Name: Astrid Østebø
Job Title: VP Strategy, Market
Education: Master of Science (MSc) in Economics and a MSc in International Business Studies from CBS in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Professional background: My previous job was at Telia Enterprise, where I was a part of the commercial management team, leading the small- and medium-sized business (SME) segment team.
My main responsibility was to deliver on the strategic ambitions and service revenue targets in the SME segment together with sales. I also had to define the segment & GTM strategy, drive the commercial development agenda, and mobilize the organization to deliver on our targets and plans. It was both exciting and educational. I planned to stay at Telia, but then reMarkable contacted me.
When did you first hear about reMarkable?
I believe it was when reMarkable 2 was selected as one of the Best Inventions of 2020 by TIME magazine. I was immensely impressed. I've always worked in tech, and I must say this paper tablet is genuinely one of Norway's most exciting tech inventions.
When reMarkable called, I immediately felt curious and wanted to learn more. I thought it sounded like both a challenging and unusual role. My background consists of business development and strategy. I led the business development team at Canal Digital Satellite for four years, so I also felt that it might be a perfect fit.
What made you choose reMarkable?
I think it clicked already in my first interview. I was positively surprised by the company's focus on culture and people. Many organizations tell you it's a primary focus, but with reMarkable, they truly believe it. It's a core value throughout the strategy. I remember the interviewer told me my experience was great, but it was equally as important that I wanted to work towards the vision statement and build a team, not a personal status. That was music to my ears.
The first thing that grabbed my attention was the thought that I’d be working for a global tech scaleup based in Norway that produces a product I love, a company with great potential that’s in a growth phase. The thing that tipped me over the edge was reMarkable’s extraordinary focus on well-being and a healthy company culture and, of course, all the really nice and smart people I met during the interview process.
Has reMarkable lived up to your expectations?
They have! A great company culture inherently promotes curiosity, respect, teamwork, and employee health in combination with a dedication to succeed and deliver results.
Everyone is super friendly and open, and there’s always room for discussions and asking questions. It’s lovely to see this healthy and dynamic culture and be a part of it. After only two weeks, I could recognize everything they had described in the interview: curiosity, helpfulness, and dedication.
Finally, what are you looking forward to in your new role?
My main goal is to add value and contribute to delivering great results for the company as well as my team. I feel reMarkable is just in the starting phase. I can't wait to learn how they work and positively impact different processes and results.
Most companies want an agile environment, and though they report some use of agile practices, implementation is not broad or deep. reMarkable seems to have cracked the code, and I can't wait to embrace these principles.
I'm also looking forward to the famous parties. I know they prioritize celebrating hard work, and I think it's fantastic that the organization wants to create fun memories. We spend a lot of our time at work, so it's essential to have fun and enjoy everyday life.
