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Sara returns as Head of Power Solutions

26 NOVEMBER 2024

Sara Hermansson returns to Scania as the Head of Power Solutions. She brings fresh insights and expertise, ready to lead the team toward bold, innovative, and sustainable advancements.

The new Senior Vice President of Power Solutions rejoined the company in October 2024. She launched her career through the Scania Student Intro Programme for graduate students in 2011. Since then, she’s held various roles, including Head of Hybrid and Electric Powertrain Projects, before leaving to pursue her passion for start-ups in other organisations.

Building from the ground up

Sara has always been attracted to start-ups. She loves the challenge of building something from scratch. During her time away, she worked with energy tech start-ups on battery energy storage, increasing her knowledge of start-ups and strengthening her commitment to entrepreneurship.

“Start-up businesses are generally small and lean with little capital. They lack the foundation and strengths that Scania has,” says Sara. Therefore, when the opportunity arose at the Power Solutions Department in Scania, she could not resist returning to contribute to the company's electrification and sustainability transformation. She values agility and openness to innovative technologies, seeing exciting potential for the department to excel in this field.

In her career, Sara has learned the importance of adaptability and resilience. The business landscape and customer needs can change rapidly, as evidenced by the shift toward electrification in the heavy-duty truck industry. Her experiences in other companies have taught her that it is better to act and learn from mistakes than to remain stagnant. This mindset will be crucial as she navigates the transformation of the Power Solutions department.

Advocating for gender equality

Sara is enthusiastic about promoting gender equality in the technical field. “A key priority in addressing gender equality, diversity, and inclusion is the belief that we cannot solve complex problems if we maintain a homogeneous perspective. If we want to create great products and tackle sustainability challenges effectively, we need all different types of thinking,” says Sara. She feels that a homogeneous workforce simply cannot meet the full range of global challenges we encounter.

Historically, the field of engineering has been predominantly male. Sara believes that attracting more women to engineering requires presenting the field in a way that resonates with their interests. Rather than linking engineering roles primarily to math and physics, she suggests highlighting the significant contributions engineers can make in addressing global problems and creating positive change. Role models are crucial, as they provide a vision of what is possible and inspire the next generation of female engineers.

Sara’s leadership style is rooted in transparency, breaking down barriers to create a supportive, stress-free workplace. She empowers her team to make bold decisions independently, aligning them with the company's mission. Sara's willingness to take risks and embrace the unconventional distinguishes her and sends a powerful message to those who feel they do not fit into traditional moulds.