Join Claudine Pohl this week as she chats with a port agent for the first time on Cruise Convos, Mim Larsson from SDK Cruise!

Tune in to find out what life is like as a port agent, where no two days are the same! As Mim shares hilarious stories from her career so far.

Plus the pair discuss how they have witnessed the industry evolve over their careers, and where it could be in 10 years!

What is currently happening in our cruise industry today? Join me for Cruise Convos as we discover and learn from cruise industry leaders across the blue all within 28 minutes! Cruise community this is Claudine with Lemoneight and we are part of Cruise Convos today. Today, I am talking with a really good friend of mine, Mim. Hello, welcome to Cruise Convos.

Hi Claudine thank you so much.

I'm so excited to have you. Please introduce yourself our cruise community.

I hope that a couple of you already know me, but I will definitely introduce myself anyway. So I think they have been around for a long time. So I still just turned 30. So I feel young. Not really a little bit old, though. But yeah. And I work as the Operations Manager for actually the largest cruise agent in Sweden. And yeah, that's what I do. Pretty much.

What's the name of the company?

The company's called SDK Cruise.

Nice. So we met at Seatrade Cruise Global, like few years ago, I think, right? I think that was the first time we met. We hit it off. We're hanging out with your team, your group, we went out for dinner. I think that's where we met up. And you started talking about your job and what you do. But then you shared that when you first started. You were actually the only female there.

Okay, I'm not gonna say that I was the only female because we will probably step on some toes somewhere. But yeah, it was a different world back then. I can honestly say it was a completely different world back then. I think we were only like, 1% of all of the agents. And I mean, agents in general. It's not only in the cruise segment. It's also in the shipping segment, that we

So in 11 years, you've noticed the difference to now.

For sure. It's like completely different. It's a different environment. And I'm super happy to be around and see the change of this. Because it's like, it's so different. It's definitely so different. I think that it actually was in that position in Sweden, because the shipping industry was not really as far in gender equal to us. We were in Sweden, and in north of Europe, it was

That is epic. I love that. And now you see the change. Do you know what the percentages now of women?

in Sweden? No, no, no, it doesn't matter anymore. No one cares anymore. It's like we are maybe more than 50% Maybe more than 60%. Yeah, okay. No one see the gender anymore. We don't care.

Oh, wow. So but it has, this has happened within 11 years. This change? Yeah, for sure. That is so cool. So tell me. So you are the manager at a shipping agency? Yeah. Correct. Walk me through your day so I can understand. And our listeners can understand. Because see, I can say the cruise industry, but there's so many different parts of the cruise industry. Yeah, walk me through

might be right now I'm actually more of a manager. So I'm managing more of my agents who's actually on board as I do vessels as well. Of course I'm on board some from time to time, but it time to go agency is like you clear the vessel in you do all of the pre arrivals when the vessels are coming to Sweden. In this case, they send us all of these questions How? How does the birth look?

You're always learning. You're always learning something. Now, you mentioned something interesting. You mentioned about things that happen. So what has been like the craziest thing in your 11 years that has happened? Like, tell us something here. For the listeners, guys's was like the craziest thing that has happened.

Okay, I need to tell you about the glass cones, because the ice because there's just amazing because they called me in the morning and said, Okay, we have no ice cream cones at all on board. And this was quite big vessel. It was like, yeah, absolutely. 3000 Passenger ish vessel for us. And that's big because this is in Sweden is yeah, we're not allowed to have the biggest vessel. Yes. So yeah,

Oh, wow! Yeah. So anybody who was going out shopping in the town that day could not buy ice cream. You bought it all!

No, nothing at all.

That is a great story. I love it.

And it makes you feel so good. Because you can develop this and then you can go go there and give it to them. So

yeah, and I think it also connects you connected with them with the relationship to it. Like I can see it like next time. Hey, remember when we got you, you know, the ice cream cones? We got the ice cream cones like that friendship builds?

Yeah, it is like that. Yeah. And then you used to get more and more requests of this strange things. So yeah. Otherwise, yeah. I mean, we did a lot of strange things. You get it? You pretty much lose the sense. So what's the reality? After a while?

Yeah, no? Interesting. Interesting. So tell me, you've noticed the difference. So when you started back 11 years ago? What was it like to work then? Like we just working with men all the time? Or? Like, how was it?

This was like a huge moment for me, because the first ever event I was at, it was in the shipping industry within Sweden. This was a shipbroker Association. It's a local, only Swedish everything. So I went into this. I was 19 at this time, so I was like, the only like young girl ever who's ever attended this event ever. And I went into this room and I saw 103 females?

No, you were 19. How did you start in there, then?

That's a different story.

We want to hear that one too. So fill us all in. We want everything.

Oh no, I didn't choose this job. I absolutely didn't choose this job. This job shows me for sure. So my father was he was working with printers and it stuff. And this company, this agency company, they had a printer didn't work so he was there all the time. Doing things with them. And back then I was studying I just needed a job for the summer so after a while my father was Yeah, yeah,

What that is amazing story. So thanks for your dad. Really you have or thanks to their printers not working basically.

Exactly! We say thank you to the printers pretty much.

Yeah, that's great. And take me back. You were you were into the you went into this room, you were 90-100 people, like what went through your mind? 100 men, three women, like what...

have been also one of the women, she was the host of this event and she's lovely. She's one of my real good friend still today. And she was like, you are the new generation. This is the future. And I'm like, okay, she was like, Don't be afraid. It's going to be okay. And I'm like, Okay, thanks.

Inside, you're probably like, I'm only here for the summer. But we'll see. A little bit like that, for sure. And after that summer, you just fell in love with the job? Like, did you find it challenging? And

I did. Yeah, I just fell in love. Like that. I mean, the agency because I tell my staff today, or not today, but when I hired them is like, either you love this type of job or your hate it. It's nothing in between. It's like a lifestyle. One of my first bosses told me he was like, port agency. It's not a job. It's a lifestyle. And you need to embrace it in order to develop and love

Right? Yeah. Because you start out early. You can have late days, like, is there like an actual schedule? There's not is there? It's always?

No, no, no, no, it's not an actual schedule. We used to work with the vessels are here. So it's always go go go, right. Yeah, it is. Of course, we have days off and we cover each other's and stuff like that. But yeah, it's nonstop operation for us, for sure.

So how big is your team that you manage?

My team? We are six persons at the moment. But we have local representation in different ports of Sweden. So my whole team is not located here in in Stockholm. They are located all over.

And I have a question for you. When you hire team members. What's one thing that you look for in that person? I love?

Yeah, me too. That's like the first day. Because I'm not really used to hire that many people anymore. So but I always want to see the the glow and the drive. And if they asked me, okay, what's my schedule for three more months? I'm like, Yeah, you're probably not the right fit for this job. But if they ask, what do you do tomorrow? And what's the to make this better? It's yeah, I

to go that extra mile? Who will find ice cream cones?

Exactly. Yeah. Oh my God, my God. They are amazing. And finding everything. Yeah.

That's awesome. I love it. So tell me share with our listeners. Tell me about you traveling. This is off topic, of course. But tell me about your traveling. Where have you traveled to? Where do you want to go? Where have you been that you love? Oh, love.

Oh, no. No, I mean, I've been traveling a lot quite a lot actually. Privately and also in in my job of course, because that's part of the job of course. But I'm actually I enjoying Spain. I used to enjoy the climate in in Spain, because now we can have occasion during the summer periods. So I need to go somewhere. I worked at weather. It's actually quite good during the winter time. So

To go to Spain. We're in Spain. I love Spain to have good food to do

it's amazing. Now I didn't know I use like I actually went last winter time for three months to Spain, just because of escaping that horrible Swedish winter.

Nice. And where did you go in Spain? in Malaga. Malaga. Oh, that's nice. Yeah, yeah, well, we were just there. What was it last year for see? Yeah, it's nice place. Nice place. Yeah, there's so much to explore there. Now. Going back to Sweden. I need to find something out. Is Swedish chocolates the best?

without any doubt that it's the best. And I even heard because I have another Canadian friend. And I told her go to IKEA and buy this chocolate and she sent me pictures from IKEA. So you don't even have it in Canada. But Ill bring it for Seatrade. Don't you worry.

You're coming to Seatrade Europe?

Yes, of course!

Okay, I'll wait. I'll wait. I hope our listeners come up to me at Seatrade Europe and be like Did she give you the chocolate? I'll be expecting Fran wants one too! Our producer for the show. Just just to make sure.

We're sure. It's Absolutely the best. Actually, funny story Yeah, my hometown is actually the place where they do this. So where I was born, it's really, really close to my house actually as well.

Oh, my goodness. So is there? Is there like a tour where people go and see the

No, unfortunately not?

What's the name?

Margo

Margo. And what makes the chocolate so good? They're like, what is it?

It's just milk chocolate. That's why!

really, I'm intrigued. I can't wait to try this. Now talk to me. What do you think? If there is a young person, you know, female or male who's looking to potentially get into your line of work? Right? Or even in the cruise industry? Right? Because you think about it. There's so many people, young people all over the world, but they may not even know about potential jobs in the

If they already know about the job, or if they just want to get into the industry?

Now, if they just want to get into the industry?

Don't do it! No, I'm just kidding!

CUT! Start again!

No, no, no. It's just a matter of it's not for everyone. And, yeah, do you need to really, really love it in order to be good at it?

You got it? Yeah. You really, really do need to love it. I'm just looking at some of the things that I was going to, to say like for young people would be something like along the lines of don't be afraid, right. Like to try new things. Simone was on last time. And he mentioned that, you know, sometimes we do get scared of change and trying new things. But just to go for it, right?

Yeah, yeah, it is like that. You need to try it out in order to make sure that this is something you want to do for sure. And also, I mean, don't plan your whole life. Don't plan it out. You try different things. And you'd never know where you're ending up. And also, I mean, we see this develop in the industry, we see this huge change. We don't even know the jobs in 10 years. We don't

Right. Yeah, you're right. Mims, you, you know, like you mentioned new jobs. You see a lot of new jobs happening now in the cruise industry, too, with sustainability. You know, Ioannis, he's a consultant out of Greece. Anyway, yeah, his son is actually going to Holland, to study environmental, something, but it's for the ships. So I'm like, wow, it's incredible how time is changing,

And I mean, that's also why we need the young professionals, because the new thinking and new way of doing things, because our passengers also they also getting they need this new and we need this new bread. You know what? It's difficult. Yeah.

Yeah! Sustainability at your locations. Do you notice that? In Sweden, you guys are doing different things for sustainability?

Yeah, of course, we do a lot.

Tell me a little bit about it. What are you guys doing? Because you mentioned the ship sizes. You said they can't come in? If there are more than Is it like a certain

No, we can take the because that's the far away into Stockholm. And also it's the breach during the passage into into the.. Unfortunately, from from my perspective, however, we do a lot we were, we're almost done with the shore power here in Stockholm. So, hopefully, super excited to try it out as soon as they're ready. Yeah. And we see the difference. We also are a lot more strict

Oh, interesting. Interesting. Do you feel that in the next 10 years, we're going to see even more like changes in Everything

Yes, definitely. Yeah, we will definitely because every people, or at least the people here, they are very aware of what we need. Yeah. And that put pressure on everyone.

Yeah. So tell me you said you're the largest company in in Sweden. Let's say how many ships you guys service or help?

I don't know how many ships but we we have around 200 calls

200 calls just that just cruise right but you also do cargo.

Yeah, we do cargo. That's not my side, however. Yeah. sighs Yeah, but definitely do cargo. And we do. I'll just say we have a large side doing yauchts as well. That's interesting.

Yeah. Good job. Different,

different. Definitely a different industry for sure.

Different different, but you don't want that's an interesting point. Because I work a lot with governments and ports. And that's a big, like, that's a bridge that start I'm starting to see and a lot of things are happening. The yachts are starting to cross over into, you know, a lot of more people want more yachts. They're really looking at that market. I feel like that's growing.

Yeah, it's definitely a develop in Yeah, definitely. For sure. However, we can see different in the yacht segment from when I started because we back then we had only like the richest people, if you can say it like that is it was completely different. Right now. It's more. Okay. It's still rich people, of course. But it's more charters. It's more normal people who's going on them? Yeah.

Yeah. more accessible to people, I

think exactly. Yeah, for sure. Absolutely.

Now, this has been a lot of fun. So it wasn't too bad was it?

it was fun. It was fun.

I love it. I'm gonna ask you our last question, Mim. This is this. This is the final question. We asked this to every guest. And the question is, if you could look back at your younger self, what piece of advice would you give yourself?

Don't be so afraid. Because you never know what you ending up in the end. And don't put this huge plans and have everything like when I'm turning 30, I'm going to be this part of my life. When I have all of this. I mean, the world is changing. It's a completely different world. So you just go with the flow a little bit and put a ghost instead of like, fixed.

All of that I think you're spot on. And I think as women, sometimes we put ourselves in boxes that we have to do certain things by certain ages. You know, and I think that in a way, men are a little bit more, maybe they are, you know, maybe they're a little bit more free flowing that way. And I think that we we want certain action points at certain times before we turn 30 or before

And it doesn't really matter. I mean, we're still where we are. We just need to embrace the change.

Embrace the change. I love that. Well, my friend. This has been an epic conversation with you. It is an honor to have you I thought the world of you when I met you and I said you know when once I knew that we were going to do Cruise Comvos as part of Seatrade Cruise Talks. I talked to you and I said we got I want you on the show. Right and now.

I'm super nervous. I'm still super nervous.

Why? You don't even sound nervous. It sounds so chill. You're good. You've rocked it. All of our listeners, let us know what did you think she rocked it? Yes. I look forward to seeing you at Seatrade Europe in just a few weeks!

I will, it was a pleasure.