Chalmers’ Alumni of the Year – for a better world award goes to Caroline Farberger, board professional and investor.
‘I wish that all Chalmers graduates have the strength to break free from the strong conformity that often arises at universities and in workplaces,’ she says.
Caroline Farberger became nationally known when she underwent gender reassignment while serving as CEO of Ica Insurance. As the first senior business leader in Sweden to do so, she drew widespread attention, which was followed by lectures, a Sommar radio talk – and now an alumni award from Chalmers.
The citation highlights her ‘unique contribution to Swedish business, social development and norm-challenging leadership. She demonstrates that vulnerability and strength can coexist, and that true leadership begins with the courage to be fully oneself.’
‘I am deeply moved by this. I have a strong engineer’s soul, and Chalmers is close to my heart,’ she says.
New perspectives
After graduating from Electrical Engineering in 1991, Caroline Farberger has spent most of her career in the financial sector, where she has seen a tough industry from both a normative and a norm-breaking perspective.
‘Only later in life, after my transition, did I realise how different the conditions can be at a workplace if you don’t belong to the norm. When I studied electrical engineering at Chalmers, women were a small minority – as they still are in parts of working life. Naively, I thought everyone had the same opportunities to advance.’
It was only when she began living as a woman that she saw the invisible structures.
‘It can be harder to be recognised for your abilities if you’re not like everyone else. It may be about jargon, access to leadership positions, company culture or networks. I adapted to existing norms for a long time in order to succeed – but I wasn’t living as myself’, she says.
Curiosity – in more than just technology
These experiences have given her valuable insights into leadership and business.
‘In Sweden, we have an exceptionally high standard of engineering education. But for that competence to reach its full potential, we need leadership driven by curiosity – not only for technology but also for our differences in experience, background and perspective.’
She believes this is becoming increasingly important in a shrinking and more competitive world.
‘Today’s markets are fast-moving, and it is harder to patent technologies. The question then becomes: how do we work with our people? An inclusive corporate culture is a competitive advantage.’
At a time when many parts of the world are seeing a shift in political rhetoric around soft values such as inclusion and equality, Caroline Farberger believes the progress made cannot be reversed.
‘The backlash is more about labels than substance. There are political movements opposing this, but I know that all the major Swedish companies I work with will continue to pursue active inclusion – because it strengthens their competitiveness.’
Make technology serve the society
She therefore calls for more focus on leadership already within education.
‘Engineers often end up in leadership roles. That’s why education should provide tools for how to inspire others and help them grow through inclusive leadership – not just deliver according to project specifications.’
Caroline Farberger also wants to see engineers take a broader social perspective. As a student in the 1990s, she was mainly interested in ‘tinkering with technology’ and left questions of societal development to others.
‘I was mainly focused on joining the mobile phone revolution. But engineers too must take responsibility for how technology is used to create a better society. How do we ensure technology serves society in a safe and responsible way?’
Even though she no longer works in technical roles, Caroline Farberger has benefited from her time at Chalmers – not only through her hobby of repairing vintage valve radios.
‘I can tell, when spending time with economists, that I have the structured mindset I learned as an engineer – breaking down complex problems and finding logic in a complicated world. That’s invaluable.’
"Can be different and still succeed"
The citation states: ‘Caroline Farberger is a role model for current and future Chalmers graduates, not only for what she does but for who she dares to be.’
‘Since childhood, I have felt that something was different about me – my sense of femininity. But I was raised within a norm and thought I had to be like everyone else to gain respect and build a career.
I want to show that it doesn’t have to be that way. You can be different and still succeed. I wish all Chalmers graduates would embrace their unique personality and find the strength to challenge the conformity that often arises at universities and in workplaces.’
Justification
Alumni of the Year 2025
For a better world – Caroline Farberger
Caroline Farberger (E91) – a role model for a more human and inclusive world through her courage, influence and values-driven leadership
Caroline Farberger is awarded Alumni of the Year – For a Better World 2025 for her unique contribution to Swedish business, social development and norm-challenging leadership. She demonstrates that vulnerability and strength can coexist, and that true leadership begins with the courage to be fully oneself.
With a successful career in business as CEO, board member and investor, Caroline has challenged established ideas about the relationship between power and authenticity. By openly undergoing gender reassignment while in a top executive position in 2018, she became a pioneer who, instead of stepping back, chose to step forward – giving others the courage to follow. Since then, Caroline has become a strong voice for diversity, psychological safety and gender equality, both in Sweden and internationally, including as a member of the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council.
Through her writing, lectures and living example, she shows that engineering is not only about technology but also about human responsibility and belief in the future. Caroline Farberger is a role model for today’s and tomorrow’s Chalmers graduates – not only for what she does, but for who she dares to be.