What I am doing now
This is a Now page, inspired by Derek Sivers. You should create one too!
I will be updating it monthly
Updated Monday 24.02.2025 at Oslo (Norway)
What a whirlwind of a first month in Bydel Sรธndre Nordstrand it has been!
I can confidently say this has been one of the most meaningful and impactful career transitions of my life.
Here are some reflections so far ๐๐ป
๐ฅ ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐
This is my first time working in the public sector, and itโs been fascinating to see how the fabrics of society operateโhealthcare, education, urban planning, and more.
These are the systems we often take for granted in a well-established democracy, and being part of their evolution is both humbling and empowering.
โจ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ณ๐๐น ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ณ๐๐น ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ
For the first time in a long time and one of the most rewarding aspects of my job, is seeing the direct effect and value of my work on peopleโs lives and society.
๐๏ธ ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฒ๐น๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ
Working here has deepened my appreciation for the welfare state we live in Norway.
Seeing how taxes are thoughtfully utilized to care for citizens, ensuring a high quality of life for everyone, has been eye-opening and inspiring.
Itโs a system built on trust, care, and collective responsibility, and Iโm proud to contribute to it.
๐ ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น
Being placed at the district level means I get to engage and work across public services.
This is where local citizens interact with the cityโs public services, and itโs a privilege to be part of shaping those first touch points.
๐ฉโ๐ผ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ
For the first time in my career, I have a manager Cathrin Blitzner Mรธller who truly understands and values human-centered design and innovation. Itโs refreshing to work with someone who not only โgets itโ but also champions it.
๐ค ๐๐ผ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ด๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ถ๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐
The people I work with in the public sector are some of the most engaged, motivated, and genuinely caring individuals Iโve ever met.
Their dedication to helping, taking care of others and improving society is inspiring.
โค๏ธ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ป
After many years in the private sector, I had lost some of my passion for service design. But this role has reignited that spark.
The public sector is where service design truly shinesโitโs where we can create meaningful change and bring real value for people's lives and communities.
โ
๐๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ช๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐
Unlike many organizations that place innovation under IT, my department is under Org Development.
This positioning emphasizes the role of innovation as a tool for organizational change and development, with service design and human-centered design at its core.
This first month has confirmed that Iโm exactly where I need to be, has reminded me why I chose this path and has given me a renewed sense of purpose.
๐๐ป Thanks to everyone who has supported me in this transition!