“Responsibility has to start with us, Sofia reflects”

What has made Sofia stick with Nordea for so many years is the consistency she sees in the company’s core values. 
 

"It is all about great customer experience and putting people first. I think that's maybe part of the reason why I very much enjoy being part of the group." 

 
“Regulations are designed to help people” 
 

When Sofia was asked to speak about responsibility, her first reaction wasn’t to think of strategies or policies, but something more personal: “Am I the right person for this?” 
 

She soon realised that the answer had less to do with her professional accomplishments and more with who she is. A positive person who values dignity and accountability, Sofia now serves as Head of Security Awareness at Nordea, responsible for keeping colleagues and customers safe. 
 

“I take it very seriously. I'm quite honoured and humbled to have the position of making sure that all these people know what they're supposed to do when it comes to security issues, whether it's information security or physical security.” 
 

At Nordea, responsibility spans both technical and human aspects. In her previous compliance role, Sofia worked on web accessibility initiatives, ensuring that all customers, regardless of their abilities, could access Nordea's digital services. 
 

Though regulations guided the work, Sofia’s true motivation was ensuring no customer was left behind. 
 

“We should never forget that regulations are designed to help people, to make everyday life safer and more secure. So instead of just looking at it as another rule we must meet, we thought deeply about how we can enable accessibility at all levels and bring in truly inclusive digital progress.” 
 

“What we do is raise awareness” 
 

Inclusive service delivery reflects Nordea's broader approach to responsibility, one that Sofia describes as being based on the company values of courage and working for the common good. 
 

"We are quite outspoken about our goals when it comes to giving back to the community." 
 

Sofia’s work in security awareness reflects her focus on creating tangible impact and shows how responsibility can ripple through society. By training Nordea’s workforce on everything from phishing to confidentiality classifications, she helps empower people to navigate an ever-changing digital world. 
 

"What we do is raise awareness, then people go out and share their learnings. They can then also support their own behaviours and communities in the way that they can."  

 
"You should be able to look back and say, I'm proud" 
 

Nordea’s youth programmes are another example of giving back to the community. Sofia recalls her involvement in pilot initiatives designed to help young people navigate financial independence.  
 

From working with elementary school children in fun, exercise-based learning environments to teaching 18-year-olds about real-world banking as they prepare to leave home, these programs address a critical societal need. 
 

"We also worked with young people who are struggling in life, helping them handle their finances. It's not always easy, because you can't necessarily give them a loan or things like that. It's about providing guidance and support." 
 

These initiatives also reflect a long-term view of responsibility, with Nordea investing in financial literacy today to create a more financially resilient society tomorrow. 
 

For Sofia, responsibility ultimately comes down to individual accountability. It should extend to how people interact – both online and offline. 
 

Sofia’s advice for those considering value-driven organisations like Nordea is direct – and reflects her whole approach to what responsibility means. 
 

“You should be able to look back and say, I'm proud of the things that I said and I treated people with kindness. I think that is the core.”