HOW DID YOU END UP BECOMING WHO YOU ARE?

Many different facets of life have shaped who I am today. Through a combination of my upbringing, dreaming, coincidence, ambitions and striving. I take inspiration from the people I admire, the political landscape and the culture that has so often touched me. 

With that said, I always had quite a clear plan of what I wanted to do. It has changed a few times over the years, sometimes into a more blurry version, other times to a brighter one, but the overall aim has always been the same; I wanted to do something that could possibly create change, to bring people together through culture and stories. 

When I think about what has shaped me the most, it's time. Getting older and the process of age has without a doubt had its biggest impact on who I am today and what I do. For as long as I can remember, I have always admired people who were older than me, for the knowledge they possess and the calmness that surrounds them. When I was younger, I was very eager to get ahead in this world and, in hindsight, I didn’t pay enough attention to the lessons I learned while doing so. So every day as I get older, it’s my goal to appreciate how I learn a bit more about becoming better; as a colleague, leader, friend, citizens, partner, bonus-mother and mother. 

WHAT PIQUED YOUR INTEREST IN ART AND CULTURE? E.G. CAN YOU RECALL YOUR FIRST MEMORY OF ART, WHAT YOUR FAVORITE PIECE OF ART/GALLERY/MUSEUM?

My interest in the cultural world centres around how it makes me feel; it touched me. Art, more specifically, mid century painting, was the first culture form that really affected me emotionally. I remember seeing an Asger Jorn painting at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art when I was around 12 years old and thinking it was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. It was a large-scale abstract painting in black and white, several metres high, with deep structures from the print-brushes. You could disappear for hours, immersing into the many details. If I remember correctly, I even told my mother that if I ever got married, I wanted that painting as a present. I still have that to come, but I’m not counting on it. 

So when somehow, during my time at university, I realised I could actually work within culture - first writing about it and later producing it - it was as if I had seen the light. I feel very lucky that I can combine my interests and work life into a symbiosis of passion. 

CREATIVITY AND CULTURE - WHAT DO THEY MEAN TO YOU?

For me, creativity means a drive for change. Culture means community and collaboration. I believe both are ground pillars if we wish to develop and maintain a sustainable world, where both people and our planet can thrive.

AT HOFMANN COPENHAGEN, WE STRIVE TO DISMANTLE, PUSH AND MERGE BOUNDARIES, EXPECTATIONS AND STEREOTYPES FOR WOMEN AND FASHION, IN DEDICATION TO THE MODERN WOMAN. WHAT DOES BEING A WOMAN MEAN TO YOU?

Being a woman means being who I am. I don’t do anything consciously differently because of that, which I’m very aware of.

Over the years, I have been provoked about often being the only woman in boards and management and also found it very unfair that I have experienced being shamed for my love life, just because I was a woman and not a man. But despite that, I always try to act how I believe is right, not giving my gender too much thought - whether it’s creating more gender balance or standing up for myself.

I will (soon) be mother and bonus-mother to two daughters who I will bring up -  and I aspire to be a strong role model for them as my mother was to me. My mother led the way in a very male dominated world which I’m sure is one of the reasons I never thought much of my gender in my upbringing. Now we live in a different age with a completely different way of living, thinking and understanding gender - finally. My hope is that I will be the woman - and the person - to show my daughters that they can be exactly who they want to be regardless of their gender.  

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST LESSONS YOU'VE LEARNT SO FAR?

The biggest lesson I have learnt so far is to be myself and not to try and be somebody else. I was given this piece of advice 8 years ago by a close friend of mine who is 20 years my age. Ever since, the biggest lessons in life at work, in love, in life and in friendship takes its turn from that.  

WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE? E.G. CULTURAL WORLD, WORK, PERSONAL. 

Now, as well as in the future, I hope that everybody will take the responsibility needed to make a sustainable and long-lasting world. Myself included, as I’m not the perfect example; I could also do more. 

The world is experiencing one crisis after another which sometimes makes us blind to what's going on around us - we shouldn't give up. My hopes and aspirations are that we all take the necessary steps to do what is needed. Creating a sense of responsibility within everybody is, as I see it, the biggest challenge of our time.