Jonkoping university is privileged to have a team of highly qualified professors who are dedicated to developing the future generation of leaders. Outside the lecture halls , research papers, academic activities, our professors participate in a variety of hobbies. Through this column, titled “Professors Beyond Academia”, The EDIT interviewed four professors from different schools to explore their passion beyond academics.”
For Ramya Sakthivel, Assistant Professor Business Administration, Jönköping International Business School, the journey to academic career started unexpectedly. After working in industry, she moved into a teaching role, without having the idea how she would feel about it. “I didn’t have any idea if I would like it or not but I just took the job,” she recalled. However, when she started teaching, she discovered the passion for it within herself. Beyond her work as a professor, Ramya has a vibrant set of hobbies that students might be surprised to hear about. “I also spend a lot of time on social media , watch YouTube , read comics,” she admitted with a smile. “It’s a common misconception people might think that once you’re in academia, you have to be super serious, but I’m just like anyone else and enjoy the fun side of life.” She further added. She loves spending her free time with plants, especially bonsai, “I’ve been taking care of bonsai for many years now,” she shared. “Back in India when I was doing my PhD, I had a jade bonsai, then a Ficus variety in Singapore and currently I’m looking for something new here.” For her Bonsai cultivation isn’t just a hobby, it’s a perfect blend of patience and care while balancing a busy life. Beyond plants for Ramya comics are a daily ritual and that makes her stand out. “ I read comics daily, both in the morning and before bed. It’s my personal time and I follow the ongoing series.” She emphasized. Despite her busy schedule, reading comics provides a sense of adventure and to admire the artwork. Ramya considers time management a top priority, especially when balancing her passions with professional responsibilities. “It’s all about prioritising our tasks. When I have tight deadlines and schedules , I totally avoid all distractions and when things are normal and relaxed, I find time for my personal activities” she stated. Lunch breaks provide her an opportunity to relax and to connect with her colleagues. “ During lunch it’s fun to sit with faculties from different backgrounds , enjoy our meals, and to talk about anything which is a great way to build connections and a great way to bond, “ she remarked. If not an academic, Ramya would likely have pursued her passion for plants and opened a greenhouse or nursery. “I’d love to run a bonsai nursery or greenhouse as bonsai is such an intricate and meaningful art form “she confessed. Before winding up, she reflected on her life and emphasized the importance of independence. “Growing up, I didn’t have much guidance, which taught me to rely on myself. It instilled resilience in me, and to pursue my dreams, even when the path wasn’t clear,” she added with a bold voice.
Maria Hedblom, Senior Lecturer Computer Science, Department of Computer Science academic journey has been deeply impacted by her experiences in various countries. Having lived in Germany, Sweden, Italy and Austria she feels that Germany has had the greatest impact on her life and career. “My time working at several universities there had a profound influence on me, both personally and professionally. “She pointed out. She considers her experience in Italy also an unforgettable one. Outside the academic world, Maria has learned valuable life lessons that helped her to shape her perspective.
She recalled this with a meaningful quote: “You can do anything, but you can’t do everything “. This realisation developed as she struggled with the desire to pursue numerous interests. “At one point, I used to want to be involved in everything , but over time, I understood the importance of focusing on what truly matters,” she reflected. Managing multiple leadership roles has been quite challenging for her. “I wish I could claim to have a good work life balance,” she confessed. “ However, much of my work is tied to my identity, and that often leads to long hours.” She further added. She pointed out that many of her friendships are stem from a professional environment, making it hard to draw a line between work and personal time but to overcome this she establishes boundaries, refrain from working at home and choose to work in cafes or the office which helps to create a clearer distinction between work and personal life.
Maria has developed skills through leadership roles that extend to her everyday interactions. “I often evaluate people and situations a lot, both in the classroom and during social events, “she noted. This ability to observe and understand social dynamics allows her to ensure that others are engaged and having a good time, both in academics or at a gathering. When delved into her interests in literature and film, particularly concerning AI, she mentioned the first season of “Altered Carbon” as her favourite web series. “The series features an AI character without a physical form, but the creators did a fantastic job with bringing this character to life with a lot of personality, it’s a bit crazy,” she remarked. When asked about books that have profoundly influenced her, among many she mentioned a Swedish book titled Dr Glass which explores the profound themes of life ,death and moral dilemmas. Maria finds time to read a lot and her interests go beyond academic work , including natural sciences, philosophy. Other than reading , she engages in creative hobbies such as painting and writing .”I write short stories and have an incomplete novel,” she confessed. If Maria were to consider an alternative career option, she would have pursued work in cultural fields like theatre or literature. A love for climbing and diving showcases her adventurous spirit. “I used to climb mountains in Italy almost every weekend,” she reminisced, though she lacks similar opportunities in her current location. “I’m also a certified diver, and I enjoy exploring marine life,” she disclosed.
When asked about her esteemed Third Mission, that refers to research and educational outreach to predominantly non-academic communities she shared her insights. “It’s quite challenging and hard because finding the right venue for outreach can be tough. But recently, I’ve successfully identified some platforms for this, which I’m honoured about, as people want to listen. “However, she acknowledged the fact that “The world is not always interested in science, which is an unfortunate truth.”
For Lucia Pizzichini, Assistant Professor and Program Director of B.Sc. in Business Administration her journey to academia was not originally part of the plan. Her initial plan was set to become a consultant, maybe even an accountant ,she admits with a smile. It was her professor who completely changed her viewpoint during her studies in Italy. The professor’s enthusiasm and real-world examples made Lucia fall in love with this subject ,and this inspired her to pursue PhD and to choose a career in academia. Even though she was reluctant to move abroad for postdoc and negotiated to stay just six months, now she is here in Sweden for nine years. When asked about the best part of being a professor, she replied without a doubt that it’s the students. “When students engage in class with what I teach it’s what I consider rewarding and on the research side it getting published in a top journal. Outside professional life, Lucia follows an active lifestyle. She finds happiness in sports and art. “ I love skiing and running and at one stage I even considered becoming a ski instructor,” she revealed. Even though that did not happen, the passion still remains. Art is another area of passion. Lucia loves impressionist paintings. She then shared,” Whenever I travel or when I visit a new city, I always make sure to visit an art museum”. “I even tried painting myself, I would say landscapes were fine but when it comes to portraits a total disaster , “ she says, laughing at the thought of it. Although she loves race cars and being in the passenger seat on the track, she doesn’t drive them herself. Upon being invited to share a memorable travel experience that had a lasting impact on her, she shared “ For me travelling has served a source of inspiration as it exposed me to different cultures and insights and among them honeymoon to Japan was unforgettable one as I was amazed to see how crowded the places are yet still so orderly. “The trip to the Middle East was another eye-opening experience. Balancing work and life hasn’t always been easy for her, but she started prioritising work and forces herself to take at least an hour free time to exercise and relax. A nice dinner and a glass of wine with her husband brings her joy. She concluded the interview by sharing a powerful life lesson: “Never give up. Persistence will always lead one to where one is meant to be”.
Ingela Bergmo Prvulovic, Associate Professor of Pedagogy Department of Education , School of Learning and Communication finds her motivation for career guidance from personal experiences, fuelled by a passion for supporting others to realise their full potential. She noted that life is full of surprises, and a career is just one aspect of the broader picture.Ingela’s willpower and resilience helped her to make a strong comeback from major hardships. Significant personal challenges such as a significant family loss and a sudden illness during her doctoral studies, presented a major obstacle in her life. However, these experiences taught her an essential lesson in life. “Life can’t always be planned, and accepting its unpredictability is vital.” She added. Winning the career guidance award was a significant moment for Ingela.The same recognised her meaningful contributions to the field. When asked about the most rewarding aspects of being a professor she said “Watching students develop their potential and taking great satisfaction in shaping the future workforce.” While many students might not know this, if not a professor, Ingela would have chosen a creative career, perhaps as an author.
She always had a passion for writing and artistic expression, whether through painting or story telling. She recalled dreaming of writing books from a young age. Outside of academia, her husband has been the most influential person in her life. Having met in the late 1980’s, opened the door to a new culture, language and perspective. While discussing a personal achievement beyond academia, she shared, “I’m especially proud of learning my husband’s language which allowed me to fully integrate into his family and community.” She credits her doctoral supervisor as a key influencer in her academic career serving as both a mentor and role model. While time for hobbies is limited for Ingela, she cherishes moments spent with her grandchildren and finds joy in creative pursuits and nature. When reflecting on an unfulfilled aspiration in life she laughs and says, “ it’s about to become a florist as I have always been drawn to flowers”. but this dream remains an unfulfilled aspiration but she hopes to pursue this in the future. She concluded by stating how she finds calm and pleasure by activities like fishing and spending time outdoors which help her stay grounded.
Writer: Ajay Sivakumaran Kumar
