As the CFO of Norway, Kirsten Amundsgård’s role is focused on a group level, overseeing and coordinating finance activities across the entirety of Axess Group.
What Drives Us: Stories from Our Team
Our collective identity is shaped by our people and their unwavering passions. Within the workplace, they stand as the driving force behind our success. Beyond the confines of the office, they exhibit an equal fervour for their hobbies.
This article is a collection of five personal narratives where our colleagues share about their hobbies, proudest achievements, challenges they have triumphed over during their journeys, as well as the culture in Axess.
What is your favourite hobby that you engage in outside of work?
Cato: I like challenging myself in many ways outside of work. Skiing has been a significant passion of mine since I was just four years old. In my earlier years, I focused on alpine race skiing, and as I grew older, I transitioned into skiercross and big mountain freeride skiing, driven by a mindset of pushing my limits. Conquering my personal boundaries is a big motivation for me. It requires knowing what your limits are and working towards a goal.
João: I began Hawaiian Canoeing about two to three times a week in late 2022 after noticing canoe clubs while running at Botafogo Beach. Canoeing requires a lot of teamwork and synchronicity. Simultaneously, it offers a tranquil experience with the absence of city noises during the early mornings out at sea.
Kirsten: I got into ultra trail running in my 20s because of my partner’s influence. He was really into it and encouraged me to start running. His passion rubbed off on me, so I decided to give it a try. Initially, the idea of running long distances seemed daunting. But I kicked things off with a 20 km race. After that, I decided to challenge myself with a 50 km race, eventually leading up to a 100 km race – and I have not looked back since.
Running felt like a natural fit for me, given my love for training and being outdoors during my cross-country skiing days. I participate in 2 to 3 races per year, ranging from 50 km to 100 km each. The longest race I have completed was a 120 km, and my goal is to take on a 100-mile (about 160 km) race at some point in the future.
Malcolm: During the monsoon season, I love to go on treks in the Sahyadri mountain range, located in Maharashtra, India. My passion for trekking started during my college years when I started venturing out with friends. While living and working in a city has its benefits, going on treks allows me to experience what urban life often lacks – the fresh air, the green expanse of nature, the silence which surrounds you, and the scenery which rejuvenates one’s senses.
I usually go trekking at least twice a month during the monsoon and the winter seasons. During these periods, the weather is refreshingly cool, the hills and mountains are cloaked in vibrant greenery, and there are many water bodies and waterfalls to see.
Savanna: Narrowing down a single activity is no easy task. As someone with an insatiable curiosity, I enjoy trying a wide spectrum of activities, including golf, hiking, skydiving, and simpler pastimes like gardening or feeding my cows and sheep. Lately, golf has captured my interest.
What is an accomplishment related to the hobby that you are most proud of?
Cato: Rising up from my severe injuries to place 4th in a Freeride World Tour competition. For context, I was almost 50% medical disabled and 100% sport-disabled at that time. I had endured fractures to my pelvis, cranium, both heel caps, arm, clavicle, jaw, and also suffered from three compression fractures in my back, and blown-out knees.
During this challenging period, I had to put my mind and motivation on the line to reclaim a semblance of the life I know, both in work and personal endeavours. Quitting was never an option. I pushed through all the obstacles and relearned all the basics – walking, talking, balance and moving – essentially starting from scratch. I had devoted myself to relentless training day and night to recover from these severe injuries.
João: While I have not participated in any competitions to date, I have already crossed the Guanabara Bay, passing by our clients’ assets.
Kirsten: The Grossglockner Ultra-trail race in Kaprun, Austria that I did in July 2023 was the best race I ever did. I am not only proud of finishing it, but also of the process of getting there, considering it was just about 10 months after giving birth.
About 2 weeks postpartum, I started going on slow walks for about 1 to 2 weeks before progressing to uphill walks with my baby in the stroller, gradually introducing intervals of walking and running. I resumed running after about a month of this routine. It was important for me to step outside and reconnect with myself, while heeding my body’s cues.
My ability to resume physical activities relatively soon after giving birth was probably attributed to my inherent active lifestyle, which persisted throughout my pregnancy. Despite not being able to run in the last trimester, I continued to hike, and even walked uphill on the very day I went into labour.
Malcolm: I once embarked on the Andharban trek, where “Andharban” translates to “dense forest”. Spanning approximately 26 km, it was one of the best treks I have experienced. During the 8.5h journey, I navigated through hills and valleys, and witnessed some of the best sights, including picturesque valleys, a dam and stunning mountain ranges.
Savanna: I emerged from a car accident with severe injuries and the disheartening news that I might never fully regain normal nerve function. Yet, a year later, I defied the odds and placed second in a national swimming competition.
Are there any specific challenges you faced while pursuing your hobby, and how did you overcome them?
João: The most challenging aspects involve mastering the canoe movements and achieving synchronicity among a typical team of six. However, with practice, I become accustomed to it and continue to improve.
Kirsten: Finding the time for training, particularly after becoming a parent, is quite demanding. For me, it is all about setting priorities. Apart from my full-time job and dedicated family time with my partner and child, training is a significant focus, leaving little room for anything else. I commit to training six days a week, amounting to 10 to 12 hours in total. Typically, this involves dedicating an hour each weekday, after my child has gone to sleep at night, and extended sessions on weekends.
Long-distance races are a physical and mental battle. To cope, I set small milestones, making the challenge more manageable. This approach allows me to push myself and ultimately reach the finish line. I strive to reach a mental state where I can block out external distractions and solely concentrate on moving forward.
Malcolm: The fear of walking up steep slopes and a limited understanding of different trails, places to explore and the best times to visit were some challenges. To overcome them, I joined a trekking group and started going on shorter treks and gradually progressed to more demanding ones as my confidence grew.
Savanna: When I was younger, I experienced a car accident that left me with significant nerve damage, among other things. This particularly affected my ability to use both arms effectively. Relearning how to use my arms was a strenuous process, but I had faith that I would be able to recover.
For about 3 to 5 years, daily swimming sessions, doubling as physical therapy, were instrumental in my journey back to normalcy. Call it stubbornness or determination, but it helped me to persist in the therapy.
Has your hobby influenced your approach to life or work in any way?
Cato: Sports have fundamentally shaped who I am today, influencing every aspect of my being. The emphasis on high performance echoes throughout my work and life endeavours. This commitment also entails maintaining full concentration, which is especially important for risky situations, such as climbing in an offshore environment. The ability to block out external distractions proves vital in such scenarios which are often physically and mentally challenging.
João: Hawaiian canoeing has demonstrated the transformative power of teamwork. The collective effort and synchronicity among team members not only propel the canoe forward but also enable us to go further and faster.
Kirsten: I set small goals for work, just as I do for races, especially when the workload gets overwhelming. Otherwise, the task can appear daunting, leaving me unsure where to start or if I will ever finish. Establishing small milestones and working towards them is incredibly effective for me.
Malcolm: There are some principles that I have from trekking, which can be incorporated into work – setting targets, utilising the right tools and prioritising safety.
Savanna: It has taught me discipline, and that consistency and effort create results. Above all, passion is the driving force.
What is work-life balance to you?
Cato: Work-life balance to me is about putting in the effort at work to be able to enjoy what life has to offer. I thrive on challenging myself during free time. If I am not actively living life, my work performance suffers because my mind tends to wander.
Kirsten: Work-life balance is about finding harmony between the demands of work and personal activities. In my case, when work gets intense, running serves as a rejuvenating break, ultimately enhancing my productivity and efficiency for the next work day.
Savanna: The balance resembles a seesaw rather than a level surface. There are times where work demands more attention, and there are times when personal life takes precedence. It is similar to accounting, where month-end necessitates extra hours and attention, while mid-month might afford more free time.
Sometimes we need to push through and dedicate more time to work, but we also need to spend some time paying attention to other aspects of life.
How has our workplace culture helped you to achieve work-life balance?
Cato: For me, getting hired by Axess was all about timing. It happened at a point in my life where I was facing challenges on various fronts at home, and it helped me to push past my limitations again.
I would say that Axess’ workplace culture played a pivotal role in taking a new step in my life. Working here has not only made me a satisfied and proud employee, but has also enhanced my knowledge and competence. Whenever we encounter something beyond our expertise, there is always a colleague who can provide the answers. The support network is something I appreciate a lot.
Malcolm: Axess maintains clear expectations and does not shift goalposts, which allows employees to plan and manage time effectively. There is sufficient time for employees to acclimatise and understand the system and processes, allowing for a smoother integration of work into their lives. There are no restrictions on thinking out of the box, proposing fresh ideas and working on them.
At the same time, there are ample opportunities for teambonding, such as trekking and beach cleanup. The balance between work-related responsibilities and team activities makes working at Axess highly favourable.