nd as I was going through the courses, I realised that I could not sit at a desk and not do anything for an extended period of time. I needed more movement and more activity and I found that in retail.  I ended up graduating in marketing with a retail focus. I joined Walmart first and was there for a few years before I went to a company called Sportmart, which is no longer operating. From there, I got a phone call from Ikea and didn’t even know who they were.  To be honest, my old district manager had referred me, and out of respect to her, I went and listened [to their pitch]. I came home and told my wife that if half of what they told me was true, I’m going [to work for them]. I didn’t even have an updated resume. It was ironic, and it’s one of those things that when you find a company that matches your values and your beliefs, it’s like coming home. IR: Many retail executives hop from one brand to the next in their career. Few stay with a company for 26 years as you have with Ikea. What has kept you loyal to this brand? RO: I’m a Midwestern boy. From growing up in the Midwest, I saw that Ikea’s values matched hand in hand with my personal values.  Because of that, I have enjoyed coming into work every day. I really love what I do, and I’ve never considered ever having to make a change after I landed here. Aside from matched values, the secondary reason behind my long-term tenure with Ikea is the opportunities it has granted me. Ikea is such a large company operating across the globe with so many facets, from working on supply chain to retail operations to real estate. We own most of our assets across the globe, so with that, I ended up working in Sweden for four years working on leading our bricks-and-mortar and facility management expansion across the world.  You never get bored when there is always the next opportunity to grow and develop. I couldn’t be at a job where I’m just doing the same task over and over, because for me that would be monotonous. No disrespect to anybody in saying that, but for me, I need that variety and constant growth and new challenges to go after.  IR: What has been your proudest accomplishment with working with Ikea thus far? RO: That’s challenging to narrow down, but for me, what makes me the most proud is when I see people I’m working with take that next step [in their careers]. I’ve had so many opportunities to move around and take different roles within the company that I get so energised when somebody I’ve had the chance to help mentor or work with takes that next step. I get excited to see somebody else grow and really blossom into what they can be. With my work specifically, I would say that sustainability has been a major focus.  Back when I was Ikea’s chief financial officer [a role Olson held from 2007 to 2015], in 2014, we were establishing two wind farms here in the US. The opportunity to bring those wind farms to fruition and support that investment through my previous role as CFO was a huge accomplishment. To see those sustainability efforts come to fruition, and to see the size and the magnitude and the impact that we’re able to have on the environment, has been very rewarding. IR: What is a piece of advice you would give to aspiring professionals who hope to be in your place, 26 years down the line or so? RO: This is an easy one.  I have two boys, they’re 28 and 26, and the same advice I gave to them that I would give to any other aspiring professional is to find what you love and go after it.  When I see one of my friends and other people work for companies or in roles that they just don’t enjoy going to work at every day, I just don’t think it’s worth it.  You need to find what you love, and from there you will grow and develop like crazy.  My biggest piece of advice is that if you don’t enjoy what you do, don’t do it. Find what you love and go after it. IR: What is the best piece of advice you have personally received? RO: Out of all the learning styles, I am a converger type, which means that, like the Nike slogan, “Just Do It”, I learn by doing. The best piece of advice I’ve gotten was to just slow down before you speak up.  IR: What are the items in your business toolbox? RO: For me, it’s my team.  When I was starting out in my career, I always thought I had to have the answer to everything. Growing up, I realised that if I led the team in a good way, they were going to carry it much further than I could [solo].  So my toolbox is my team, the people that work here with me at Ikea. We refer to the Swedish term “kraftsamlar”, which translates to “pulling together”, in that when we put our minds together, we are able to solve any problem.  Further reading: Ikea’s blue walls rise, as preparations continue for New Zealand debut