Siri Olstad: finalist for Styrekvinnen 2024 – diversity is the key to profitability and success In our series on the finalists for Styrekvinnen 2024, we present Siri Olstad, an experienced board member with an impressive portfolio. After 23 years as group legal counsel at large international companies, Olstad has built broad expertise that now strengthens several boardrooms, both in Norway and internationally.
Broad business experience
With a law degree from the University of Bergen, Olstad has had a long career as group legal counsel at companies such as Aker Solutions, Aibel and Archer. Today she is a partner at the law firm Simonsen Vogt Wiig and holds several board positions across industries, including renewable energy, technology and staffing. Her versatile experience in business operations, strategy, employment law, sustainability and risk management gives her a solid foundation for board work.
Diversity as a driving force
Olstad is passionate about diversity in the boardroom and believes it is crucial for profitable operations, innovation and long-term success. She is concerned about how some companies quickly change their policies on diversity and sustainability when the political winds shift, and stresses the importance of holding on to these values – especially in board work.
Balancing work and private life
As a partner in a large law firm and an active board member, Olstad balances many roles. She highlights good time management, prioritisation and support from her family as the key to making it all work. She stresses the importance of accepting that not everything can always be perfect – and that good enough is good enough.
Quotas as a necessary measure
Olstad supports the gender balance requirements for Norwegian boards and believes quotas have been necessary to drive change. She encourages women to take on unpaid board positions to build experience and networks, and believes that mentoring programmes and training initiatives are important for recruiting more women to board work.
As part of her commitment, she will soon launch a series of free courses on board work in Stavanger, in the hope of inspiring more women to take their place in the boardroom.
Read the full interview with Siri Olstad (in Norwegian) in AW Magazine here
