New Trainees Ready to Build the Companies of the Future

They’re here now—this year’s participants in Entrepreneurs in Residence, the trainee program where young talents get the opportunity to turn technical ideas into new, innovative companies.

Since its launch in 2018, LEAD’s trainee program has been an important pathway into entrepreneurship for people who want to grow in the fields of business development and company-building. Each year, 2–4 participants are accepted, and several of the program’s former trainees have gone on to take on leadership roles in startups within LEAD’s ecosystem.

There was a great deal of interest in this year’s edition. After an extensive selection process, Ellen Sjöstrand, Julina Strömberg, and Erik Österlund were chosen.

Over the course of six months, they will have the opportunity to combine education and practical experience with coaching in business development, entrepreneurship, and company building. By working on real-world cases, they become part of the process of developing and shaping new companies from concept to operation.

“They will play a key role in our efforts to develop the next generation of high-growth companies and will be able to make a big difference for our startups,” says Catharina Sandberg, CEO of LEAD.

This year’s participants have diverse educational and professional backgrounds, ranging from economics to the civil engineering program in biotechnology.

Meet LEAD’s 2026/2027 Trainees

Ellen Sjöstrand

What is your background?
–I was born and raised in Gothenburg, where I also studied at Chalmers for five years. During my studies, I had the opportunity to participate in several exchange programs abroad, including in the U.S. and Singapore. I graduated earlier this year from the civil engineering program in biotechnology, with a master’s degree in innovative and sustainable chemical engineering.

Why did you apply for the program and what do you hope to get out of it?
– I applied to the program because I’ve long been interested in the startup world and would love to be part of a company’s journey from an early stage. I’ve also been involved in several research projects during my studies, which has been very interesting. I hope the program will teach me a lot about business development and how to evaluate the market potential of different ideas.

Biggest entrepreneurial role model?
– Since I come from a more science-oriented background, I’ve actually always looked up to scientists and inventors who’ve made groundbreaking discoveries that have transformed society as a whole, rather than traditional entrepreneurs. Above all, I find it inspiring when people have been able to recognize the potential in a discovery and understand how it could be developed to make a difference in society.

Erik Österlund

What is your background?

– I grew up in Ringarum here in Östergötland. I became interested in entrepreneurship after running Ung-Drive and UF companies during high school. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Economics at Liu and completed a Master of Business Administration at Western Illinois University with a focus on international business. I then worked for a year as an audit assistant at Deloitte here in Linköping.

Why did you apply for the program and what do you hope to get out of it?

– During my second year at Liu, we had a lunchtime lecture with Catharina Sandberg, who talked about the trainee program, which really piqued my interest. The following year, I attended the summer event at Lead and was captivated by the startup spirit there, where everyone works on something they’re truly passionate about. Unfortunately, I think there are an enormous number of exciting and socially important ideas out there that never make it to market. Through this program, I hope to learn how I can help bring those ideas to life and make a real difference myself.

Biggest entrepreneurial role model?

– James Dyson. He looked at a rather dull industry and created something new by questioning how a standard vacuum cleaner works. He created thousands of prototypes before he found something he was actually satisfied with. What I find inspiring is the combination of perseverance, a focus on quality, and how he managed to transform a fairly mundane product category into something more innovative—and almost a little cool.

Julina Strömberg

What is your background?
– My name is Julina Strömberg. I was born and raised in Gävle and moved to Linköping to pursue my studies. I have just earned a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in strategy from Linköping University. During my studies, I’ve been particularly interested in leadership, change, innovation, and entrepreneurship. My curiosity led me to explore various industries and contexts early on, which has given me a broad perspective and a strong drive to learn and grow.

Why did you apply for the program and what do you hope to get out of it?
– I applied to the program because I’ve long been curious about entrepreneurship and find it exciting to see what happens when ideas, people, and different skill sets come together. What I hope to gain most from the program is to learn by doing, to test ideas, to meet driven and inspiring people, and to see how different skills can work together to move an idea forward.

Biggest entrepreneurial role model?
– It’s hard for me to say that I have just one role model. Instead, I’m inspired by various entrepreneurs and try to take the best from each of them—their drive, their way of thinking, their creativity, and the experiences they’ve gained. I almost think that the mistakes are just as interesting as the successes, because that’s often where you learn the most.”