I highly value working in teams with professionals from different disciplines. I have never met a single person who did not enjoy and benefit from an interdisciplinary exchange.
Name: Clara Fischer
Title: CEO of the Swedish Organisation for Global Health
Tell us about yourself, what do you do and what is your academic background?
My name is Clara and I am a co-founder of the Swedish Organization for Global Health. My academic background is Public Health and Health Management and I am a graduate from Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm.
What is your connection to SSES, which courses/bootcamps/events have you taken part of and how has it impacted your journey?
I had the pleasure to be part of two SSES bootcamps, one about Design Thinking and Postmodernism in India and one about Sustainable Agriculture and Social Entrepreneurship in Ecuador. In April 2017, my organisation was part of SSES’ Start-up Day.
How are you using this knowledge and experience in your everyday life?
I have mostly benefited from the interdisciplinary aspect of the SSES bootcamps I took part in. I have started using Design Thinking when planning and implementing projects in public health, which always leads to surprising and innovative outcomes. The medical field is often detail-oriented but implementing tools from other disciplines helps seeing the bigger picture and understanding the complexity of human behaviour.
Do you value working in interdisciplinary groups? If so, why?
Yes, I highly value working in teams with professionals from different disciplines. I have never met a single person who did not enjoy and benefit from an interdisciplinary exchange. Professionals from other disciplines will ask questions that I don’t know the answers to, which then leads to new ideas, innovative approaches and collaborations.
What is your best SSES memory?
Oh, there are so many to choose from! I just recently returned from a SSES bootcamp in Ecuador and one evening, after a long day of visiting projects and NGOs, we stayed at a community owned lodge overseeing the city of Riobamba. We were just about to start the relaxing part of the day, when the hotel staff informed us that an elderly lady in the nearby village needed reparations on her roof. So we put on our working gear and went down to the village to not only build a roof, but a wall to shield the fireplace that was the lady’s kitchen. Here we were, seven SSES bootcampers from different countries and disciplines, building a brick wall and a roof. While building, Pachamama (an indigenous name for nature) rewarded us with a breathtaking sunset and view of the Andes.
Would you recommend a friend to take part of SSES courses or activities?
Of course I have recommended SSES courses to colleagues and friends. Create your comfort zone, but make sure to come out of that zone every once in a while to meet other brilliant people!
You meet your biggest role model (historical or current) at a mingle. Who are they? What’s the first thing you tell them about yourself? And what’s one thing you hope they never find out about you?
I don’t have a role model but I am hoping to meet my favorite author, T.C. Boyle, one day. I wouldn’t tell him much about myself because I have too many questions about him and his novels. I hope he never finds out that I own a framed poster of him.
What’s one trend you’re most excited about in the next 5 years?
My team at the Swedish Organization for Global Health and I are working hard to achieve a few of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially focusing on maternal and newborn health and increased social well-being. It will be exciting to see the global outcomes after the first 5 years in 2020!
