»When responsibility is shared, so is learning«

To Ulrika Jonsson, trust is a superpower – in teams, in client relationships, and in society at large. And as Netcompany’s Country Managing Partner in Sweden, her mission is to help rebuild it through responsible digitalisation. 

 

We may have grown a little too comfortable in Scandinavia, if you ask Ulrika Jonsson. Accustomed to quiet lives in well-functioning welfare states, upheld by strong institutions and an enduring sense of security. No looming threats, and no real reason to question whether the systems we’ve built would continue to serve us. 

But times are changing. 

»The geopolitical landscape is shifting. Our demographics are shifting. And if we don’t keep up – in terms of security, transparency, and efficiency – we risk losing the very trust that holds everything together,« she says. 

Trust, especially, is something that occupies the mind of the Swedish Country Managing Partner. 

In recent years, Sweden has faced growing challenges in maintaining the high level of institutional confidence as well as its long-held status as a digital society. And for Ulrika, that tension creates an opportunity – and a responsibility. 

»In uncertain times, a society built on trust and community matters more than ever. And I believe digitalisation plays a pivotal role in protecting that.« 

For the past 25 years, she has been at the helm of business development and leadership in the IT sector. Her experience spans large IT environments to small-scale start-ups, yet through all the different roles and acronyms, her driving force has remained constant: a fascination with how technology can improve the way we work, live – and connect. 

Today she oversees Netcompany’s Swedish projects guided by the same motivation that’s shaped her career – and with a renewed ambition to help Sweden reclaim its position at the forefront of digitalisation. 

A fluid field

For Ulrika, the path into IT began with curiosity. In her childhood home, new technology was met with fascination. Her father had one of the first Sony Ericsson car phones – »a bulky device he carried out to the car in a little bag« – and as a teenager, she would peer over her brother’s shoulder while he experimented with game development. 

That early sense of wonder led her to study IT. And while she’s never been the kind of enthusiast who needed to know every detail of how technology works, curiosity – in how digital tools can improve everyday lives – has always been a driving force.  

»I love how there’s no single path in this field. Once you’ve mastered one area, the skills are often transferable. And this is why this fluid field continues to amaze me,« she says. 

This year marks her 30th in IT. She began her career as a programmer in 1995 and has since then held a number of different positions in the field. And while the tools have changed dramatically along the way, the core challenges remain familiar. 

»It’s still about making people’s lives better, safer, and more efficient. What’s different now is how we solve those problems,« she says.  

»Compared to when I started, tech now touches upon nearly every part of life. And it continues to excite me to be part of a field that’s constantly evolving.«  

Between speed
and substance

Ulrika first encountered Netcompany from the other side of the table – competing for the same project while working elsewhere. »Netcompany won,« she recalls, »and that sparked my curiosity about this mythical company we didn’t stand a chance against.« 

Over the years, that first impression stuck. So, when the opportunity to join came in 2024, she didn’t hesitate. 

»What drew me in was the combination of speed and substance – how experience fuels progress, and how platforms enable faster delivery without reinventing the wheel every time,« she says, continuing: 

»It’s a huge strength for an IT consultancy to really understand IT – not just talk about business goals in abstraction, but connect them to what’s technically possible. I was intrigued by this depth of competence.« 

What really spoke to her, though, was how teams work – and how success and failure are shared, both internally and with clients. 

»No one can hold the full picture alone. When responsibility is shared, so is learning. And I truly believe in diverse teams – not just in terms of gender or background, but mindset. When you bring together different brains, you increase the chances of finding the right solution.« 

She sees the strongest teams as those able to combine perspectives and work through complexity together. Understanding the client. Reading between the lines. Challenging assumptions. 

»When dealing with tough deadlines or misalignments, culture makes all the difference. If you know each other well, respect one another, and create space to have fun – even in high-pressure situations – that trust becomes a superpower.« 

And the same goes for working with clients, she adds. 

»Gaining and keeping trust is everything. And I think striking a balance between listening and leading is absolutely key. While we must deliver what’s promised, we should also dare to challenge and suggest – to act as a thought partner.« 

For her, growth – personal or organisational – comes from doing the work, reflecting on it, and having the courage to fail. And she loves to see the employees are trusted with responsibility from day one.  

»It shows that we believe in them – especially when it’s paired with clear career paths and the feeling of being part of something international,« she says, adding: 

»Perfection isn’t the goal. Progress is. And that requires moving forward, even if you sometimes stumble.« 

Momentum for change

For years, Sweden has basked in a position at the forefront of digitalisation. Back in the early ’90s, it pioneered the concept of a “computer driver’s licence” to raise awareness and competence in what was then a bold new digital era. And since then, it has consistently ranked among the world’s most advanced digital societies. 

»For a long time, the Swedish self-understanding has been that of being a digital frontrunner,« says Ulrika. »But suddenly, we’ve woken up to another reality. While other countries are catching up – we’re starting to lag behind. Especially when it comes to more advanced technologies like AI.« 

And the hesitation, she suggests, comes down to risk. 

»We’ve been too afraid of taking chances. But I believe the greatest risk is getting stuck – especially in this moment in time,« she says, explaining how she hopes to see more courage unfold as Netcompany takes on more projects in the country. 

So, what will it take to retain the position? 

»There are already good government initiatives to catch up, but overall, I think it comes down to one thing – restoring trust,« she says, pausing for a bit. »And I genuinely think we can do that with responsible digitalisation.« 

And overlooking Netcompany’s engagement in Sweden, Ulrika feels confident about the road ahead. »There’s definitely a momentum for change,« she says.  

»We’re engaged in exciting dialogues within transport – both for moving goods and people. We’re exploring opportunities in finance and the customs space, looking into ways of supporting smarter cross-border logistics. And while our defence engagements are still emerging, Sweden’s NATO membership is opening new doors.« 

Bringing back trust

The strongest progress right now, though, remains in digital government.  

Like with digitalisation, Sweden has historically enjoyed high levels of public confidence. But recent signs suggest that this position is under pressure. And in 2023, Netcompany was selected to deliver the digital backbone for Skatteverket – the Swedish Tax Agency – marking a breakthrough into the Swedish market. 

»Skatteverket is a key institution in Sweden, and once implemented, our solution will manage all tax-related in- and outflows for individuals and businesses,« she says, explaining how this will help make the system more transparent, accurate and secure. 

And the Skatteverket case was just the beginning.  

In response to rising welfare fraud and organised crime, the Swedish government recently established Utbetalningsmyndigheten – a new national payment authority – to improve cross-system control. And now Netcompany has been chosen to deliver parts of its digital infrastructure building on the same platform as used for the Swedish Tax Agency. 

»It’s not just about building technology. It’s about improving the systems that impact us all – and that, to me, is meaningful work.« 

Looking ahead, she sees real potential: 

»Yes, we must build secure applications, protect integrity, and respect legislation. But we also need to be brave – to share knowledge, reuse proven ideas, and not let fear of regulation hold us back. Innovation and responsibility must go hand in hand.« 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • »Trust has always felt like a given in Sweden. But today we face a more uncertain landscape – both globally and nationally. I believe digitalisation is essential to restoring that trust,« she says.

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