Line: Leading with empathy

From the very beginning of her studies in HR, Line Sjøberg (Chief People Officer) knew that she wanted to pursue a career within people and employee development, so she tailored her bachelor’s degree with specialized modules and internships to focus more on these areas. 

Finding the right workplace  

After gaining experience in the public sector and welcoming her second child, Line set out on a job hunt for a workplace better suited to a modern family life. Although she had never heard of Muehlhan Wind Service, she quickly realized it was the perfect fit, allowing her to juggle multiple tasks while enjoying both flexibility and responsibility. 

Freedom under responsibility  

At the time, MWS was in its start-up phase, with plenty of opportunities to shape teams and processes.  

Line initially joined MWS in a support and coordination role within the legal department. However, as the company grew, the need for an HR department became clear. With her leadership skills, background, and experience, Line was the natural choice to establish and lead the department. 

“It’s the first time in my career that I’ve experienced such tremendous trust from management. I’ve been given the freedom to do my job the way I believe is best”, says Line.  

Today, Line is responsible for overseeing employee satisfaction, developing employees, and securing high employee retention. With MWS on an ongoing growth journey, most of her time is spent on fostering a healthy working culture.  

“This has been our top priority from the beginning”, says Line and continues:   

“As our company scales, we needed to standardize and expand many processes. Organizational restructuring always brings change - and change can be challenging for some employees. It’s important that they feel understood and supported”. 

The greatest reward comes from our people  

Line leads a team of 30 employees across Denmark, Poland and the UK. The impact of her team’s work extends far beyond the company - it influences people’s career paths for years to come. 

“The greatest recognition the HR team receives always comes from our own people. Whether it’s a positive review in our internal surveys or a former colleague reaching out to say: ‘Thanks for that nudge in my career.’ Those moments are the biggest rewards in a job that isn’t always easy”, says Line and adds:  

“I care deeply about our people’s well-being. It’s important to me that our employees feel safe and thrive.” 

Work-life balance is essential   

When asked what makes her happy besides her meaningful work and great colleagues, Line highlights her wonderful family and children. Without their support it wouldn’t be possible to travel.  

“Right now, we are planning to visit our subsidiaries in Poland and Portugal, connecting with the teams and meeting new people. It’s amazing to see the growth over the years. When I first joined the company, our Polish office had 10 people. Now, we have over 120. That makes me really happy because I’ve been involved in their growth.   

As an ambitious and driven leader, Line acknowledges that responsibility comes with a cost. Balancing a demanding career with home life isn’t always easy.   

“If you are ambitious and want to achieve great things, you must work very hard. Nothing comes easy, and you need to prove your worth. But you can only be in one place at a time. Once, I missed my son’s birthday because I was traveling. But I have found a good balance, and I am lucky to have great support from my family - I couldn’t have done it without them”.   

Respect and trust in leadership  

Having built the People & Culture department from scratch, Line is part of MWS’ management team, which has an equal 50/50 gender split among executives.  

“I’m proud to be a young female leader. At MWS, I have always felt respected as part of our management team and have only experienced trust and support in my role. To be honest, I was a bit surprised – I initially feared that my young age might lead to different treatment, but that never happened.” 

Learning empathy at an early age  

Line’s ability to understand and connect with different people is something she learned long before entering the workforce. It’s a personal skill and a huge asset in her daily interactions with people across culture and backgrounds:  

“My mother is my biggest role model and inspiration. She taught me so much about how to treat people with kindness and respect. Both my parents worked in roles that involved engaging with others every day, and I think that naturally shaped my ability to connect with different people”. 

Line’s advice for newcomers in the wind industry  

Drawing from her own experience as a newcomer to the wind industry, Line shares her best advice for those starting their careers:  

“My advice would be to just go for it. When I first joined, I didn’t know anything about this industry, and I wasn’t used to speaking English professionally. I was at a crossroads - I knew that I wanted to pursue a different path, so it was all or nothing for me. This is a fast-moving industry, so you need to be comfortable with change and keep an open mind”.

Line Sjøberg, Chief People Officer, Muehlhan Wind Service