Caesar Friberg Jonsson

Working here has reinforced my belief that together, we can make a significant positive impact on the world.

I joined Kalmar in June, 2023, as a Global Sales and Marketing Trainee. Originally, this role was meant to end after the summer, but due to my performance and emerging opportunities, my contract was extended. In the New Year, I transitioned into a Management Trainee role at Kalmar, gaining valuable experience across Global Sales, Product Line, and R&D, which has given me a comprehensive understanding of the company and its operations.

My background blends a passion for sports with experience in sales and politics. I’ve served as an elected official on the municipal board, worked as a sales consultant, and gained entrepreneurial experience from running my own company for a few years, all of which have provided me with a solid foundation in business management and operations.

Initially, I was motivated to join Kalmar due to my interest in Marketing and Sales. However, what truly drew me in was the alignment with my thesis on sustainability and how to communicate sustainable claims to customers. Over time, my motivation has only grown as I’ve seen how Kalmar’s commitment to sustainability drives real change. Working here has reinforced my belief that we can make a significant positive impact on the world.

Key Milestones and Memorable Project

A key milestone during my time at Kalmar was developing a dashboard to monitor Action Logs used globally to grow sales. Harmonising these logs and making the dashboard user-friendly was a challenge, but I believe we found a good solution, and the dashboard continues to function well—fingers crossed! 

One standout experience was organising a Sales Training for the SSEA Sales team during their visit to Ljungby. The week was valuable in helping me learn more about Kalmar products and the challenges faced by our teams globally.

Evolution of My Role and Learning Opportunities

Though both of my roles at Kalmar have been traineeships, they’ve evolved significantly. As a Management Trainee, I’ve had the chance to lead larger projects, driving personal growth and reinforcing my value to the company. Working with diverse teams has expanded my knowledge, and I now have a deeper understanding of the business. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what I’ve learned, but I can confidently say that now I know what a DRG450-75S6HXS is—something I had no knowledge of a year ago. I believe I’m heading in the right direction.

Company Culture and Kalmar's Core Behaviours

I believe I have gained a solid understanding of Kalmar's cultural aspects, particularly within the Counterbalanced division, having worked in different functions within a short period. The culture at Kalmar is fundamentally based on helpfulness. Throughout this year, I’ve asked countless questions and always received responses, even if it was the third time asking the same question. I attribute this to the "Småländska andan"—the spirit of Småland—where people have supported each other in various ways for over a thousand years.

I’ve observed Kalmar's core behaviours many times, especially in the tasks I’ve been assigned during my rotations. People consistently solve problems across different functions to satisfy our customers, demonstrating both extreme ownership and customer focus. In my projects, I’ve been given the freedom to experiment, which I believe adds significant value to me, my colleagues, and the overall performance of the company.

Tips for New talents 

Ask questions - Don’t hesitate to seek answers.

Understand the business and our customers - This will give you valuable insights.

Have fun - Enjoy the journey as we strive for success!

The spirit of helpfulness at Kalmar creates an environment where everyone’s growth is a shared priority.