Caroline puts her chemistry skills to use in the beauty industry

Hi Caroline, what are you doing at the moment?

I am working as Sales and R&D Director at the Swedish beauty brand IDUN Minerals. As Sales and R&D Director I am responsible for all sales globally. We are currently selling our products in 25 different countries and each market is different which makes it challenging but mostly a lot of fun. I am also in charge of all our products and the development. This is where I really get to use my knowledge about Chemistry and make sure to choose good ingredients for everything we produce.

What can a regular day look like at your job?

Every day is different for me since my role has such different responsibilities. I travel a lot to our customers and manufacturing facilities around the world. During these trips, it means long days with a lot of meetings and social activities, adapting to other cultures etc. But then other days I am in the office making plans, budgets and strategies with my team. The best part of my job is the variety.

Why did you choose this programme at KTH?

I always knew I wanted to work in the beauty industry but I really wanted to understand the chemistry behind the products and how they are formulated. Chemistry was my favourite subject in high school so the choice was very clear. KTH was always the number one choice for me since I think the programme not only includes chemistry but also physics and mathematics which was very important to me.

Are there any insights or knowledge you acquired during your studies that have been extra useful for you in your career?

Besides the knowledge about chemistry, to take responsibility, project planning and teamwork. The bachelor’s and master’s degree projects were my favourite projects during my time at KTH.

What were the best aspects of your studies at KTH?

The fact that I learned so much that has helped me in my career and the friends I made there. I most strongly remember the master’s degree project, it was so much fun to combine everything you have learned and apply it to a project. I did my master’s thesis work at IDUN Minerals and have stayed there since.

What are your plans for the future?

Continue to work with the expansion of IDUN Minerals globally and find new ways of creating innovative beauty.

Would you want to say to a student thinking of applying for this programme?

It is a great programme and you will learn a lot during the time; not only about chemistry but also other things that will be useful when you start working afterwards. My most useful tips when you have started is to not compare yourself to others, there are so many job opportunities when you are done and then you won’t be competitors with your classmates.