Malin Kjällström: The powerhouse behind Gothenburg Tech Week

Her secret? Embracing what she once saw as a weakness. “I’m a generalist,” she explains. Rather than specializing in one niche, she thrives in the “in between” spaces — bridging industries, translating between worlds, and sparking collaborations that might never have happened otherwise. It’s this gift for connecting dots that has turned Gothenburg Tech Week into the melting pot it is today.

“I thrive in the in-between”

Her life is a balance of founder energy and family chaos: mornings with her daughters, afternoons filled with conversations with startups and investors, and evenings that swing between bedtime stories and deep work.

Of course, building something this ambitious hasn’t been without its challenges. In 2024, just weeks after giving birth to her second daughter, Kjällström found herself in the whirlwind of another Tech Week. She admits she felt physically present but emotionally absent during those first months, a painful realization that continues to shape how she thinks about boundaries, leadership, and asking for help.

Still, what keeps her going after ten years is simple: people. Listening, learning, and watching great minds come together to create something new fuels her every day. And, she still loves having an excuse to wear the signature Gothenburg Tech Week hat.

“Listening to brilliant minds create something new together — that’s what energizes me.”

For her, diversity is not a slogan — it’s the foundation of innovation.

“Our events simply aren’t good if we don’t have different voices in the room”

At Gothenburg Tech Week, representation is intentional: the goal is to bring together perspectives from different genders, cultures, industries, and backgrounds, knowing that’s where the real magic happens.

Looking ahead, Kjällström sees women playing a leading role in shaping the future — whether it’s turning cutting-edge research into companies, steering AI toward ethical development, or redefining entrepreneurship to be about more than profit.

“We have a huge opportunity to build businesses that are sustainable for both people and planet”