Alum and Young Alum of the Year Awards 2026
For the ninth year, the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) recognizes alumni achievements through the Alum of the Year Award and, for the sixth year, the Young Alum of the Year Award. In 2026, the Alum of the Year is Fredrik Strömholm, Founder and Partner of Impilo, and the Young Alum of the Year is Johanna Andrén, Co-founder and CCO of imeto.
Alum of the Year Award
Fredrik Strömholm, Founder and Partner of Impilo
Fredrik Strömholm earned his MSc in Business and economics from the Stockholm School of Economics in 1989, including studies in finance at HEC in France. His career began at Goldman Sachs International, where he later became Managing Director responsible for the Nordic corporate finance team.
In 2003, Fredrik co-founded Altor Equity Partners, which has grown into one of the Nordic region’s most prominent investment firms. After 14 years at Altor, he chose to direct his experience toward healthcare, a field with profound importance for individuals and society. He and a few colleagues founded Impilo in 2016. Since its founding, Impilo has established itself as a leader in Nordic mid-sized healthcare investments. Fredrik serves as Managing Partner and Chair of its Investment Committee.
Throughout his career, Fredrik has combined financial expertise with patience, sound judgment, and a long-term perspective. His engagement as Chairman of Stiftelsen Natur & Kultur, together with board and advisory roles across healthcare, education, culture, and sports, reflects a commitment that reaches beyond business performance. It is a record of stewardship built on the understanding that strong institutions must create value for both their stakeholders and society.
Fredrik’s career offers a compelling example of how experience and capital can be directed with purpose, responsibility, and lasting effect.
"It is with great honor that we celebrate Fredrik for a career defined by intellectual rigor, entrepreneurial initiative, and responsible leadership. His influence can be seen in the companies he has helped build, the institutions he has strengthened, and the leaders who have benefited from his judgment. By applying his experience to healthcare and to his many commitments in civil society, Fredrik exemplifies SSE’s FREE values and demonstrates how thoughtful leadership can create enduring value for business and society."
— Lars Strannegård
President, Stockholm School of Economics
I am very grateful and honoured for this recognition! The years at the SSE were the start of many strong friendships that I still enjoy, and gave me a solid academic foundation, with a broad, both theoretical and practical, exposure to business and society at large, and fuelled my curiosity for exploring new subjects and topics. While learning is a lifelong process - I feel that the SSE equipped me well for the start of my professional life!
Young Alum of the Year Award
Johanna Andrén, Co-founder and CCO of imeto
Johanna Andrén earned her BSc in Business and Economics, specializing in Economics, from the Stockholm School of Economics in 2017.
Seven years after graduating, Johanna co-founded imeto, a consultancy built for a business environment increasingly shaped by data and artificial intelligence. Since its establishment in September 2024, imeto has grown to more than 70 employees across the Nordics. Imeto partners with organizations in the Nordics to rethink how work gets done with data and AI: from redesigning processes and operating models to building and scaling AI agents in production. Rather than creating dependency, imeto supports in building its clients' own capabilities and competencies.
At the heart of Johanna's leadership is a belief in people. She actively supports the development of young data and AI professionals, encourages more women to enter the technology sector, and shares her experience generously. She has also maintained a close connection to SSE, contributing to lectures and panel discussions and making complex technological questions accessible and relevant to others.
With curiosity, energy, and the courage to act on a bold idea, Johanna is helping shape how Nordic businesses approach one of the defining transformations of our time.
"On behalf of the Stockholm School of Economics, I am proud to recognize Johanna for her entrepreneurial achievements and her contribution to advancing data and AI capabilities. Since co-founding imeto in 2024, she has helped turn an ambitious idea into a growing Nordic company while creating opportunities for talented people to learn, contribute, and succeed. Her curiosity, generosity, and commitment to developing others make her an inspiring example of how young leaders can help businesses and people navigate technological change with confidence and purpose."
— Lars Strannegård
President, Stockholm School of Economics
It's an honor to be recognized as SSE's Young Alum of the Year. SSE gave me lifelong friends, the curiosity to keep learning, and the confidence to build something of my own. Thank you!
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.