Christoffer Hern?s leads the digitalization initiative at Skanska after having been responsible for business development, innovation, and IT at Norway's first entirely online bank, Sbanken. However, he began his journey as a computer science student at UiO.
Hern?s was named one of the top 10 Chief Digital Officers by Technology Magazine and was recognized as one of E24's leadership talents in 2015 and 2016. After achieving notable recognition in fintech in recent years, he has now transitioned to a new industry and is currently director of Skanska Digital. Skanska Digital is Skanska's digital development unit, where they develop industrial software for the construction industry, and invest in technology companies targeting this sector.
Before leaving his position as Chief Digital Officer at Sbanken, H?rnes managed over 100 employees across various areas such as development, IT architecture, business development, and operations. His daily routine primarily consists of meetings: – If I'm being humorous, most of my day as a top executive consists of meetings, says Hern?s. – There are many individuals to engage with and issues concerning IT and security, market trends, and which innovations we should pursue. Even though my day consists of many operational topics, I remind myself to focus on innovation and development. If we stop developing, we stagnate.
Drawn to Innovation
In 2004, Hern?s left his informatics studies at UiO to join a new master's programme then called Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
– I've always found IT and tech exciting but had to acknowledge that my talent wasn't in programming.
– I grasped strategy much faster. It came naturally to me to see connections and adopt systems thinking for complex problems. Additionally, I have a creative urge and a pull toward innovation. That was also why I chose informatics in the first place. Programming and development are creative disciplines.
– How do you use your education in your job?
– With my education, I obtained both technical depth in technology and an academic foundation in several fields - like strategy and business development. It creates a T-shaped competency profile, meaning specific expertise in informatics and academic breadth in business development and entrepreneurship. In my opinion, such competence is necessary in the future workplace.
An Internship Gives You Dirt Under Your Nails
Part of the master's program in Innovation and Entrepreneurship includes an internship, which Hern?s highlights as good preparation for working life. – The internship gave me a head start and dirt under my nails during my studies. You gain a broader knowledge base and see how the world works. Working life differs from being a student, but perhaps not in the way you imagine. In the working world, you have weekly exams in a sense - and it doesn't get easier.
During his studies, Hern?s also helped start two student associations, one at the Department of Informatics and one at what was then called the Center for Entrepreneurship. – We learned how to obtain funding from the institute in true entrepreneurial spirit, to the occasional frustration of other student associations.
Startup vs. Established Company
Before entering the finance industry, H?rnes worked for several years in consulting and was also involved in starting a consulting firm. – As a co-owner of a company in the growth phase, you physically feel what liquidity means. Then you're not just a cog in the machinery, but part of the heart of the business. When things go well, you experience happiness you don't feel as a regular employee. When things go badly, it's equally painful, says Hern?s.
– From a professional standpoint, it was exciting to work on all aspects of building a business, like marketing and brand building and to challenge companies that were 50 times larger than us.
Nevertheless, he left startup life and consulting to become more deeply involved in the industry.
– Even though I ended up in a traditional industry, I've consistently chosen to take unknown paths.
– I left KPMG to be part of an entrepreneurial adventure. As I built experience, I wanted to become the best in a field, and that was digital banking, says Hern?s. To succeed in this, he needed to be on the inside. – It was with a heavy heart that I left a company that was in many ways my baby, but I had to let go.
Success Factors
Hern?s is now referred to as an internationally recognized expert in digitalization; a status he believes is attributes to having above-average implementation ability and motivation.
– If you have good ideas but can't bring them to fruition, you won't get far.
He emphasizes living by the rule ?work hard and be nice to people?.
– Norway is a small country, and careers are built on personal reputation. Although I can sometimes be quite authoritarian and direct, it's important for me that my colleagues understand that it's just one of many approaches to getting the job done. I'm the first to ask if there's anything I can help with when someone needs assistance, and I'm never afraid to dive deep into a problem to find a solution.
– Hard work has given me operational experience from 'both sides of the table', including business development and strategy from a business perspective, operational responsibility for all IT as well as business development and innovation at Sbanken.
Change of Industry
After being a leading figure in digital banking innovation, in 2020 H?rnes decided to take a new direction:
– I simply felt a need to be able to ask all the 'dumb questions' again, and not just be an expert everyone looks to.
He began working as an independent consultant while considering different directions to take. Eventually, he chose the construction industry, which he admits is a fascinating industry for someone interested in big machines. As director of Skanska Digital, he is also responsible for their investment arm and the portfolio of startups they've invested in, making the position extra exciting. He gets to work at the intersection of technology and business development.
– If I ever find myself thinking I've learned everything I need to know, I am by definition outdated. That shall never happen.
Over the years, he has distinguished himself as a good leader and offers the following insight on how he ends up in leadership roles:
– I have had a genuine need to create change, and that happens best through the employees in a company. So, you must invest in them, making leadership the most important tool you have.
About Christoffer
- Job: Chief Digital Officer at Skanska.
- Education: Master's in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Bachelor's in informatics from UiO.
- Internationally recognized change leader and expert in digitalization.
- Named one of Norway's most prominent young leadership talents by e24 in 2015 and 2016, Kapital's list of 40 talents under 40 years in 2019, and Technology Magazine Top 10 Global CDO.
- Former expert commentator in TechCrunch and Dagens N?ringsliv.
- Serves on several boards within innovation and finance, the most recent being Kistefos AS.