How I settled in West Sweden

Liz Rider - Meeting people, building relationships and persistence

This month on How I Settled in West Sweden, we meet Liz Ryder, an organizational psychologist who moved from the UK to Gothenburg with her family. Liz talks about why building relationships has been key to her career and social life, the cultural and workplace differences she encountered, what it is like to move to a new country with a family, and how a disappointing Midsummer one summer evolved into a joyful celebration the next, once she’d found her people.  “ Join every club, meet every person, even if it's something that you don't particularly like or it's people that are not your people, because that's how you'll find your people.”  In this episode, Liz shares:  * The subtle but real cultural differences between the UK and Sweden, from winter hibernation to workplace hierarchy  * How she connected her existing UK network to Sweden, everyone knows somebody, and that's always enough to start  * Why building your network early matters more than building your business plan and her advice for those who find networking draining or uncomfortable  * What she loves most about living in Gothenburg, from long summer evenings to kayaking around the islands  The podcast is produced by Move to Gothenburg, a regional public-private partnership, co-funded by the European Union, to help attract and support international professionals.  👀More tips about living in West Sweden:    Networking events at International House Gothenburg: https://www.investingothenburg.com/work-live/international-house-gothenburg#visitIHG [https://www.investingothenburg.com/work-live/international-house-gothenburg#visitIHG]   Book an online session with the career advisor: https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/InternationalHouse@businessregion.onmicrosoft.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true [https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/InternationalHouse@businessregion.onmicrosoft.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true]     📍 Follow Move to Gothenburg  Website: ⁠https://www.movetogothenburg.com/⁠ [https://www.movetogothenburg.com/]     LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/movetogothenburg/⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/movetogothenburg/]     YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MovetoGothenburg⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@MovetoGothenburg]     Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/movetogothenburg/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/movetogothenburg/]     Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/movetogothenburg/⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/movetogothenburg/]

Kris Granger - Personal branding, parenthood and optimism

Today, we continue the story of Kris Granger, a marketing strategist from Trinidad and Tobago, as he reflects on how relationships, self-belief, and persistence helped him build a life in Gothenburg. From learning how to network as an outsider to navigating Swedish work culture, fatherhood, and work-life balance, Kris shares the people, values, and mindset shifts that helped him move forward.  “Being successful is hard. Being unsuccessful is hard. Choose your hard.”  In this episode, Kris shares:  * How he built his network in Gothenburg and why connections can open unexpected doors  * His advice on networking as an introvert and finding ways to show value  * Why personal branding is not about self-promotion, but about how people remember you  * What fatherhood in Sweden has meant to him and why he values the role of fathers here  * His reflections on Swedish work-life balance, trust, and workplace culture  * The mindset that helped him stay optimistic, protect his self-worth, and keep going through challenges  The podcast is produced by Move to Gothenburg, a regional public-private partnership, co-funded by the European Union, to help attract and support international professionals.  👀 More tips about living in West Sweden:  https://www.movetogothenburg.com/live/personal-life/creating-a-social-life/ [https://www.movetogothenburg.com/live/personal-life/creating-a-social-life/]  https://www.movetogothenburg.com/live/work/finding-a-job/ [https://www.movetogothenburg.com/live/work/finding-a-job/]  📍Follow Move to Gothenburg  Website: ⁠⁠https://www.movetogothenburg.com/⁠⁠ [https://www.movetogothenburg.com/]   LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/movetogothenburg/⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/movetogothenburg/]   YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MovetoGothenburg⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@MovetoGothenburg]  Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/movetogothenburg/⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/movetogothenburg/]   Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/movetogothenburg/⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/movetogothenburg/]

Kris Granger - People, Cultural differences, mindset and resilience

Today you will hear the story of Kris Granger, who moved to Gothenburg in Sweden from Trinidad and Tobago. In this episode, Kris talks about: * Early struggles settling into life in Sweden * Cultural differences between Sweden and Trinidad and Tobago * Building a life * Battling cancer * Mindset and resilience “ I needed to be open to the idea that I could have a great career, that I could have a great bank account, that I could have a great social life, that I could be respected and admired.” The acting class Kris talks about:Gothenburg English Studio Theatre Acting classeshttps://www.gest.se/adult-acting-courses [https://www.gest.se/adult-acting-courses] The book Kris mentioned - Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World.   📍 Follow Move to Gothenburg  Website: ⁠https://www.movetogothenburg.com/⁠ [https://www.movetogothenburg.com/]   LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/movetogothenburg/⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/movetogothenburg/]   YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MovetoGothenburg⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@MovetoGothenburg]   Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/movetogothenburg/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/movetogothenburg/]   Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/movetogothenburg/⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/movetogothenburg/]    #MoveToGothenburg #WestSweden #LifeInSweden #WorkingInSweden #LivingInSweden #SwedishCulture

Mélanie Boucarut - From global adventures to Gothenburg: Understanding Swedish culture and settling in Sweden

This month on How I Settled in West Sweden, we meet Mélanie Boucarut — a true global citizen whose has lived in the USA, Japan, Mexico, Guatemala, the Netherlands, Algeria, and more… before finally calling Gothenburg home.  “ Sweden has been my biggest cultural shock. So of, out of all the countries I've lived and worked in, it's been the country where I find that I've had the most surprises.”  In this episode,  Mélanie talks about:  * How Sweden has been the biggest cultural shock out of all the countries she has lived in  * Cultural differences between France and Sweden  * A useful story she uses to help explain and remember some of the cultural differences    If you’re navigating Swedish society, work culture, or social interactions, this episode is for you!    👀More tips about working in West Sweden:  https://www.movetogothenburg.com/work/my-work-life-in-west-sweden/ [https://www.movetogothenburg.com/work/my-work-life-in-west-sweden/]   https://www.movetogothenburg.com/work/swedish-working-culture-tips/ [https://www.movetogothenburg.com/work/swedish-working-culture-tips/]    📍 Follow Move to Gothenburg  Website: https://www.movetogothenburg.com/ [https://www.movetogothenburg.com/]   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/movetogothenburg/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/movetogothenburg/]   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovetoGothenburg [https://www.youtube.com/@MovetoGothenburg]   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movetogothenburg/ [https://www.instagram.com/movetogothenburg/]   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/movetogothenburg/ [https://www.facebook.com/movetogothenburg/]    #MoveToGothenburg #WestSweden #LifeInSweden #WorkingInSweden #LivingInSweden #SwedishCulture

Fernanda Aragão - A positive mindset, new opportunites and building a network

In this month’s episode, we meet Fernanda Aragão, who moved from Brazil to Gothenburg as a journalist and content creator after her husband accepted a job in the automotive sector in Gothenburg, Sweden.  Fernanda shares her experience of entering the local job market, building a professional network in Sweden, and maintaining a positive mindset while searching for work and relocating as a partner. She also talks about how her family has settled into life in Gothenburg and her journey of learning Swedish.    👀More tips about living in Sweden:  Creating a social life in the Gothenburg region, West Sweden | Move To Gothenburg [https://www.movetogothenburg.com/live/personal-life/creating-a-social-life/]  Find a job in the Gothenburg region, West Sweden | Move To Gothenburg [https://www.movetogothenburg.com/work/find-a-job-in-the-gothenburg-region/]  📍 Follow Move to Gothenburg  Website: https://www.movetogothenburg.com/ [https://www.movetogothenburg.com/]   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/movetogothenburg/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/movetogothenburg/]   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovetoGothenburg [https://www.youtube.com/@MovetoGothenburg]   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movetogothenburg/ [https://www.instagram.com/movetogothenburg/]   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/movetogothenburg/ [https://www.facebook.com/movetogothenburg/]