WSOP

Robert | 16 July, 2010 | 0 comments

After one week of vacation in Europe, as well as two intensive work days in Milan, it was time for me to fly to Las Vegas and the WSOP. I'm now back in the Stockholm office and it really feels like I've gotten the perfect start for the summer!

The first impression of Las Vegas and the WSOP is, like the ex-trainee Kjell mentioned a year ago, difficult to describe in words. During almost two weeks I got the opportunity to experience the city, WSOP and together with a few other bwin employees take care of the players that qualified through bwin. Even though I was not one of the 7319 entrants to this year's Main Event , the feeling of being there and waiting for the first cards of the tournament to be dealt was close to magical!

This year, bwin had sent around 50-60 players to the WSOP and the majority of these played in the Main Event. In total, four bwin players managed to get "in the money", which meant price money ranging from $57 102 to $21 327.

On Monday, my second part of the vacation starts and it's two weeks in Vietnam that is on the schedule. When I get back, the third and last part of the trainee program will only be a few weeks away. As usual, there is a lot of excitement to look forward to!

The picture below shows the magnificent Wynn that I stayed at during my time in Las Vegas.

The importance of positive feedback

Robert | 11 June, 2010 | 0 comments

There are only a handful situations in life where you feel as satisfied and appreciated as when you, after a tough week at work, receive an e-mail or text message on your way home in line with the following:

"Thanks for a great work effort during the week. It's much appreciated!"

It doesn't take a lot of time or effort to give this positive feedback, but the consequences for the receiver can be huge. To give positive feedback is in my mind well-invested time and definitely an important component of the leadership portfolio. Something to keep in mind.

During the week, I had another personal development talk with my manager and this time we discussed psychology and communication. To understand how we can affect other people as well as how we are affected by the sociopsychological mechanics is for me a very interesting topic.

Tomorrow I'll be on the plane on my way to Berlin and a few days later I will continue my trip going east to Szczecin in Poland!

Have a great weekend,

Robert

Organizational development

Robert | 4 June, 2010 | 0 comments

Last weekend was spent celebrating my birthday together with friends. The evening started off with dinner at my place followed by a few hours enjoying Stockholm's nightlife. This, in combination with Sunday's fantastic weather, resulted in fully charged batteries when arriving at work on Monday morning!

The past week has, unlike other weeks, meant few meetings and instead I have had time to work on various tasks in front of the computer. Possible improvements regarding the reporting of projects as well as similar organizational development topics have been discussed.

On Monday I enjoyed two hours of soccer, something which has become a weekly activity. Working out at the gym, playing poker, planning this summer's trips and buying a new camera are other things that have been done this week. Discussions regarding where the last part of the trainee program should be spent are also underway!

Have a great weekend,
Robert

Personal development talks, wedding and summer evenings

Robert | 28 May, 2010 | 0 comments

A lot has happened lately, both at and outside of work. During this week the reoccurring meeting between the steering committee in Stockholm and Vienna was held, which means extensive preparations from both me and the rest of my department. In the beginning of the week, my manager and I also had a few personal development talks, addressing such topics as situational leadership, eliminating sub-optimization as well as different types of reward systems. We also discussed parts of Good to Great, a book that I’ve spent some time reading lately.

Besides work, I’ve also attended a friend’s wedding, met up with friends in Gothenburg as well as enjoyed several summer evenings. A few hours have also been spent on my new home theater system, which I’m very satisfied with! I now have another two weeks of work ahead of me and after that my vacation starts with a week in Germany and Poland!

Have a good weekend,

Robert

Short week at bwin Games

Robert | 12 May, 2010 | 0 comments

The end of last week was spent in Gothenburg. Most of the weekend was spent together with a very good friend of mine, whom I've studied together with at Chalmers and travelled together with in Africa as well as Asia. Nice dinners, city walks and several hours of discussing memories where only some of the activities that took place.

This week at bwin Games has been very short and work has mostly focused on project management models, follow-up work from last week as well as my continued role as stand-in. Among other tasks, I've worked on improving the communication and transparency in different phases of the project management process at bwin.

Looking ahead, it's going to be very nice with a long weekend. Apart from enjoying Stockholm, I've planned to buy a new speaker system as well as furniture for the balcony. Hopefully, I'll also have time to play some football as well as enjoy other forms of training.

Robert

Football, stand-in & summer planning

Robert | 7 May, 2010 | 0 comments

Football is once again in focus! Last Sunday, I enjoyed watching a very exciting game at Råsunda and the next day I was playing football together with friends. I’m also considering playing in a team again, but unfortunately I don’t have as much free time as I once had. As with many other things, it’s all about prioritization!

At bwin, my week has been somewhat unusual! As my manager is currently away from work, I’ve been his stand-in during the week. This has temporarily increased my responsibilities as well as given me an excellent opportunity to get an insight into what it means to be a section head.

Another hot topic is summer planning. I’ve spent quite some time thinking about my summer plans lately and the plan is now close to complete. Except for some time in Stockholm and Gothenburg, I’ll also visit Berlin, Szczecin, Las Vegas and Ho Chi Minh. Hopefully this will mean lots of exciting adventures!

Robert

Performance review

Robert | 30 April, 2010 | 0 comments

Another intensive week has come to an end! From mostly working on various projects and tasks, I’ve now started to be more and more involved in the actual tools and processes that my department uses on a daily basis. Hopefully, I will be one of the few experts in the organizations within a few months!

One of the highlights of the week has been a two hour long performance review with my manager. The meeting required a lot of preparations from both of us and I left the meeting with inspiration and new ideas in regard to my future at bwin Games. Among the topics that were discussed was my first two months in my new position, long-term career planning, mapping of areas I could develop in and trainings that could be valuable for me to attend.

During the week, I’ve also walked a few times to work and it really feels like summer is just around the corner!

Have a good weekend!
Robert

Traditional office vs. open plan environment

Robert | 23 April, 2010 | 0 comments

During my first six months at bwin Games, I worked in an open plan environment in a relatively large team. People were constantly walking by my desk and the level of noise can be classified as rather high. In the second phase of the trainee program, I'm instead working in a more traditional office environment and my team consists of merely three people. Even though I've only had limited experience in the two different working environments, I'm briefly going to summarize my views on the matter.

One of the major advantages associated with working in the open plan environment was definitely the possibility of fast and effective face-to-face communication. I was also given the opportunity to build relations with a lot of people during these first few months. The main negative aspect was that people were constantly passing by, which in many cases resulted in a lack of focus. In the more traditional working environment, I'm not meeting nearly as many people, but at the same time it feels like the overall effectiveness has increased.

The conclusion of my limited experience in the two different working environments is that it was probably very valuable for me start off in an open plan environment and after a few months instead start working in a traditional office. This gave me the opportunity to build relations and take in a lot of information and then start working more effectively in a smaller team.

Besides my reflections on the working environment, week 16 has consisted of six hours of steering committee meetings and four hockey games between Djurgården and HV 71. I've also attended another investment evening with Avanza, where High Yield markets was a central topic!

Have a great weekend!
Robert

I-Gaming Forum 2010

Robert | 16 April, 2010 | 0 comments

This week’s highlight was the I-Gaming Forum, a conference with lectures and workshops aiming to summarize what has happened in the online gaming industry the last year as well as look ahead into the future. This year, the conference was held at the magnificent Grand Hotel and during two days, I listened to discussions regarding the legal development within Europe as well as what products, technologies and values will play a central role in order to be an industry leader in the future.

Another valuable aspect of the I-Gaming Forum was the opportunity to network with 150 other people with a great interest of the industry as well as getting a better picture of the key people in the online gaming industry. Among the people attending were Petter Nylander (CEO Unibet), Johan Öhman (CEO Net Entertainment), Thomas Mattsson (Chief Editor Expressen) and of course bwin Games’ own MD Peter Bertilsson.

Finally, I’m sad to say that last weekend’s soccer was a big failure! Without any proper strategy or training, it’s simply difficult to play as a team. A sprained ankle did not exactly help either. Therefore, we’ll leave that tragedy behind and look forward to the next time it’s time to dust off the shoes again!

Have a great weekend!
Robert

Easter

Robert | 9 April, 2010 | 0 comments

After four days of vacation, it's once again time to return to reality. The extended weekend was however much appreciated and my batteries are now fully recharged to take on the next few weeks' challenges!

At work, I've continued working with tasks related to bwin Games' project portfolio. In addition, I've been involved in a project aiming to increase the synergy between different departments within the organization. A different task that I spent a few days on last week was to organize a poker school for new employees together with Jonas. In the evenings, ice hockey continues to be an activity that takes up quite a lot of time! Last week I also participated in an investment lecture held by Avanza.

This year, Easter was spent in Stockholm and consisted of a lot of food as well as various activities. However, the most positive thing was probably that I had time to focus on a lot of different tasks that I've wanted to get done for a long time.

During the weekend, I'll be participating in the ICA Kvantum football cup, playing for the bwin Games team. Hopefully we'll manage to win a few matches!

Have a great weekend,
Robert

Intensive and enriching week

Robert | 26 March, 2010 | 0 comments

Another week has passed and the focus for the week has been work and ice hockey. In summary, I've mainly worked on analyzing trends in regard to a number of interesting parameters as well as increased my knowledge concerning the tools that bwin uses for project management. Something else that has been in the centre of attention the last couple of days is ice hockey. Djurgården are currently playing an impressive game and will hopefully move on to the semifinals by beating Brynäs in Globen tonight. Unfortunately, I will be on a train heading south during this time.

On Thursday I participated in an offsite meeting together with the steering committee in Stockholm. The location was Hotel Rival at Mariatorget. After two delicious meals and an afternoon of worthwhile discussions, the evening ended with a few hours in the hotel's private lounge, where discussions could continue in a more relaxed environment. Right as midnight was approaching, I was ready to leave Hotel Rival, feeling very satisfied with the day!

Have a great weekend,
Robert

Meetings in focus

Robert | 19 March, 2010 | 0 comments

This week's focus has once again been on the regular meeting for which a number of managers from Vienna fly up to Stockholm. During this four hour long meeting, several strategically important agenda items were discussed. Overall, the afternoon was a success and as always, it feels great to get the opportunity to attend these types of meetings. Not only due to the fact that I get to listen to interesting discussions, but also because I get the opportunity to analyze how different types of managers behave in different situations.

There is also an exciting meeting on next week's agenda to look forward to. During a 10-hour session, I'll attend an extended version of the weekly steering committee meeting. During this time, we'll discuss several important agenda items, consume two meals and most likely end the evening in an exciting way!

Have a great weekend,
Robert

Spring is on its way

Robert | 12 March, 2010 | 0 comments

I've only been working for my new manager for about two weeks, but I'm already starting to feel at home in the new department. During this time, I've already managed to gain a much clearer picture of my department's role within the organization as well as a better insight into the various tools we use to handle bwin's project portfolio. I think the next few months will give me an excellent opportunity to work with organizational development measures as well as act as a central link between the departments in the Stockholm office.

After working hours, it's still a challenge trying to work through my private backlog of items as well. First priority is still purchasing furniture as well as a few other tasks related to the apartment. Outside spring is, like the insidious Stonefish, waiting for winter to make a mistake. Let's hope this day is not far away!

Until next time,
Robert

Time for the second period

Robert | 5 March, 2010 | 0 comments

The first few hours of the week were spent moving everything except for my desk and chair two levels up in the building to floor 11. My new working environment is a lot calmer than my previous one and the team I'm part of is much smaller. Even though I enjoyed working in my last department, I must admit that it feels great being on a new fast-moving train, with new challenges and opportunities!

In regard to work, this week has been quite structured. I've received a few more timely tasks as well as some smaller ones that I've been able to deliver fast. One of the tasks I'm currently working on is putting together a list of all recent projects, mainly focusing on a few parameters for each of them. Besides these new tasks, I still have a few project-related tasks from my last department that I'm working on delegating.

This weekend, I'm once again travelling down to Gothenburg. The focus will be a business lunch together with a consulting company that I've been working together with in one of the projects I've been driving. Of course I'll also take the opportunity to meet up with some friends as well as my family. Lastly, I would like to recommend Acne Archive on Torsgatan 53, which Jonas told me about. With an impressive number of different jeans and jackets at good prices, it's almost a must to visit once in a while.

Until next time,
Robert

Spring in Vienna

Robert | 26 February, 2010 | 0 comments

Yesterday I arrived at Arlanda and was once again back to the cold weather we are currently experiencing. The last few days have been spent in Vienna, where spring has already opened its doors! To have to take off my coat while walking to work on Wednesday was quite a feeling as I two days earlier walked to the bus in -22 degrees here in Stockholm.

In regard to business, my visit to Vienna was a success as well. The main purpose of the trip was to participate in a workshop in which a group of people from Stockholm were to present the concept as well as opportunities/challenges associated with a poker project. During the rest of my visit, my goal was mainly to book a few meetings with a number of departments in order to get a deeper insight as to what they do. Among others, I was introduced to Business Development, CRM, Brand and Product Management Sportsbook.

Besides giving me a better understanding of how the organization is structured, the meetings presented me with a few alternatives in regard to where I could spend my third block of the trainee program.

During my trip, I also had time to read "The Millionaire Next Door", a book that has been brought up in various situations the last few years. Even though the book was a bit unstructured, it presented several interesting studies and statistics in regard to American millionaires' behavior. The concepts in the book are far from revolutionary and it was published more than 10 years ago. However, I still think it's worth reading as it gave me some inspiration.

Until next time,
Robert

Meeting prioritization

Robert | 19 February, 2010 | 0 comments

As the topic reveals, this week’s post is about prioritization of meetings. During my first few weeks at bwin Games, all meetings were viewed as exciting and very valuable. It was more or less obvious for me that I should try to attend all meetings I was invited to. After all, I must be able to get something relevant out of every meeting and it must definitely be the best way to get to know the organization?

Almost six months into the trainee program, I’ve a slightly different approach when it comes to meetings. Time is valuable and I always consider what I will get out of the meeting and if my attendance in necessary before accepting the meeting. In many cases there are also minutes available from the meeting, summarizing what was discussed and what decisions were taken.

In spite of this approach, I’ve attended more than 20 meetings this week and spent a total of almost 25 hours in conference rooms on the four floors that bwin Games occupies in the building. So what type of meetings have I attended? Roughly half the meetings have been of a strategic nature, both on an organization level as well as more related to my business unit. The rest of the meetings have mostly dealt with different projects that I’m either running or at least involved in. Lastly, a few meetings have taken a more individual focus, such as the meeting with my mentor.

Besides all these meetings, this week’s agenda outside of work has also been quite full. Monday afternoon and evening was spent moving furniture and on Wednesday evening there was an after work together with a team from Vienna.

Until next time,

Robert

Several tasks delivered during the week

Robert | 12 February, 2010 | 0 comments

This week's post could be summarized in one sentence, "time flies when you're having fun." Just now we were discussing organizational topics in 60 Minutes, the weekly steering committee meeting that takes place every Monday, and tomorrow just before noon candy will be served in the kitchen at bwin Games. A very much appreciated Friday tradition.

During the week, several small and medium-sized tasks have been delivered, something that always brings a feeling of satisfaction. I have together with a co-worker created a detailed documentation in regard to a current project, delivered reports to co-workers in Vienna and prepared a presentation for my manager Jan-Erik that he will present in Vienna today.

On Wednesday's agenda was also a follow-up meeting concerning my employment at bwin Games. This provided me with a great opportunity to reflect on my last couple of months with the company and also lead to interesting discussions when it comes to the interview process that I participated in last summer. I really look forward to taking part in the process again, only this time from the other side of the table!

Until next time,
Robert

High expectations on what the future has to offer

Robert | 5 February, 2010 | 0 comments

The ongoing discussions in regard to my next period as a trainee at bwin have not only continued, but have now lead to a -  for me  - big decision. In three weeks time, I will start working in the relatively new PPS/PMO unit. The abbreviation is short for Production Planning Steering / Project Management Office, which means that the unit manages the project portfolio as well as actively works on the capacity planning. In addition, it also functions as a watchdog ensuring that projects are based on proper business cases, structured requirements, follow the organizational processes as well as involve all relevant stakeholders.

So what will my role be in the PPS/PMO unit? Besides tracking project reporting and status updates, I will also focus on organizational development. In my daily work I will also work with portfolio management as well as be involved in processes and activities regarding the bwin backlog. Due to the fact that the unit has a central role in the organization, I will have a lot of contact with most of the other units within bwin. This, in combination with the magnificent view of Kungsholmen that I will have from my new office, has lead to me having great expectations for my next coming months at bwin!

Outside of work a lot of time has lately revolved around sports. Working out at Sats training center has become a weekly routine and hopefully the snow will soon melt away so that football can once again be a regular activity. In roughly two weeks Sweden will play their first hockey game in the Olympics and four exciting Champions League matches will be played! So once again, the future has a lot of excitement to offer!

One step closer

Robert | 29 January, 2010 | 0 comments

As last week, the main focus for me has been where I should spend my second phase of the trainee program. Something that is very clear during the process is the commitment and interest from the organization to run a successful trainee program at bwin. Almost all division heads have spent time coming up with suggestions of how a trainee would fit into their department. Even though a final decision has not yet been taken, I’m definitely one step closer!

A fun side project this week has been to, together with my trainee colleague Jonas, organize and have responsibility for the structure of a poker tournament during Wednesday evening. The tournament was held in connection to Jfokus, Sweden’s largest yearly conference for Java developers. After roughly three hours of play, a satisfied Java developer stood as the proud winner of a Nintendo Wii.

This weekend I will once again visit Hovet to see Djurgarden take on Rogle. Besides that I don’t have much planned for the weekend so far, which is nice for a change.

There is also a lot to look forward to next week. On the agenda is a half-day meeting with the Swedish steering committee, a full-day meeting in which the steering committee from Vienna will participate and lastly the new CEO of bwin Games, Peter Bertilsson, will take another step into the organization.

Focus on the future

Robert | 22 January, 2010 | 0 comments

This week at bwin Games has exposed a number of news, where the recently released information that Peter Bertilsson will take over Carl Klingberg’s position as MD for bwin Games AB is in the center of attention. Peter joins the company with more than 15 years of experience in the industry and one of the goals for bwin Games in the near future is to carve a distinct and strategic B2B unit. Even though Carl and his much appreciated participative leadership style will be missed in the Stockholm office, the changes bring a feeling of excitement and big expectations on what the future has to offer.

It has been 4-5 months since the first time I set foot in the Stockholm office, was presented to my manager Jan-Erik and 15 minutes later found myself in an intense meeting in which ideas about the future positioning of bwin in the poker industry were presented. I have come a long way from that day and it’s now time for me to start thinking about my next period in the management trainee program. At this stage, at least two things have basically been decided upon; I will most likely spend my next trainee period in the Stockholm office and this period will start on the 1^st of April. Knowing these two facts feels like a good start. The challenge now is to consider in which department I would be most beneficial for the company and at the same time developing my person skills and loving the tasks.

Another important topic this week has been prioritization. Due to the dynamic characteristic of the industry, new business opportunities are constantly emerging and bwin has to have a well-developed system of prioritization in order to be able to take the strategically best decision when these situations arise. Participating in these discussions has not only given me a better insight of the prioritized projects at bwin, but also given me a better understanding of the business process of prioritization.

At a glance, the future at bwin looks exciting. Very exciting!

Finally, I would like to recommend nonni sushi, where I’ve eaten roughly half of my lunches so far. If you like sushi, this is a place you have to try!

/Robert 

Time passes by quickly!

Robert | 15 January, 2010 | 0 comments

When looking back at the past week, it seems that time has been passed by very quickly! At the same time, I feel particularly satisfied with what I have accomplished this week as many tasks have either been completed or at least progressed in a pleasing manner!

Earlier during the week, an off-site day was spent at Nacka Strand's Fabrikörsvilla in order to have a final session in regard to the Lead & Win training that started in December. The overall impression of the four days of Lead & Win training is that it has been fantastic and provided me with valuable knowledge!

Largely due to the fact that the training was in direct relation to bwin as a company and also because the combination of theory and practical exercises was suitable, I've been able to extract several concepts and ideas that I will apply in the future. Besides gaining a better overall insight in how organizations, especially bwin, are steered, I have also expanded my knowledge when it comes to effective management tools.

Thursday's agenda will also keep me busy! In the morning, bwin's co-CEO Norbert Teufelberger will visit the Stockholm office and talk about the future of bwin. This presentation will be followed by an afternoon off-site meeting, which always leads to valuable discussions. The day will end with a hockey match in Hovet, where Djurgarden will hopefully continue their winning trend by beating Lulea!

During the week, my trainee colleague Jonas and I have also had time for a few workout sessions, in the form of strength training and badminton. As football and running are also on the planned future agenda, the spring looks bright even from that perspective!

Until next time,
Robert

Back from the holidays!

Robert | 8 January, 2010 | 0 comments

The first week of the new year has been very short when it comes to working, as a cold kept me in bed for the first few days. Therefore, this week’s main focus has been to get back into normal work routines and take care of urgent business that has been brought to the surface during the holidays.

The next few weeks will be very exciting for me, mainly due to two major tasks! First of all, I will spend a lot of time working on the project that I’m driving together with a relatively large group of people from Stockholm and Vienna. bwin’s goal with this project is to establish a more long-term and well-developed online playing environment, more aligned with the organizational strategy. In addition to being involved in the project leader committee, I’m now also driving a specific work package of the project. By doing so, I’m able to take more initiatives in driving the project forward.

My second task is a project that I’m running together with a limited number of people in Vienna, with the goal to increase the information flow between the two departments. Besides providing me with a good overview of how the information flow is handled today, the project has also given me the opportunity to meet several key people within the organization. Hopefully, this will prove to be valuable for me in the future, especially during my month’s in Vienna!

The last few weeks have been spent celebrating Christmas with family and friends, mostly in Gothenburg and Boras. However, the New Year was celebrated in Stockholm, which felt good since this is where my new home is.

At the moment, a lot of time is also spent decorating my new apartment. The focus is currently on choosing a back wall. For those interested, a lot of inspiration in regard to this can be found at Björklund & Wingqvist on Kungsholmen!

Until next time,

Robert

Christmas is here

Robert | 23 December, 2009 | 0 comments

Yesterday I worked my last day before Christmas and took the train down to Gothenburg in the afternoon. Although the job as a trainee at bwin Games has been very exciting during the last 3-4 months, I still feel that a vacation is going to be good for me. Sometimes you have to jump off the train, look at things from a larger perspective and then jump on the train again and hopefully being able to improve in certain areas.

Last week focused on preparations for the Christmas event that we have every year at bwin Games. This year's event consisted of a full day of activities at and around the Münchenbryggeriet. One of the highlights of the day was the company game in which we had to act as agents and solve missions in Stockholm city.

Last Friday, I also attended a 6-hour long steering committee meeting with head of:s from Stockholm as well as Vienna. Without exaggerating, this was probably the most interesting and valuable meeting so far at bwin Games. Besides strategically important decisions and business opportunities, there were also discussions in regard to softer aspects such as the relationship between the Stockholm and Vienna offices.

Merry Christmas!
Robert

Lead & Win

Robert | 11 December, 2009 | 0 comments

The week at bwin Games has been quite unusual as three out of five days have been spent at Fabrikörsvillan near Nacka Strand. The reason for this was a three day long workshop, “Lead & Win”.

In a broad perspective, the workshop consisted of several interesting discussions regarding how a company is steered in an as effective way as possible as well as several principles and tools related to management. There has also been a focus on the importance of business-related elements such as corporate policy, strategic planning and organizational structure having a clear connection to more employee-related elements. One of many other exciting topics was how managers should handle different individuals in a team, based on the individual’s level of skill and willingness to work. These topics were of course related to bwin Games.

Even though it’s not very common for me to more or less sit and listen to someone lecture for 8-10 hours anymore, the workshop provided me with a lot of interesting concepts and ideas! The workshop sessions have been followed by dinner at nearby Restaurant J. This has among other things given me an excellent opportunity to socialize with co-workers from Stockholm as well as Vienna in a more relaxed environment.

This week I’ve also received they keys to my new apartment! Therefore, the upcoming weekend will be spent moving furniture from Gothenburg. During the week, my trainee college Jonas and I also continued our weekly evening activity of badminton.

The photo below was taken during an afternoon break at Lead & Win.

Until next time, 

Robert

Visiting Vienna

Robert | 4 December, 2009 | 0 comments

I’m currently almost 10 000 meters above Berlin, reflecting over my last three days spent in Vienna. The main goal of the trip was to participate in a workshop related to the ongoing project that I’m leading. The trip didn’t start off too well as I read the following message when I was just about to enter the Arlanda Express:

”All Arlanda Expressen are cancelled due to a fire!”

Fortunately, I had enough time to grab a taxi and get to the airport in time for the flight.

My stay in Vienna was very worthwhile. I got a good overview of how the organization in Vienna is structured and I also got an impression of the city of Vienna. In addition, I met several people that I will definitely work more with in the future. Someone that made my three days in Vienna even more worthwhile was the almost 15 months more experienced trainee Kamil, who didn’t only give me an extensive presentation of the casino department but also showed me parts of the city – thanks Kamil!

Besides a successful workshop, I also made sure to meet with some other people while in Vienna. Two of these were meetings with the Sportsbetting team as well as customer service. After a long and productive day, I finally got to sit down at an Austrian restaurant and enjoy a Wiener schnitzel and an Austrian beer.

Until next time,   

Robert

Vienna visits Stockholm

Robert | 27 November, 2009 | 0 comments

The week at bwin Games has been very exciting as several of the managers from Vienna have visited Stockholm. The highlight was the half-day meeting on Wednesday, in which these and several managers from Stockholm participated. The agenda was full of interesting topics and several good discussions were held at the meeting.

During the week, I also attended a workshop focusing on giving and receiving feedback. At a first glance, the subject might feel obvious and self-explanatory, but after a few hours of workshop you quickly realize that this is not necessarily the case. There are several models and other aspects to keep in mind and for those interested, some of the topics discussed during the workshop were the group dynamic model FIRO as well as the feedback steps.

At the moment, I’m also very busy outside of work. During the last few weekends, the focus has been on moving furniture and other items from Gothenburg to Stockholm. It’s now only two weeks left until I get to move into my new apartment here in Stockholm. It’s not until then, that I will really feel that Stockholm is my new home.

Until next time,

Robert

Steering Committee meetings

Robert | 20 November, 2009 | 0 comments

Trainee dinner

Robert | 13 November, 2009 | 0 comments

As usual, it’s been an exciting week here at bwin Games! One of the highlights was definitely the trainee dinner together with bwin Games’ CEO Carl Klingberg. The evening started with a poker tournament consisting of nine turbo SnGs followed by a very enjoyable dinner at the Lebanese restaurant Tabbouli on Kungsholmen. As a finish to the evening, we four trainees continued on to Casino Cosmopol.

Two other worthwhile activities during the week were a first meeting with my coach as well as another meeting with my mentor. In addition to providing me with an excellent opportunity to discuss my future development with experienced people, these meetings also give me a chance to bring up thoughts and reflections that have been brought to my attention. During this week’s coaching session, we discussed different approaches to optimizing work as well as a project leader course that I will hopefully get a chance to attend in the near future. The meeting with my mentor had such topics as staying up-to-date in regard to the company and the industry by attending regular meetings as well as reading reports and newsletters. The importance of constantly challenging yourself and taking initiatives was also a topic on the agenda.

This week has meant a lot of focus on the project that I’m leading together with an experienced project leader. Currently, the project is in a relatively early stage and we are constantly faced with new challenges, something which makes the project very exciting. I would estimate that I spend around 50% of my time working on this project.

This week’s photo shows the trophy I won at the bwin Games Management Trainee Poker Challenge during the trainee evening. With a starting field of four skilled trainees and our own CEO Carl, it would be wrong not to be very proud of my first place finish!

Until next week,

Robert

New Trainee!

Robert | 6 November, 2009 | 0 comments

My name is Robert Andersson and for the last two months I’ve been working as a management trainee for bwin Games in Stockholm. bwin Games is a world leader in digital entertainment in the online poker segment. My time at bwin so far has been great and it really feels like I’m exactly where I want to be!

So who am I and why did I apply for bwin’s management trainee program? During the last few years, I’ve been studying Industrial Engineering and Management at Chalmers Technological University as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics at the School of Business, Economics and Law in Gothenburg, Sweden. My fourth year at Industrial Engineering and Management was spent at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, a year that provided me with valuable experience. After my studies, I wanted to start working for company that could provide me with an exciting and challenging environment with good opportunities for development. Therefore, a trainee program felt like a natural first step in my career.

The reason why bwin’s trainee program caught my interest was mainly because of my interest for the poker industry. This interest started back in 2003-2004 when my friend and I started playing online poker, without having any direct knowledge when it comes to poker strategy and bankroll management. However, by reading about poker in forums and books as well as spending a lot of time at the tables, I managed to develop my game into a fairly good level.

The trainee program at bwin is divided into three blocks with six months in each block. Two of these blocks will be spent in different departments here in Stockholm, while one period will be in a bwin office abroad. During my 18 months in the trainee program, I will gain a good understanding of the organizational structure of the company as well as increase my knowledge in the area of poker. Also, by attending different steering committee meetings and projects, I will hopefully grasp a better understanding of how an international company of bwin’s size is run from a strategic perspective.

The goal of this blog is to first of all give an insight of what it means to be a trainee at bwin. Every week, I will write a few lines summarizing my daily tasks as well as talk about different projects that I’m involved in. Since I recently moved to Stockholm, my ambition is also to share a bit in regard to my experiences outside of work. My hope is that the blog can contribute with valuable information for someone who is currently in the same situation as I was a few months ago.