Recommended opening date

Dublin Core

Title

Recommended opening date

Description

The image here is an illustration for an article detailing the memoir published by the former head of IKEA’s Russian Operations, Lennart Dahlgren. Originally from Sweden, Ms. Dalhgren was tasked with the entry of the company into the Russian market in the early 1990s but was beset by misfortune (the collapse of the Soviet Union and the liquidation of the ruble when the government defaulted on payments) until finally opening at store, then the first MEGA mall, in 2000 and 2002 respectively. [1] He chronicles his experience of doing so in his book, and warns against buying into the myths or stereotypes that one may have heard about Russia. The reality, he says, is so much different than what you could have imagined. “Those who call themselves Russia experts usually don’t understand the first thing about it,” writes Dahlgren. “People who say they don’t know much about Russia come much closer to understanding it.” [2]

Fascinatingly, although the book has only been published in two languages (Russian and Swedish) it has been titled differently in each. In Russia, one finds “IKEA loves Russia: a story of leadership, passion and perseverance.” In Sweden one finds, “Despite Absurdity: How I Conquered Russia While It Conquered Me.”

[1] Dahlgren, Lennart, and 2010. “The Basics of Doing Business in Russia.” Harvard Business Review. Accessed May 5, 2014. http://blogs.hbr.org/2010/10/the-basics-of-doing-business-i/.
[2] Svetlana Smetanina. “Living in Russia as a Foreigner: The Memoirs of Former Ikea Boss Reveal an Unusual Truth.” Accessed May 5, 2014. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/rbth/opinion/8478418/Living-in-Russia-as-a-foreigner-the-memoirs-of-former-Ikea-boss-reveal-an-unusual-truth.html.

Creator

Jenna Louie

Source

Niyaz Kaim. "The memoirs of former Ikea boss in Russia reveal an unusual truth." Image.

Part of article by Svetlana Smetanina. “Living in Russia as a Foreigner: The Memoirs of Former Ikea Boss Reveal an Unusual Truth.” Accessed May 5, 2014. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/rbth/opinion/8478418/Living-in-Russia-as-a-foreigner-the-memoirs-of-former-Ikea-boss-reveal-an-unusual-truth.html.

Date

2006

Comments

Allowed tags: <p>, <a>, <em>, <strong>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>

Embed

Copy the code below into your web page

Geolocation