Catharina Swanström has deep roots in Lutheranism and is a long-term supporter of Church of Sweden, S.F.
I have met Catharina several times at the annual fundraising dinners for the Church hosted by our lifetime members Barbro and Bernhard Osher in their magnificent home in SF. This year I invited her to my 80th birthday celebration on November 5, and her gift was a copy of her remarkable autobiography.
While working at Swedish Belgian Chamber of Commerce in Brussels in 1967, Catharina kick started her business career by placing a cold call to the top executive at Bank of America’s (BofA) European HQ in Brussels (BofA is the 2nd largest Bank in the world). The resulting meeting led to employment in the International Department at the Bank’s San Francisco HQ (at the time). Two years later, she one day simply walked into the HR Department at Chevron HQ, also in San Francisco and second largest oil company in US. She asked if they had any position for an Economist. “Sorry, we already interviewed 7 candidates (all men),” they said. However, the next day she got a call which led to her being interviewed for a whole week at the company’s HQ. Catharina beat her competition. That was the beginning of a 32 -year career with Chevron 9 (today’s name).
To make it in the male dominated “all white male bastion” 50 years ago, a woman must have nerves of steel, knowledge of her role roles and how to perform. Catharina, with an MBA from Gothenburg Graduate School of Business (Handelshogskola), was soon proving that she had it all, personality, presence, projection of skills (including languages) ....and solutions. Although Catharina embarked on a business career, she had a passion not only for business but also for music and opera, not realizing that one day she would perform and become a “star” at the Stockholm Opera House. But that actually happened!
The Woman of the year in Sweden
The year was 1985 and after climbing the career ladder at Chevron for 16 years she received an invitation to come to Stockholm and give a talk. Topic: How a young Swedish woman could have such a successful career in the US business world that was totally dominated by men (at that time) This was not a small gathering. She was asked to address an audience of 700 Businessmen (very few women) and Politicians! Notable speakers included Curt Nicolin - among others of the top brass in the Swedish Corporate world. Before she climbed up on the stage the man sitting beside her, who happened to be David Ingvar, professor of neurophysiology and one of Swedish TV’s ”wizards in Lund”, said: But now your heart must be beating hard.... No, not really, Catharina promptly answered.
She survived and her presentation was a thunder success story. Her talk was rated (among the audience) as second best, right after Curt Nicolin. Catharina was the only woman Speaker. One of those who heard her speak was Kjell Erik Sellin, the head of Timbro, the publishing house for many years funded by of the Swedish Free Enterprise Foundation who, together with Rolf Lindholm at SAF, urged her to write a book. Timbro published Catharina’s “Whisper Freedom” later that year. (Coincidentally, the following year Sellin and Timbro published my own book on Refaat El-Sayed – Myths and Billions in a Swedish biotech company. Kjell Erik and I became friends for life and 33 years ago I organized his wedding in Miami with help of the Norwegian Seaman’s Priest!)
After her Book was published Catharina was interviewed and featured in 28 Magazines and Papers in Sweden...like Veckans Affärer, 'Ledarskap, Dagens Industri etc. “Expressen’s Ulf Nilsson flew to Houston to interview me for a week,” she remembers. (Footnote: Catharina spent 2 years in Houston at former Texaco HQ, after Chevron bought them.) Also, Åke Ortmark traveled to Houston to produce a half hour TV segment for Söndags Aktuellt. Catharina was subsequently invited to give a talk at a Management lunch gathering at City Hall, where she shared the “Speakers Table” with among others Jan Carlsson (SAS) and Carl Bildt.
After these coincidences I felt time had come to invite her to answer a few questions, which I sent to her. And she agreed to do so.
Deep Roots in the Swedish Church
Today, Sweden is one of the most secular countries in the world. However, we have learned that Swedish immigrants to US (and their families) treasure their roots in the Lutheran Church. You even participated in our study group on Martin Luther. Tell us more about the traditions in your own family.
Like most other Swedes after WWII, I was baptized as an infant (in Ӧstersund, Jämtland) and confirmed at age 13 in Frösö Kyrka - not far from the home of Composer Wilhelm Petterson Berger on this Island of Frösön. I used to play music by this composer on a Steinway piano gifted to me by my Grandfather Carl Johan Olausson. That piano came to good use during my 12 years of piano lessons. It is now in my home in San Francisco.
Regarding my family, my father wanted to become a Priest! He later changed his mind and became a dentist. My Great Grandfather, Anders Swanström was, in addition to his regular work, the President of the Building Commission in the Community of Junsele in Ångermanland. There, in 1833, he spearheaded the construction of a new Church, with a church yard. To this day a street in Junsele is named after him– “Swanström Vägen”. My father’s parents and the whole family were devoted Christians and so were my grandparents on my mother’s side.
Assignments for Chevron at the HQ in SF, and in Washington DC and around the world
Your book in Swedish has the title "Viska frihet- En Svenskas karriär i USA" (Whisper freedom - The career if a Swedish woman in the US”, Timbro 1986). What did you learn? What was your position at Chevron during your last years?
To succeed in business, for a woman OR a man, it is important to know yourself and one’s interest and capabilities. Personal AND professional goals must be analyzed. One must ask: “Do I have the “Right Stuff”? meaning, one must be prepared to give plenty, take risks, give up free weekends (if needed) and work long hours. People often say a woman must work harder than a man to make it...but not only long hours - it is equally important to work “smart”. Being a woman in the Corporate world at the time was hard, but also a great advantage...that is, IF you could “deliver”. When I was the only woman in meetings, and when I spoke I knew that I had the spotlight, or a chance to be noticed. Great if I did well. But if I did poorly, I was also in the spotlight. With repercussions. Men with the same career goals had to compete amongst each other> For people more alike, therefore no one stood out in the same way as a woman did at the time.
In my recent positions at Chevron, I traveled for in Sweden, Germany, Canada, Ecuador and Mexico. My high school degree in Spanish helped me in the latter 2 positions. Actually, also at Bank of America. I was Senior Strategic Analyst for Chevron Chemical for many years, and Marketing Analyst and Market Research Analyst in New Ventures Division (worked with mergers and acquisitions). I was the only woman in management meetings for many years and the first woman working as a “Professional” at Chevron's Government Affairs Office in Washington DC. (the Lobbying Office). My year in Washington was a very interesting period. Professionally and socially (dinner at the White House, a reception at the Iranian Embassy meeting the Ambassador from Iran Ardeshir Zahedi).
In the capital I represented our company position on various oil issues to, usually, the staff of Senators and Congressmen. In my last position in the Lubricants Division of Chevron I managed the Marketing and Incentive Program for our Distributors in the US and Mexico.
A New Career – Dedicated to Clients and Friends
Why Real Estate? Tell us about your decision to take up a new career in high end real estate. Why did you not just retire?When the company offered a generous severance package in early 2000, I thought strongly about taking it. I would be offered the same position I already had if I stayed, but I felt that after 32 years it was time to do something new. Also, getting up at 4.30 AM every morning and coming back home at 6:30PM was taxing (I had to travel RT in a Chevron Vanpool from San Francisco to San Ramon). The company moved the HQ from San Francisco to San Ramon beginning in the mid 90’s. I did not want to move from San Francisco.
After leaving Chevron I decided to travel, paint, see more of my friends - and play the piano. After 2 years I was a bit bored and did not feel challenged. I always liked buildings, apartments and interior decorating. Real estate is a “people” business and an easy field to enter. I said to myself; 4 years MAX. and THEN I will REALLY retire. (4 years is how long the license lasts before renewal requirement). This was 20 years ago. I love the business...but it is taxing as regards time off. You feel that you are on 24/7. Not quite, but totally free weekends one can forget. Also, vacations...one never feels completely “time off” free.
Although the profession is at times quite stressful with clients who are often making the biggest investment in their life, it is very rewarding helping Buyers get their dream house, or dream apartment- or property. Many of my Clients have become friends for life.
Becoming a realtor was a choice I do not regret. I have worked with fantastic Clients (many from Chevron, including my last “Boss”, the then President of Lubricants Division). It cannot compare to the Corporate life...which was totally different. I love both.
Both of us have lost our parents after we moved to US. Both of us have recently lost a brother. My brother Tryggve was a professor of the Old Testament at Lund University He died just a month ago at age 83. Fortunately, I had been with him for several days end of April and spent quality time together He got better over summer and could celebrate his 60th wedding Anniversary in June I felt peace over his beautiful memory, and I am grateful to God for all what he had meant to me, our family and so many of his students and colleagues around the world.
My brother Sten and I were unusually close also and we met at a minimum once a year. I admired him and really liked him. I have trusted him ever since I was a little girl. He was 5 years older. Sten was most respected within the medical discipline of Neonatology. He (as a curiosity) worked in Nashville TN for 2 years as a “Fellow” and brought many learnings with him back to Sweden, heading up Neonatology at the University clinic of Umea at the time. He visited me over many years in San Francisco. He was the one who taught me to love OPERA.
Peace over the beautiful memories of our brothers!