Get to know the master coordinator Cristina
The University Administration staff
Meet Cristina Janland La Verde, an economist originally who ended up at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) through an unexpected detour.
Cristina's first encounter with KTH came from a random meeting in 2006 with a group of KTH employees at her then workplace.
"I worked at the Pakistani embassy and helped them with their visa applications. They told me about a vacant position as an international coordinator in Kista, and that's when my love affair with KTH began."
Cristina is originally from Rome, Italy, where she choose to study finance. In 1999, she decided to do an Erasmus year at Stockholm University and during that time she met her husband. They lived in the same student housing and suddenly life took a new direction.
The best part of the job and the challenges
Before KTH, Cristina had an exciting career at various embassies in Stockholm, including the Italian and Pakistani embassies. This experience enriched her life, giving her friends worldwide and developing her ability to understand and respect different cultures.
As master coordinator of the InnoEnergy programme, Cristina finds that personal encounters with students make the job so rewarding. Being able to help and guide them from day one to graduation gives her a strong sense of meaning and fulfilment.
"The challenges, in the beginning, were to understand the needs and desires of the students, primarily when some cultures associate failure with shame and do not express that they need help. I have learned much about navigating these cultural differences and creating a safe student environment."
Daily, Cristina manages the administrative and practical side of the master programme. Her workday is also filled with facilitating and supporting students. This can range from helping to solve housing and visa issues to being the central contact person for students.
Italian temper
Regarding differences between Italy and Sweden, Cristina mentions the clear cultural contrast.
"Italians are open and accessible to talk to, while Swedes can be more reserved. My temper is very Italian, and I love talking to everyone. My husband teases me for always talking to people on the bus!"
Cristina's parents still live in Rome, and there have been several trips to help the children develop relationships with their grandparents and their mum's homeland. Her parents have also bought a small apartment in Stockholm to be closer to Cristina and her family.
Life outside work
When Cristina is not at work, she exercises and spends time with her family. Supporting her children in their various sports activities is a big part of her life. She also enjoys cooking.
"Lasagna is my speciality. The secret is to mix celery, carrot and onion, which I fry before adding the meat. This adds flavour and ensures that the children get their vegetables," Cristina concludes.
Cristina is based at Borggården, and you can reach her on utbadm@eecs.kth.se
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