It’s all about the people and the great relationships

Lisa Svensson, Swedish Operations Manager at SEB Life International, shares how strong relationships and team collaboration ensure top-quality service.

Lisa shares her background, detailing how she entered the financial services industry and the reasons behind her move to Ireland.

"I'm originally from Gothenburg, Sweden, but I actually moved to Ireland straight after school at 19. My early years here were a bit of an adventure. I worked in a variety of jobs, from a stable hand at a horse racing yard to a hairdressing apprenticeship. I absolutely loved it, especially the Irish weather, which was a welcome change from Sweden’s snow and ice!"

"After a few years, I moved back to Sweden and landed a contract role at an insurance company. That temporary job turned into a long-term career path in the insurance industry. I worked in a range of areas including home, car, lorry, and van insurance with Trygg Hansa and Länsförsäkringar Pension & Försäkring. Eventually, I moved into life insurance and pensions, and for the last five of my twelve years there, I worked as a Financial Advisor. During that time, I also completed my Life Diploma and earned my SwedSec licence."

"In 2015, I returned to Ireland and completed the Qualified Financial Advisor (QFA) certification with the Institute of Bankers. I joined SEB Life in 2016 and today, I’m proud to be the Swedish Operations Manager, overseeing life policy administration for the Swedish market."

Tell us more about your role! What does your team do?

Lisa explains that the Swedish Operations team consists of around 10 colleagues and we work alongside our other market teams including Finnish and European.

“My team is responsible for the full spectrum of life policy administration for our Swedish products. That includes everything from processing new business and investment administration to handling policy changes and claims, essentially the entire lifecycle of a life insurance policy.

No two days are ever the same. We operate in a constantly evolving regulatory and market environment, so the role is dynamic and full of learning opportunities. Despite the variety, one thing remains constant: our commitment to delivering high-quality, knowledgeable, service to our customers.”

What’s the best part of working at SEB?

For Lisa, it’s all about the people and the great relationships that are created.

“Leading a Swedish team based in Ireland adds another layer of connection—we’ve built a close-knit, supportive group of colleagues.

One of the most rewarding aspects of leadership for me is helping people recognise and develop their individual strengths. I believe in building diverse teams, where each person brings something unique to the table. It makes us more resilient and better able to adapt when things change or workloads peak.

I also get a lot of satisfaction from process improvement. I actively encourage my team to question the way we do things and suggest new ideas—we’re always looking for ways to work smarter.”