45 new leaders aiming to make systems really smart
The reason for the Digital Transformation Leader training was that Magnus Sjöström and his colleagues at the time saw that they often collaborated with people who were extremely competent in their field, but that they were limited by working in silos. Most often, there was a lack of people who could see the big picture and who could exploit the total potential of the systems used.
In 2022, the first round of training started Digital Transformation Leader at the John Ericsson Institutet. During the course, students will learn about automation and efficient production systems, but also about how to do it with respect to people and the well-being of the planet.
Now there are subcourses in everything from automation, AI and IT to Smart city, change management and platforms. The idea is that the students should know a little about everything in addition to the fact that they are often specialists in what they have worked on before.
- One of the strengths of education is that the mix of students often leads to a discussion similar to that held in society, says Magnus Sjöström. When the training is completed, our students often become attached to municipal or company management.
The training was initially 1.5 years, but since an additional course has been added that focuses solely on AI, the training has been extended by two months. This year there are 45 students in the programme. One of the students is Christian Nyström.
- I come from industry and have worked with process development and digitization where I have connected machines to measure processes and losses, he says. Now I want to get a broader view and explore how, for example, you can connect business systems and calculate CO2 emissions to see the big picture. With the help of AI, I would be able to analyze and optimize the processes.
Soon it will be time for a ten-week LIA internship for the entire third class of digital transformation leaders. Christian Nyström will then be part of Future by Lund's team.
- I have worked in a fairly square sector and now hope to expand my knowledge. I want to see how you can work differently and, for example, learn more about innovation portfolios. In the future, I hope to work on how to make companies more profitable by building efficient and smart processes, developing a more holistic approach and at the same time linking this to Agenda 2030.
In addition to being a responsible trainer at the Digital Transformation Leader programme, Magnus Sjöström works with his own company PM Digital Management as a consultant and advisor in the field of digital transformation. There he has, among other things, worked with municipal and business management to create a whole business. In order to connect and create communication between different systems in companies, Magnus Sjöström uses the “Projektbok” — a guidebook for the transformation of the individual company where it is agreed on which path to take and how to do it.
- My job is almost always to influence the way people think. I'm trying to create the path and set up what it could be and why. In fact, we already have the solution to the climate issues, if only we could agree. It sounds simple, but it is of course a big challenge in reality!