Beda Grahn Joins the Board and Wants to Open New Doors

We continue to grow and are now welcoming Beda Grahn to Aranya’s board of directors. With many years of experience in the IT industry, she knows what it takes to grow a business and build teams that work toward a common goal. She also shares our belief that close customer relationships and happy employees make all the difference. Ahead of her start, we’re getting to know her a little better and talking about the experience she brings to the table, her first encounter with Aranya, and having fun while building a company.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I have spent most of my professional life in the IT industry, even though my background is not technical. My experience lies primarily in sales and leadership, where over the years I’ve had the privilege of leading and implementing major transformation initiatives. My work has often involved building, developing, or transforming organizations and bringing people together around a shared vision.

At Microsoft, for example, I became part of a brand-new team made up of people from five different departments. A key part of the assignment was to establish a common approach and get the group to work toward the same goals. Most recently, I worked at Kyndryl, the company that spun off from IBM five years ago. There, we underwent a major transformation—shifting from being primarily a managed services delivery organization to building our own sales organization and consulting business, all while continuing to deliver high-quality services.

Previously, I also helped set up a call center for Dell in Copenhagen. I moved back to Stockholm and worked at a startup, so I have experience with both industry giants and innovative development companies. I usually describe myself as an “intrapreneur”—I haven’t started my own business, but I’m driven by creating growth and change within existing organizations.

In my personal life, I’m 55 years old and live in Ekerö with my family. I have two daughters; one works at Klarna and the other recently graduated from high school. My husband works in IT security, and outside of work, spending time with friends, traveling, working out at the gym, and spending time with our horses and dogs are a natural and important part of our daily lives.

What experiences have had the greatest impact on you in your professional life?

One of the most significant experiences early in my career was my work at the Institute for Sales Training and Leadership Development (ISL). There, we worked on selling training programs in sales and leadership, which involved a lot of active meeting scheduling and contact with high-level decision-makers, often CEOs and sales managers. It was an intense but incredibly educational period that laid the foundation for much of what I’ve carried with me since—nothing was impossible!

When the company was planning its European expansion, I made it clear early on that I wanted to be part of the initiative. After about a year, I was given the opportunity to help launch the Brussels office. It was at ISL that my values-driven leadership began to take shape. We had a strong set of shared values where everyone pitched in and took responsibility for what needed to be done, regardless of role or title.

That mindset has stayed with me throughout my entire career. I see myself as unpretentious, but at the same time as someone who is eager to influence, develop, and drive organizations forward. To me, titles are of little importance. What matters is that the right people are in the right places to produce results, open doors, and achieve shared goals.

What was it about Aranya that piqued your interest and led you to accept the board position?

I had a very positive impression right from my first visit to Aranya. When I met Emil and Stoffe for the first time, they showed me around and introduced me to the staff. Even though we had barely had time to get to know each other, it was clear how important it was to them that everyone feel included and informed. For me, it was a concrete example of an organization that doesn’t just talk about communication but actually acts on the feedback it receives.

I also quickly got the impression that Aranya has a well-thought-out offering that customers truly appreciate. My experience in commercial matters, partner sales, and business development, along with my network, felt like areas where I could make a meaningful contribution.

Another important factor was the people. I’ve known Ronny for a while and have great respect for him. I’ve also been in touch with Ola, and throughout my time there, I was met by dedicated, open, and very friendly people. I’m a pretty emotionally driven person, and I left with a strong gut feeling. The fact that there are dogs in the office certainly didn’t hurt either.

The market consists of both large global suppliers and more specialized players. What strengths do you think Aranya has in that landscape?

In today’s geopolitical climate, I see a clear trend in which local presence and local expertise are becoming increasingly important. Many customers now value proximity to their supplier more highly than before, from both a business and a strategic perspective.

This is where Aranya has a clear strength thanks to its specialization. Focusing on a specific area creates opportunities to build in-depth expertise and deliver high quality. Initially, this may be particularly attractive to clients just below the very largest companies, but strong client relationships and solid references also open doors to larger organizations seeking local and specialized partners.

There is also a clear cost perspective. Large global suppliers often have significantly higher cost structures and are eager to sell broader solutions than what the customer actually needs. At the same time, rising costs for both hardware and software have put pressure on the market, creating challenges even for the largest players.

Although local labor sometimes entails higher costs than purely offshore solutions, I believe that proximity, accessibility, and an understanding of the customer’s business will become increasingly important for the foreseeable future. Aranya also has the ability to provide a personal presence—both in sales and during implementation—which larger providers often find difficult to match.

What do you hope to contribute to Aranya’s continued development?

I want to be an active sounding board and a dedicated board member who contributes both experience and perspective. Through my network and my background in business development, sales, and organizational change, I hope to support the company in matters related to growth and commercial development.

I am not a technical expert, so my primary contribution will be on the business side. At the same time, I see that there is already strong leadership and an impressive corporate culture at Aranya. My role will be more about complementing the expertise that’s already there and contributing where I can create the most value.

One issue that I think is particularly important is customer engagement. In my experience, the more time we spend with our customers, the more opportunities we create for long-term business and partnerships. Finding the right balance between delivery and customer dialogue is therefore key.

And, of course, I hope to bring a lot of energy, joy, and laughter along the way. Building a business should be both rewarding and fun.

What are you most looking forward to during your first term on the board?

What I’m most looking forward to is getting to know Aranya in depth—its offerings, its people, and its ambitions for the future. To contribute in the best way possible, I first want to gain a solid understanding of the business and the goals the company is working toward.

Once that picture is clear, it’s easier for me to connect my own experiences and my network with the needs that exist. I don’t see my role as stepping in to do hands-on work, but rather as providing perspectives, advice, and contacts that can help Aranya continue to develop and, of course—most importantly—grow profitably.

My goal is to be a dedicated board member who both supports and challenges the company when necessary, and who helps create the best possible conditions for the company’s continued journey.