Meet Andreas Drakenberg, our new Marketing & Event Intern. Since arriving in Texas earlier this year he’s been occupied planning and coordinating events for our chapter in Austin.
What’s your connection to America?
I can’t say that I have one, apart from the general fascination I perceive most Swedes to have. I did, however, prior to moving here, travel across North America during the summer of 2016 and that sparked an interest. There was something about the American mind-set that appealed to me. The American “Go for it, and go for it”-approach is truly inspiring in my opinion.
How come you applied for the position in Austin?
Honestly, if someone had told me a year ago that I would be working and living in Texas I would probably have said: “Shut your mouth!”. Ultimately, it can only be described as a crazy chain of events – but I will say, the position in Austin is worth its weight in gold, offering a fifty-fifty position split between the Swedish-American Chamber and Promotional Marketing company Boundless Network in one of the most vibrant and up-and-coming cities in the world.
What is your ambition with your internship at the chamber?
My aim is to work as a key accelerator in the chambers daily work, to take and run with all the great ideas that our amazing board members and I come up with.
I also want to work for an increased cooperation between the chambers in Texas, as I believe we have a lot to gain from working more closely together. I think there’s an enormous value in being able to communicate Texas a whole to both potential stakeholder and affiliates, as well as our members. The feel should be that you’re part of the Texas chamber and not only your local resource.
What’s the best thing about Austin?
To sum it up – there’s quality to all aspects of life in Austin.
Andreas has a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Administration from Stockholm University. Prior to setting foot in the Live Music Capital of the World he worked as an Account Coordinator at Publicis advertising agency, Reputation, in Copenhagen, Denmark.