Iselin Paulsen, head of business development at the analytics firm Radar Norway and board chair of Stiftelsen ASTA, is one of the nominees for Styrekvinnen (Board Woman of the Year) 2024. With broad experience from politics, the public sector, the trade union movement and the tech industry, she is living proof of how board work can be used as a platform for creating value and strengthening competitiveness.
Paulsen began her career in politics and the trade union movement before moving into the tech industry eight years ago. This journey has given her insights and experience that have been crucial to her role as board chair of Stiftelsen ASTA.
She was first nominated to the board by the archives association Arkivforbundet and has since risen to the top as board chair. Her background in technology, leadership and business development has been central to turning the foundation around, from an operating loss to positive growth.
For Paulsen, the driving force is to contribute to greater value creation and stronger competitiveness. She stresses the importance of a strong customer and market focus, as well as good control of revenues and costs. The board’s role in securing the company’s financial development, managing risk and following up the day-to-day management is essential to achieving this.
Paulsen believes the boardroom offers a unique opportunity to influence and contribute to the growth of organisations. The board’s responsibilities range from hiring and guiding the CEO to setting strategic goals and ensuring they are delivered.
She also highlights the importance of structure and prioritisation in board work, as well as the ability to delegate and to work as a team.
With the introduction of the statutory requirement for gender balance on Norwegian boards, some 13,000 women board members will be needed in the coming years. Paulsen points out that there are many capable women out there, but that nomination committees often do not know about them. She encourages looking among women leaders in the tech industry, and making board positions less daunting so that more women are motivated to take on such roles.
Paulsen recommends that women who want board positions register in CV databases such as Agile, use their networks and keep up to date with developments in the business world.
Read the full interview with Iselin Paulsen (in Norwegian) here: AW Magazine