As I’ve settled further into my work and explored more of the city, I’m beginning to feel more at home in Stockholm.

The first few days of my internship were a bit of an adjustment. The flat hierarchy is not something I am used to from my jobs in the US, but i’m starting to understand and even enjoy it. Working directly with department heads and the CEO can feel a bit intimidating, but it’s essential for meeting the high productivity standards typical in the Swedish workplace, especially at a startup. 

I spent the first couple of days gaining an understanding of the products offered, the basics of how they’re engineered, and the general business model of the company. This is all crucial to the changes I will be making to their website.

After that, my work has been surprisingly quite self-guided. I started by having a meeting with the CEO along with one of the department managers. We discussed their goals for the website, and even as an intern, I was quickly welcomed into the brainstorming process. While working with the CEO can occasionally be intimidating and challenging, since his expectations aren’t always clearly communicated, I appreciate the opportunity to contribute my ideas and apply my knowledge.

Following the initial meeting, I carried out a brief usability and accessibility review of the website and created a presentation outlining the issues identified. I then met with a few managers to share my findings. We had a collaborative discussion about which changes to prioritize and how best to implement them. The conversation was especially valuable thanks to one manager’s background in UX, which led to a more insightful and productive meeting.

The work-life balance has been great so far. Our working hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., a welcome surprise compared to the 9-to-6 schedule advertised in the contract. Despite the shorter hours, I’ve remained highly productive in my role. Having the flexibility to define my own tasks and, at times, set my own deadlines has given me the space to both meet expectations and deepen my understanding of the field.