Beyondo and New to Sweden share the same value; “Our primary role is to bridge the gap between international talents and employers in Sweden”.
No matter where one lives in the world, one wants to feel included and have a belonging somewhere. We also share having experienced ‘living abroad’ and being in an ‘international relationship’, where you live with a partner from another country and or culture. This makes you as an individual curious, open-minded, open-hearted and adaptable. But it does not mean, that the environment you live in, is as inclusive and understanding.
At Beyondo we believe in ‘be you and do’, even if you too many situations need to be adaptable and embrace changes. New to Sweden’s founder, Greg, has helped start a new initiative, 1046, which has a mission to make sure everyone in Sweden feels welcomed and included in the Swedish community, regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, age and neurodiversity. The campaign focuses on creating awareness, starting difficult conversations, and creating actionable solutions that will lead to a happier and more integrated society – which everyone can benefit from.
- Greg, what was it that made you start this initiative?
Actually, a friend approached me and another campaign co-founder, @Brandon Sekitto about 2 years ago to figure out a way we could make Sweden more inclusive. We realized very early on that we should bring everyone together, regardless of our background, to help raise awareness on different issues affecting all of us. No matter how you cut it, every single study proves that there are groups being discriminated against in some way, whether it’s because of your sex, your age, your ethnicity, your colour, your religion, your gender identity, your disability, your neurodiversity, your sexual orientation, etc. So why do we tolerate intentional or unintentional discrimination? And how can we work together to try to end it?
That’s why we started this campaign, to help raise awareness of the issues, and then to figure out solutions together. As you mentioned above, every one of us benefits in the end.
- The initiative is reaching out to companies and the community, who can all benefit from the benefits. Such as brand awareness for companies, and increased talent attraction across a broader field. What can one as an individual do, to contribute to a more inclusive society?
Great question, there are many structural changes that companies can make: from lowering Swedish and English language expectations, understanding the need for fresh and diverse perspectives in their workforce, or eliminating networking from the hiring process. And there are literally dozens of things that everyday people can make too: from redesigning every process you work or live with to be completely equitable no matter who you are or how you were born, to something simple like visiting restaurants in different neighbourhoods, or imagining what it would be like to navigate your city in a wheelchair. There are going to be dozens of tips like these on the @1046sverige channel, so check it out!
- What would be your advice to someone that comes new to Sweden, in terms of integrating into Swedish society?
My advice would be to learn Swedish as fast as possible. I actually need to listen to my own advice too! But there’s a clear language divide in this country, and it’s important to learn even if you might not have to use it at work. And I would suggest another tip for internationals and native Swedes too: let’s learn from each other and grab the best parts. No person or country is perfect, and there’s a lot we can learn from each other on how to make things better.
- What is your takeaway for the benefits of a company, hiring a candidate with an international background?
There are so many! But the main one is the bottom line. There are countless studies that prove that diversity and inclusion improve your company’s economic performance (in sales and in productivity), so why not take advantage of that?
Do you also want to be a part of this initiative? Follow their channel at @1046sverige and get inspired!
