Leadership at Smartvatten goes beyond titles; it’s about leading, influencing, and developing teams toward positive change. It means inspiring, enabling, and growing the talent within those teams. Sophia Pettersson exemplifies all these qualities and more. From her beginnings as a Customer Success Manager to her current role as CRO, Sophia’s career journey showcases her passion for leadership, sustainability, and fostering growth in others.

Keep your eyes open as we dive into inspiring leadership insights from our CRO!

Leading with Empathy and Accountability

Sophia’s leadership is deeply rooted in empathy and accountability. Reflecting on her career at Smartvatten, she emphasizes accountability as a team commitment: "We’re all in it together," she shares, highlighting the collective nature of her leadership approach.

Empathy plays a crucial role in her leadership philosophy, especially in customer success, where understanding both customer experiences and employee challenges is key. "I understand daily struggles because I’ve experienced them myself," Sophia explains. This insight allows her to lead with both compassion and understanding, creating a strong foundation for growth and success. She adopts a structured approach and maintains a customer-centric mindset, all while fostering enthusiasm for guiding her teams to success. 

Leadership Lessons: Be Brave and Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

Sophia has clear advice for aspiring leaders: embrace the unknown. "Everyone feels unprepared when they get a promotion, but you don’t succeed by knowing everything—you grow by taking on the challenge," she says. According to Sophia, success is about stepping out of your comfort zone and trusting your ability to learn and adapt.

Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with a competent and supportive team. For her, leadership is about learning and growing with your team.

Leading Smartvatten Global Teams with Vision and Empathy

One of the most exciting aspects of Sophia’s role is leading diverse teams across multiple countries. Each market presents unique challenges, requiring an agile and inclusive leadership approach. Sophia embeds cultural competence training and ensures that Smartvatten’s mission of sustainability and diversity is reflected across all regions.

In her role, she aligns team efforts with Smartvatten’s sustainability goals, reinforcing that sustainability is not just a buzzword, but an integral part of the business strategy. "What we preach is what we practice," Sophia emphasizes, ensuring that Smartvatten leads by example in its commitment to responsible business practices with a structured and forward-thinking approach, Sophia ensures tasks are well-prioritized and aligned with both short-term and long-term goals, keeping teams on track and focused.

Creating a Fun and Inspirational Workplace

Sophia’s leadership is also characterized by her energy and ability to create an engaging work environment. Her team often mentions how her positive attitude helps foster a culture of motivation and fun. "It’s important to create an atmosphere where people feel they’re not just working, but growing and enjoying their job," she shares.

Encouraging open communication and seeking active feedback. Sophia sees feedback as an opportunity for growth, consistently striving to improve herself and her teams. Her willingness to adapt and embrace new challenges speaks to her continuous development journey, ensuring everyone feels valued and is part of the company’s success. This approach boosts team morale, driving better performance and innovation.

Balancing Sustainability and Business Growth

At Smartvatten, sustainability is woven into the company’s mission, and Sophia ensures that it’s embedded in every aspect of the business. "It’s not just about doing business; it’s about doing business responsibly," she says. By setting clear, achievable sustainability targets and aligning them with both short-term and long-term goals, she leads Smartvatten’s efforts to create real value for clients and the environment.

Finding Work-Life Balance in a Demanding Role

Despite her demanding role, Sophia manages to maintain a healthy work-life balance through a structured and planned approach. "I prioritize tasks, block time in my calendar, and stay on track to avoid distractions," she says. This forward-thinking approach helps her tackle professional challenges without sacrificing her personal life.

Sophia thrives under pressure, turning challenges into opportunities for growth. Her ability to stay calm and organized allows her to maintain balance and keep both her professional and personal responsibilities in check.

Success Stories—People Development: Leading Others to Growth

One of the hallmarks of Sophia’s leadership is her ability to help her team members grow. Under her guidance, several team members have risen to leadership positions, such as Kirsten, who now heads the Real Estate Customer Success Team. Sophia consistently fosters an environment of continuous growth by empowering her team with new responsibilities and opportunities for development.

Under Sophia’s leadership, team members are empowered to grow and take on new responsibilities, with a focus on fostering customer-centric innovation. Her success stories reflect her commitment to building a culture where every team member is cared for, trusted, and encouraged to reach their full potential.

Owning Your Success

Sophia believes in owning your success by embracing challenges and staying authentic. "You create your own reality by how you present yourself," she says, an empowering philosophy she hopes to pass on to future leaders at Smartvatten. Her journey from Customer Success Manager to CRO is a testament to her strategic mindset, continuous learning, and dedication to helping others grow.

So, what was learned?

Sophia Pettersson's journey at Smartvatten is an inspiration for how empathy, accountability, and a commitment to sustainability can drive both personal and organizational growth. Her advice to be brave, trust your instincts, and build strong teams resonates with leaders at every level. Smartvatten continues to grow, and Sophia's leadership will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the company's future. As her collaborative approach ensures that every team member is an integral part of the company's growth, driving Smartvatten's sustainability mission.

If you’re looking for a place where you can grow both personally and professionally while making a difference, Smartvatten might just be the perfect next step in your career.