiting and talking to our markets, partners and customers keep me excited. At the same time, there are some administrative and repetitive tasks that are not the most interesting ones. You have to do what needs to be done.
– What I also find nice about my work is the direct application of theory into practice. Many people associate theories with academia and find it boring, but I have many colleagues with whom I get to talk at a conceptual level. I do believe, as the psychologist Kurt Lewin says, that nothing is more practical than a good theory. If you have a solid understanding of concepts, frameworks and theories you will see the patterns in situations and events more clearly.
Finding a job in the commercial sector can be a challenge
– As someone from outside of both Sweden and EU seeking to work in the commercial side of business, I can definitely share my experience. I had to struggle! Getting a job in the commercial sector is difficult due to many barriers for an outsider, ranging from bias against names to justifying someone's recruitment for a work visa.
– Language also plays a part in your entry into the job market. Once you are in, there are very few barriers. In the technical sector, information technology for example, you will notice a disproportionate number of people from outside of Sweden working, because there is a lack of skill in that field. But on the commercial side employers still seem to prefer someone who does not require visa sponsorship and can talk to local clients and stakeholders.
– This does not mean that it will be as difficult for everyone. Timing also matters and you often need to be in the right place at the right time. In short: it might be difficult to find a job, especially for students from outside of the EU, but if you keep your eyes and ears open, it could be easier for you. Keep applying and seeking contacts with people of your interest You may get a job with your first application, your 20th, or your 200th – you never know. And there are ways to mitigate many of these challenges.
Three master’s degrees in his CV
Chandraprabha Jha was born and raised in a village in India. In 2017, he completed his bachelor’s in marine engineering and came to Sweden as an international student to study Maritime Management at Chalmers University of Technology. Maritime Management is a specialized field, and very few universities offer this programme. Chalmers is one of them, and Chandu was fortunate to gain admission.
– Once I began my studies at Chalmers, I was exposed to many new ideas, and I became captivated by the topics of innovation, digitalization – called digital transformation at the time – and management in general. While studying Maritime Management, I also started my second master's in Innovation & Industrial Management at Handelshögskolan at University of Gothenburg. I was pursuing two master's degrees simultaneously for a year. Then I went on an exchange programme to the Netherlands, where I studied International Management and Management Consulting. I also worked with two companies in the Netherlands. Throughout this journey, I was continuously searching for jobs in Sweden. I was about to finish my second master's in 2020 when COVID19 hit, and the job market was in terrible shape. During the COVID19 period, I realized the importance of digital skills. That’s when I started my third Master's: Digital Leadership.
– I still study and will continue to do so. These days, I have been studying AI and Service Design. I also have the opportunity to study and train in many different topics at work, as we have access to numerous training programmes and subscriptions to various online learning platforms.
Living, studying, and working in Sweden
– Fresh air, access to nature, and a good social support system are defining characteristics of Sweden. Once you get to know people, most of them are really nice. Swedish companies that I have known offer a really good work environment. And if you are a parent and have your family here, then Sweden is paradise. Another nice thing is that people seem to maintain a clear boundary between work and personal life.
– Speaking specifically about studies in Sweden, I loved the industry-academia collaborations. If you have studied in countries like India or the Netherlands before, the study workload here will not feel overwhelming. Accessibility to teachers, educational resources, and support is excellent. If you are a student and engage with the student unions, life becomes even more enjoyable.
– I loved the content of the Digital leadership programme. The teachers were amazing, they really knew what they were doing and how they could help students achieve learning outcomes. The programme covered most of the topics that one encounters in one’s day-to-day work life such as digital infrastructure, innovation, governance, platforms, standards, leading digital transformations etc. For the current and prospective students, I would highly recommend paying special attention to the digital infrastructure course. If you understand the content of that course, you will understand a lot of things easily if you want to work within digitalization and IT.
Advice for new students
– Do not overthink Sweden, finding a job, or the dark, cold winters. Just come and spend some time here – you will discover your own limitations and strengths because you will need to handle almost everything on your own. From day one when you arrive here, do not hesitate or feel ashamed to start reaching out to people in your area of interest. If possible, find a mentor as soon as you can.
– Try to be a part of a group of some kind – a sports club for example, or involve yourself with people from your own region, international groups and events on languages, festivals… Being with a group will give you a sense of belonging, as it is otherwise easy to get lonely as a foreign student.
– Another alumnus from the IT Faculty and I together started the Göteborg Royals Cricket Club and took ourselves to the “Superettan” level. Since last year, I have been a part of the Gothenburg City Cricket Club, playing in Allsvenskan. This year however I had to prioritize my family.
Text: Chandraprabha Jha/Catharina Jerkbrant, 2024