Shared values in Sweden: How Camilla Overödder finds Canon the perfect fit

Camilla Overödder is a confident, driven and, most importantly, proactive leader. Her career to date has seen her secure one challenging role after another, even relocating her young family to Dubai for several years. When they returned to Sweden, it was the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic – a time of huge change for everyone – but she felt it starkly. “It was a new role, and I was having to work from home… it just wasn’t the same.” It was time for a change.

A year into her job as Canon Sweden’s Service Director for Digital Printing & Solutions, Camilla openly admits that she is still learning, which is understandable. However, stepping into a new role, indeed into a different industry, simply has not fazed her in the slightest. “Coming here, I knew I could bring a lot of experience, even though it was a new company with new solutions, new ways of working, even a new go-to-market model,” she says. With 27 years of international commercial experience, there’s no doubt that Camilla knows a thing or two about inspiring people and nurturing their strengths. Even when managing a team of over eighty people, she believes that good leadership begins by fostering connections.

“I really try to have a good understanding of each team and what they are doing,” she explains. “Knowing their challenges in order to be able to support them as much as I can.” For example, very early on in her new role she joined service technicians out in the field, learning what a regular day might look like for them. This, of course, had the added bonus of bringing her into close contact with our customers, which was something she was also very keen to do quickly.

Her days are filled with a blend of strategy and communications – everything necessary to effectively lead, guide and support her team to meet their goals for the business unit. “I work in a very transparent and collaborative way, but I would say that my strength is that I am good at empowering people,” explains Camilla. “Everyone knows what I expect them to do, and I am always available if there are any issues.” These valuable relationships ensure that everyone knows what is required and their direction of travel, strategically, for the coming months and years.

As parent to two teenage girls, she is also keenly aware of what today’s career paths look like and has deep admiration for their drive and capability. For Camilla, growing up in Sweden meant that she was afforded some important flexibility and able to take some time to consider her future. Between high school and university, she worked and travelled, which created a space that meant when the telecoms boom happened, she was very much in the right place at the right time. Of course, serendipity alone cannot create a successful career, and Camilla built her expertise by being entirely open to new opportunities and experience, giving 100% to every challenge and – crucially – genuinely enjoying her work.

And this is something she is certainly role modelling to her daughters: the importance of a career that excites and challenges. Aged 15 and 17, they spent a large part of their young lives in Dubai, attending an international school that meant they now have friends all over the world. While there, they saw all the enthusiasm and hours that Camilla devoted to her work, but equally have the fondest memories of their time there and gratitude for the opportunity. “I'm impressed, super impressed, with how they're doing,” says Camilla. “And the competition is tougher than it was at my time, for sure.”

At the weekends, Camilla’s drive and enormous energy leaves dry land and is expended on the family boat, where she, her husband and both girls spend some fun family time. “Even though the girls are older and more independent, they actually want to hang out with us on the boat,” she laughs. “We like to do things as a family.” They also take frequent trips to the theatre, ski, skate and travel. “I’m fortunate to be married to a very active husband!”

But she admits that she works hard (“I would probably take the job everywhere I go, if I had to.”) and often finds herself operating at unusual hours. However, this is actually less to do with necessity than inspiration. “If I have an idea and I have the time, I will sit down in the evening after dinner and work until twelve,” she admits. “But I probably have more frameworks for myself now.”

Indeed, Camilla has discovered that there is much to be learnt from the Canon culture, especially the ‘San-ji (or ‘three selfs’) Spirit’ of self-motivation, self-management and self-awareness. These principles sit comfortably with her own work philosophy. “It’s unique and very strong,” she says. “Along with Kyosei, it shows that Canon is humble and cares about people, which is something I really appreciate.” It is no accident then that, after a long career elsewhere, when Camilla took the decision to join a new organisation, she chose one which so completely reflected her own values.

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