Maria Söderström is a seasoned leader known for her dynamic career journey and passion for creating impactful organizational transformations. From her early days studying economics to her role as Executive Interim Manager and beyond, Maria has consistently thrived in chaotic situations, excelling in structuring processes and leaving behind a legacy of efficiency and improvement. She has worked at, i.a., as CFO/COO/Legal at Semper, interim Head of Group Financial Control & Treasury at Transcom, and Interim CFO & HR at Nordic Green Energy. Today she is interim CFO at Mantex. Her journey exemplifies leadership driven by a quest for challenge, continuous improvement, and the courage to embrace change. Her experiences underscore the importance of adaptability, strategic thinking, and maintaining a healthy work-life integration in pursuing meaningful career paths.
Can you tell us about your career and what motivated you to become an Executive Interim Manager?
”My journey into Interim Management wasn’t planned; it evolved from a need for excitement and the challenge of creating order from chaos. At Semper, I was fortunate to have a supportive manager who continuously pushed me with new challenges, preventing me from falling into a routine. When I felt I had exhausted the opportunities there, I chose the path as an Interim Manager. What excites me most about this role is the constant learning, curiosity-driven improvement, and the opportunity to lead and inspire during periods of transition. I always learn new things and can develop and enhance the function that I head. When the company is recruiting a new permanent person, I can bridge the gap at the same time as I drive change and make it easier for the new role holder to start his/her role. I usually get coworkers’ trust and therefore easily understand how to motivate them to contribute and do their very best. I encourage them and help them on their way to develop further. The most important thing for me is that me and my team have fun at work!”
You have managed significant projects in your assignment at Nordic Green Energy. Could you tell us about the assignment?
”Nordic Green Energy is committed to renewable electricity and has since its start in 2,000 offered competitive electricity contracts sourced from solar, wind, and water to individuals, businesses, and public sectors. The company has businesses in Sweden and Finland and is part of Elmera Group ASA which is counted among the largest electricity traders in the Nordic region.
I was tasked with building up the finance function during a critical recruitment phase while stabilizing and enhancing operations. I was engaged as interim CFO, but soon also got the role of HR Manager for Sweden. The role also had the responsibility for legal and facility management. It was exciting with new challenges and the scope grew during the assignment; you often see other things that need to be developed. It is important to communicate with the client all the time about progress, what you do, and what can be improved. One part of the role is to make sure that the team works optimally and occasionally you have to move tasks within the group. You need to understand if it is not working effectively and if someone wants to do something else, you might move them to another position where they flourish. A person should work with what they are interested in and that motivates them
One task was to find new premises as we had grown out of our office. We managed to secure and move into new premises within just a few weeks. Effective project management and leveraging my network were crucial in achieving such rapid results. Each interim assignment expands my skill set and teaches valuable lessons, enhancing my capabilities in every project.”
When is it a good idea for a company to engage an Executive Interim Manager?
“It is a good idea to bring in an Interim Manager when you have a critical leadership gap, and the recruitment process takes a while. The organisation can’t be without a leader, and you can’t give the new person a proper onboarding. An interim oversees the structures and processes and ‘sets the table’ for the next person, but you can’t change too much since he/she probably also wants to do things in their own way. Often the recruitment team doesn’t really know what the previous role holder has done, and the interim can help set a job profile. An Interim Manager brings speed, you get access to a very competent person exactly when you need it.”
What do you do to keep a good work/life balance?
”For me, being together with my family is the most important aspect. Work-life balance for me means embracing the capacity to work 80 hours a week when needed, driven by a passion for making a real impact. I own a 1920s-style cocktail bar with a variety show, which fuels me with energy and joy outside of work. Balancing these passions enriches my life and allows me to bring renewed vigour to my professional endeavours.”
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