A Transformative Leadership Journey
In 2015, Katriina Öberg’s life took a transformative turn when she joined Women Leaders Up, a year-long leadership program for senior female executives across Sweden. The program focused on exploring and enhancing leadership skills, fostering a network of support and challenge. Even today, Öberg and her team from the program meet quarterly to share experiences and continue their growth journey.
Rising Through the Ranks at Mölnlycke
Öberg is the Regional Vice President APAC at Mölnlycke Health Care. Her journey with the company began in 1999 when she joined as a Nordic Brand Manager. Over the years, she has steadily advanced through various marketing and sales roles, both in local markets and at the company’s headquarters. Nearly every three years, she has taken on new responsibilities, continuously learning through a mix of on-the-job experience and external training. She attributes her success to Mölnlycke’s strong learning culture and the supportive people around her—mentors, colleagues, and team members—who have played a crucial role in her professional development.
Mölnlycke’s Legacy of Innovation
Mölnlycke, a global supplier of wound care and surgical products, traces its origins back to 1849 as a textile manufacturer in the Swedish town of Mölnlycke. The company became a key supplier of gauze to Swedish hospitals in the early 1900s, later expanding its product range to include swabs and dressings. Today, its Safetac® technology ensures nearly painless wound dressing removal, while its customized operating room trays help minimize waste. Mölnlycke has also integrated digital tools to monitor and manage surgical equipment. Last year, the company recorded consolidated net sales of EUR 1.54 billion worldwide.
A Role Model of Resilience
Growing up, Öberg’s greatest inspiration was her grandmother—a hardworking and resilient woman who, as a widow, was the sole breadwinner for her family. Witnessing her grandmother’s strength and sacrifices instilled in Öberg a deep commitment to perseverance and resilience, values that she carries into her professional life.
Building Mölnlycke’s Brand in APAC
Since August last year, Öberg has been based in Singapore, where she faces the challenge of attracting top talent in the APAC region. In the Nordics, Mölnlycke enjoys strong brand recognition, making hiring significantly easier. However, in APAC, she is focused on building the company’s employer brand to attract the right professionals and expand the business in this dynamic region.
With the emergence of stellar women world leaders comes an equally impressive breed of new female top executives who are not afraid to put their humanity forward and use it as a way to unite their organizations - Shanggari Balakrishnan, Chief Executive Officer, MORS Group
