Alum and Young Alum of the Year Awards 2022
For the fifth year in a row, the Stockholm School of Economics presented the Alum of the Year Award and, for the second year, the Young Alum of the Year Award. In 2022, Magnus Nilsson, co-founder of iZettle, received the Alum of the Year Award, while Anna Zhan, Stakeholder Engagement & Public Affairs Manager at H&M Group China, received the Young Alum of the Year Award.
Alum of the Year Award 2022
Magnus Nilsson, co-founder of iZettle
Magnus Nilsson earned his BSc in Economics and Business from the Stockholm School of Economics in 1979. A serial entrepreneur, Magnus co-founded iZettle in 2010, a successful payments company that helps small businesses expand their payment capabilities. Before iZettle, Magnus held a range of leadership and entrepreneurial roles. He was executive vice president of the EF Education Group, part of the founding team of Novestra AB, CEO of Wayfinder Systems, and founder and chief executive officer of Nordic Wireless.
Through iZettle, Magnus has played an important role in simplifying the business landscape and lowering barriers for small businesses everywhere. For his significant role in the Swedish business world, he was awarded H.M. The King’s Medal in 2021. Magnus is a very committed supporter of SSE. He supports the School in many ways – not least by developing the School’s work with alumni relations and fundraising.
"Magnus embodies SSE’s educational mission: FREE. His entrepreneurial spirit, self-awareness and reflection, along with his business success, make him a role model for many within the SSE network. His dedication to supporting small business owners, primarily through the creation of iZettle, has made a significant contribution to the Swedish business world. We are immensely grateful to Magnus for his ongoing support of SSE and for helping us grow and develop the alumni community. We are proud that Magnus is an active member of the SSE family."
- Lars Strannegård
President, Stockholm School of Economics
To receive the 2022 SSE Alumni of the Year Award is unreal. Thank you! My years at SSE have given me so much. Studying at SSE was a truly inspiring experience, with lecturers, teachers and fellow students opening my eyes to a new world full of interesting and challenging problems to solve. Not to mention an interesting career at home and abroad and last but not least, getting friends for life. I couldn't be happier about my choice - studying at SSE - quite some time ago.
Young Alum of the Year Award 2022
Anna Zhan, Stakeholder Engagement and Public Affairs Manager at H&M Group in China
Anna Zhan earned her BSc in Business and Economics and MSc in Accounting and Financial Management from the Stockholm School of Economics in 2015 and 2017, respectively. In her role at H&M Group in China, Anna manages relations with key stakeholders, which directly contributes to overall sustainability goals, such as creating a circular ecosystem and providing fair jobs for all.
During her time at SSE, Anna was selected for the Business Sweden graduate trainee program. She worked in Beijing, where she helped Swedish companies develop business relationships in China, and in Hong Kong, where she led the Swedish business community’s sustainability agenda. Anna is a committed supporter of SSE and has inspired current and prospective students with her career journey by participating in SSE Alumni Profile, as well as by providing career support for students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Anna’s work significantly contributes to greater sustainability in an important industry for social issues and in a key location for environmental issues. By sharing her experience at SSE and her career journey with current and prospective students, Anna serves as an inspiration for future alumni and alumni alike. We are proud that Anna is part of the SSE family and look forward to continuing to follow her career path."
- Lars Strannegård
President, Stockholm School of Economics
I am truly honored to receive this award. Coming from a non-academic family far away from Stockholm, studying at SSE has meant a world of opportunities for me to realize my full potential and pursue my dreams. I have had fantastic professors, mentors, role models and classmates who challenged and inspired me. Upon graduation, I gained a passion for sustainability and an ambition to pursue an international career through which I could make an impact. The five years at SSE really shaped me as a person and I would not be the person I am today without this transformative experience.
The Alum of The Year Award is an honor bestowed on graduates of the Stockholm School of Economics for their professional achievements, contributions to society and support to the school. The Young Alum of the Year Award is bestowed on graduates of the Stockholm School of Economics who graduated around 10 years ago or less for their significant contributions to their field and for setting an inspirational example for future alumni.