As head of AMF Pension, Bonde overseas a company with assets worth nearly 300 billion kronor ($32.2 billion) and 3.8 million customers, something which the Veckans Affärer magazine believes puts her in a unique position.
But the humble Bonde doesn’t see why she deserves any special attention.
“No, I don’t see it as power, but rather a responsibility and a great deal of trust to be able to manage the pensions of the Swedish people,” she told the TT news agency.
Bonde has a wide range of experience, having worked at Sweden’s National Debt Office (Riksgälden), Scandinavia airline SAS, and the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finansinspektionen).
She took over of AMF Pension – which is jointly owned by the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise (Svenskt Näringsliv) and the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) – in December 2008.
“With unique ties to every camp, she was the perfect choice to manage the company,” writes Veckans Affärer in explaining the motivation for giving the award to Bonde.
Bonde told TT she wished more executives moved between the public and private sector in their careers because it allows people to have a better understanding of both sides.
Her advice to others who want to succeed is simple.
“Be who you are. That usually pays off in the long run,” she said.