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From Sea to Strategy: Mattias Ottosson's Journey with the Blue MBA

Mattias Ottosson serves as the HSE Delivery Manager at Noble Corp., where he focuses on long-term safety strategies based on Human Organisational Performance (HOP) and Safety II concepts. Leading teams responsible for offshore rig operations, Mattias is committed to sustainable and efficient practices in the shipping and oil & gas sectors. Recently, he was appointed as the Blue MBA Ambassador for North America.

By Executive MBA in Shipping and Logistics

Mattias's maritime career began with the Maersk Cadet Training programme, where he trained as a dual officer, covering both master mariner and marine engineering roles. This training enabled him to sail on container vessels for Maersk Line, Maersk Tankers, and eventually Maersk Drilling, gaining extensive experience across various vessels and global routes.

"Over a decade, I travelled worldwide, from Europe to South America, Asia to the USA, and Australia. This diversity provided me with a global perspective on shipping and maritime operations," Matthias reflects.

Choosing the Blue MBA for career advancement

Recognising the need to transition from operational roles to strategic leadership, Matthias pursued the Blue MBA, designed specifically for the shipping and logistics industry. Influenced by a colleague's recommendation and a conversation with Irene Rosberg, the Blue MBA Programme Director, Matthias found the programme to be the best next step in his career.

"The Blue MBA was essential for advancing my career," Mattias explains. "It provided the strategic and managerial knowledge necessary for an onshore career in the maritime industry. The programme's blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application was crucial."

Mattias also recognized that the leadership approach of the programme closely aligned with his own ethos. Reflecting on this, he says,

“The Blue MBA's approach to leadership is very modern and highly valued by companies globally. It emphasizes leading oneself first and fostering psychological safety to enable a bottoms-up approach, leveraging each individual's knowledge, experience, and skills. Empowering people and recognising their contributions are crucial. I always believe that a leader's success is the sum of each team member's individual performance.”

Mattias Ottosson

HSE Delivery Manager at Noble Corp., Blue MBA Graduate Class of 2023

Programme highlights

The Blue MBA's diverse cohort included participants from various maritime industry segments, allowing for rich discussions and a lifelong professional network. This diversity enhanced Mattias's critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The educational emphasis on both theoretical knowledge and practical application has been crucial in his leadership role, allowing him to see the bigger picture and make informed decisions.

"I now have a comprehensive understanding of the business side of the maritime industry, from finance and legal aspects to supply chain and operational management," Mattias explains. "Group assignments permitted the exploration of diverse viewpoints, allowing us to see different angles we wouldn't have considered otherwise. The network built during the programme is lifelong, enabling continuous learning and exchange of ideas."

The Blue MBA provided Mattias with practical insights that he has implemented in his career. For example, a project on the hydrogen family of fuels, including methanol and ammonia, highlighted the potential for reducing CO2 emissions and improving efficiency. This project demonstrated the value of strategic changes and how they can lead to significant improvements in operations and sustainability.

"One project on the hydrogen family showed how we can minimise CO2 output and improve efficiency and competitiveness in the industry. The project provided practical applications of the concepts we learned and showed how strategic changes can lead to significant improvements."

Another project in Operational Management and Processes led Mattias to discover that adding headcount could increase efficiency and output value, contrary to the common approach of reducing staff.

"Sometimes, organisations want to remove headcounts, but that’s the opposite of what you need to do," Mattias explains. "I found that adding a few more headcounts could significantly increase value and efficiency. The client ultimately supported the decision to add extra headcount because they could see the enhanced output and value it brought to the project."

One educational experience that was pivotal to Mattias was studying the Norwegian offshore oil and gas model, which integrates high taxation with significant reinvestment in green energy and R&D. This model, although not easily replicable in other regions, offers valuable lessons in balancing profitability with sustainability.

"Studying the Norwegian offshore oil and gas model was extremely interesting. Norway's approach is unique and world-class. They generate substantial profits and reinvest them into society, particularly in the green movement and green energy. Despite the 78% tax on profits, companies are willing to operate there because of the high earnings potential. The tax revenue is funneled back into R&D at universities, funded by the government. This creates a closed-loop system where tax money is reinvested into the industry, benefiting everyone involved."

The Blue MBA impact and the future of the industry

Mattias credits much of his success to the guidance and insights gained from the Blue MBA, particularly from the Programme Director, Irene Rosberg, and the programme's professors. Their collective expertise and real-world experience have been instrumental in shaping modern leaders within the industry.

"Irene has had an enormous impact on the shipping industry through the Blue MBA programme. She has developed modern leaders by fine-tuning the programme over the years, along with a team of experienced professors and lecturers. The roles that alumni hold today can be traced back to her efforts."

Mattias believes the maritime industry must embrace digitalisation to stay competitive. Young professionals bring valuable new knowledge and innovative solutions, helping streamline operations and improve efficiency in a traditionally conservative industry.

"Young people have a different mindset and see more possibilities because they come from a digital era. They can introduce various technologies and apps that we might not consider, helping to reform and innovate the industry."

He advocates for a proactive approach to change, encouraging industry leaders to engage with and steer innovations rather than passively observing them.

"The shipping industry will continue to change, as it always has. Instead of passively observing these changes, we should actively engage with and steer them," Mattias advises. "Take control and be part of the changes, rather than letting them take over you and an effective way to do that is to pursue lifelong learning."

Mattias touches on the importance of reflection, both personally and professionally, a practice he believes is often overlooked in today's fast-paced world.

"Another aspect I advocate is taking the time for reflections with your team, which is something we are not very good at on both a personal and professional basis. Every day, we rush ourselves to the next thing and hardly pause for reflection. Even on our holidays, we're already planning the next one before finishing the current. For instance, taking the time to sit down with your family or friends, going over pictures together, and reliving those moments and memories before moving on to the next holiday. I often say, an event will never become an experience without reflection."

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From Sea to Strategy: Mattias Ottosson's Journey with the Blue MBA

"One project on the hydrogen family showed how we can minimise CO2 output and improve efficiency and competitiveness in the industry. The project provided practical applications of the concepts we learned and showed how strategic changes can lead to significant improvements."

"Young people have a different mindset and see more possibilities because they come from a digital era. They can introduce various technologies and apps that we might not consider, helping to reform and innovate the industry."

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