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The Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics student association, HHUS is a volunteer association for all students at the Umeå School of Business, Economics and Statistics. We are a non-political, non-union, and non-religious association, with the purpose of handling and supporting our members’ interests. We work towards good contact between our members, our school, and Businesses.






JoAnna Sundqvist Creative Director

Lina Vikström Writer & content creator

Felicia Fors Editor in Chief HHUS

Emma Andström Head of Finance HHUS








Felicia Fors Editor in Chief HHUS ekbladet@hhus.se
Friendship and relationships are at the heart of everything we do - from the study group that gets us through exam weeks, to the friend who always makes us laugh, or the connections we build in new workplaces.

In this issue of Ekbladet, we want to explore just that: the bounds that shape us, strengthen us, and sometimes challenge us.
As students we often find ourselves at crossroads. Moving to new cities, meeting new people, and creating networks that may last a lifetime. It can feel both exciting and overwhelming, but above all, it´s an opportunity to grow together.
I hope this issue not only reflects the many shades of friendship and relationships, but also inspires you to cherish the small moments with the people around you. Wether it´s late night at the E-pub, a motivating workout buddy or a spontaneous coffee chat - the connections we build here and now are an essential part of our journey.

Happy reading!



Nikan Sinaiee
Presedent HHUS president@hhus.se
As the excitement of Insparken settles and campus life slowly finds its rhythm again, I find myself reflecting on what these past few weeks have truly been about: friendship.
For many of you, this was the first glimpse into university life, filled with challenges, icebreakers, and a lot of new faces. For others, it was a reminder of how unique our community is here at HHUS and USBE. Regardless of how you experienced it, one thing is certain: no one gets through university alone.
Friendship isn’t just about who you sit next to in class or attend PPM with during the weekends. It’s about showing up. It’s in the small moments, a shared coffee in the newly renovated HHUS Lounge, who you spend your EPP with at E-puben, or cheering on HHUS sports teams at UWC. These bonds shape our time here, often more than any course or exam ever will.
At HHUS, our mission goes far beyond organizing events or representing student voices. We are here to create spaces where connections can grow, across programs, backgrounds, and personalities. Because when members thrive together, HHUS thrives, and we succeed.
So whether you made new friends during Insparken, or you’re still figuring out where you belong, know this: there’s a place for you here at HHUS. Apply for a role in management. Keep showing up to E-puben. The friendships you build now may last a lifetime.
Best regards

Friendship is not décor around student life. It is the scaffolding. It holds us up when the week is heavy. It stretches across deadlines, group work, and the quiet distances that appear when people are tired, proud, or unsure how to start a hard sentence. It can feel like tug of war and like a small guiding light at the same time. That mix is not a mistake. That is the real work.

What does that work ask of us. First, recognition. Seeing the person in front of you as a whole learner, with stories you have not heard and strengths you might not share. It sounds simple, but it looks like leaning in when someone lights up about a niche interest and choosing curiosity instead of the easy laugh. Recognition is the opposite of performance. It does not need applause. It needs attention.
Then, reciprocity. Friendship is not a ledger, but it is an exchange. You show up at 07.45 and I make it for 08.00. You keep a confidence and I hold one too. You share a file and I share a way through the problem. We are not counting points. We are matching the spirit. That spirit builds trust, and trust moves learning faster than any template ever will.
There is also risk. Saying the clear thing when the truth feels uncomfortable. Naming a boundary and standing by it. Letting a teammate try, stumble, and try again without jumping in just to save time. Risk is not about drama. It is care with a spine. Without it, we slide into a politeness that protects nobody.
Finally, repair. If people are involved, there will be strain. That is normal. The question is not whether friction shows up. The question is what we do next. We pause. We ask what landed and what did not. We apologise without adding excuses. We adjust. Repair keeps the door open to future cooperation and to self-respect. It is how communities avoid wasting talent. Friendship can complete a day, but it does not write your identity. Your values, your effort, your rest, your limits are yours. Good friendship makes space for that and reminds you of it when you forget. In a university setting, this is not soft. It is practical. Groups that practice recognition, reciprocity, risk, and repair do better work. They learn faster. They leave room for more voices. They graduate with skills that do not expire.

Friendship is not simple. It is not supposed to be. Simple would be shallow. We are here to think with each other, not around each other. Let us build the kind of friendship that can hold weight and still guide.
Matilda Johansson Vice Head of Education vice.education@hhus.se


Rickard Lindberg Career Center USBE rickard.lindberg@umu.se
Starting of with activities and arenas where both you as individuals and we as a business school can showcase the potential to the surrounding society. This autumn we are exploring a to us new concept in form of Retail and Wholesale challenge where a company (Lyko this time) provide a live case to challenge us. Similarly we have participated in the finance competition CFA research challenge. Both of these deliver a platform for you to test your skills and for us all a chance to enter the spotlight of the national business community. SM in economy is a third example. Indeed opportunities that help us grow awareness of the business school as an interesting place to scan for talents.

Within the HLP program we are also able to join a career forum arranged by the Swedish trade association, where students from the business school also has been recognized by getting a national award, that also helps build our reputation.
On a more local level there are also opportunities. The Sustainergies case event that runs every term is one example and arranged by the university there is Innovation boot camp.
Of course what you do in HHUS also contributes a lot in these aspects where the business trips to Stockholm and in Umeå are great examples.
In summary I believe that all these initiatives are vital in building awareness and something we could be event better on using and delivering on. But requires that the split vision mindset I often refer to is put into action by as many of you as possible

This October Stockholm resilience center at Stockholm University et al released the report Doing business within Planetary Boundaries.
This is, I would say, what we all need to deliver on in the decades ahead. You hopefully heard of the corporate sustainability reporting standard CSRD (which has been partly postponed via Omnibus). Understanding the WHY behind it is however important to create the drive needed to deliver.
Six of nine planetary boundaries are already exceeded (SRC 2025). Climate, biodiversity, land use, and water systems are under severe pressure. We need to realize that Business-as-usual destabilizes Earth-system life support and thus integrate science-based limits into business strategies.
• Measuring the right things – “what, where, how much” and absolutely – matters, not just what is easy or financially obvious.
• Environmental disclosures must be science-grounded and standards must catch up (beyond carbon, beyond “financial materiality”) to be able to assess whether economic activity is within planetary limits.
• Tools like the Earth System Impact (ESI) score and Essential Environmental Impact Variables (EEIV) can help bridge the gap between local actions and global environmental risk, supporting better strategies and accountability.
• Investors need to integrate ESI/EEIVs in due diligence and demand full-spectrum disclosures
• Businesses, investors, and regulators each have roles; real change needs alignment across these actors (standards, incentives, regulation).




Shane Rodgers is a business executive, writer and marketer with a keen interest in social change and what makes people tick. He is the author of Tall People Don’t Jump – the curious behavior of human beings. Below a selection of his advices.
“So, just in case the time machine ever comes along, this is the career advice I would give my 25-year-old self.”
1. A career is a marathon, not a sprint. Allow yourself time to breathe and grow. You will find yourself seeing things on the journey that you didn’t realize were there.
2. In the workforce, always act like you are 35. When you are young in the workplace, don’t act as a novice. If you are smart and competent, step up and do whatever you are capable of doing in a mature way. Similarly, when you are an older worker, don’t act like it. Approach your day with youthful energy.
3. Genuinely listen to others
4. Never work for horrible bastards
5. Don’t just network with people your own age. Network with older people too. In fact networking should be about meeting useful mentors and career champions who can open doors and fast track careers. Similarly, older people should network with younger. They should be proactively seeking out smart, young people who can shake them out of their comfort zone and open their eyes to new ideas.
6. Never sacrifice personal ethics for an employer or work reason. Bad things only manifest when good people don’t take a stand.
7. Recognize that failure is learning. If we fear failure we tend to take a minimalist approach to our jobs and the opportunities around us. Takes some risks. Sometimes failing spectacularly is the best evidence that we are alive, human and serious about aspiring to the extraordinary.
I summarize this chronicle with a pod and a music tip perhaps suitable to snuggle up with in the autumn evenings. Look for the pod “Cow on the Ice” and episode “Hur skapar vi verklig förändring i näringslivet”. Onward to music, snuggle up with Dreams from Common Saints.
Keep a lookout for mails from career.usbe@umu.se and as always you are welcome to contact me at rickard.lindberg@umu.se when you want to discuss initiatives for activities, personal development opportunities, job considerations and the future labor market.
Enjoy the autumn, every season has its golden nuggets. It could be forest walks, aurora hunting or if we are lucky blank ice on lakes in November before the snow arrives.
I hope everyone’s had a great start to the semester — that the inspark season was everything it should be: a blur of new faces, laughter, and slightly too many late nights. Moving from summer to autumn always feels like a reset. The routines return, the campus fills up again, and for many of us, the focus slowly shifts from sun to spreadsheets.
For us in the Finance Group, autumn marks a new beginning too. It’s when discussions start flowing again, new members join, and we dive back into trying to make sense of markets that never seem to stand still.
Now, after almost a year leading the Finance Group and a few more as part of it, I’ve learned that the deeper you go into finance, the more you realize how much it helps to return to where it all begins — patience, perspective, and the courage to start small.
When I started university, I didn’t invest at all. Finance felt far away — something reserved for people with perfect Excel sheets, sharp suits, and more money than the average CSN budget allows. Between rent, coffee, and the occasional student nation event, the idea of buying stocks felt like something for “later.”
With time, I realized that finance isn’t only about chasing returns, it’s about understanding why things move the way they do. It’s about paying attention to how the world moves, why companies make certain decisions, and what connects everyday life to the numbers we see on a screen. I began reading, following companies I already knew, and slowly everything started to make a little more sense.
That’s still the foundation of how we think in the Finance Group. We don’t see ourselves as experts — we’re students, learning by doing. We read reports, discuss different companies, and challenge each other’s ideas. Some of us like to look for stable, long-term quality companies that steadily grow. Others look for short-term opportunities — moments when the market seems to have missed something.

What unites us isn’t a single strategy, but a mindset:
• Know what you invest in. If it sounds too complicated, it probably is.
• Be patient. Finance isn’t about being right every time, but about learning from what happens.
• Start small. You don’t need a large portfolio to think like an investor.
• Keep your head clear. The market will always move — what matters is how you react.

Take Apple for example — a company everyone knows. On the surface, it’s a tech giant that sells phones. But if you look closer, Apple is really a case study in consistency and long-term value creation. Decades ago, it was seen as a risky innovator. Today, it’s one of the most stable and respected companies in the world. Not because it reinvented itself every year, but because it built trust, one decision at a time.
And for those who already spend mornings scrolling through earnings reports or tracking markets — you know how easy it is to get caught up in the noise. But even when you’ve learned the formulas and followed the models, what really matters is the mindset behind it all: staying open-minded, questioning your assumptions, and remembering that numbers alone rarely tell the full story.
So when we in the Finance Group talk about how we think or share examples, it’s never to tell others what to do — it’s just one way of approaching a complex world. A way of thinking that values process over prediction and perspective over panic.

If you’ve ever thought about investing but didn’t know where to start, here’s my honest advice: Start small — even 500 SEK from your CSN can be a beginning. Follow a company you like. Read one quarterly report. You’ll be surprised how much more the world makes sense when you start looking at it through an investor’s lens.
And when the market drops (because it always does), don’t panic. Learn from it. Every investor — student or not — begins with confusion and ends with clarity, one decision at a time.
A small reflection: How do you react when things move?
Your portfolio is down 8% this month. You:
A) Panic and sell — better safe than sorry.
B) Buy a little more — volatility feels like opportunity.
C) Do nothing — you’re in it for the long run.
A company you use every day reports record profits. You:
A) Ignore it — finance still feels complicated.
B) Read about it — you want to understand why.
C) Invest a small amount — just to follow the story more closely.
There’s no right or wrong here. What matters is the thought behind your choice — because that’s where real learning starts.
Finance still feels like chaos sometimes. The numbers, the noise, the uncertainty — it’s a lot. But underneath, there’s always a pattern waiting to be found. Once you start looking closer, the chaos begins to make sense — and that’s when finance becomes not just understandable, but actually… exciting.

Emma Andström Head of Finance HHUS head.finance@hhus.se



On September 10th of this year, the first golf tournament organised by HHUS took place at Umeå Golfklubb. The tournament was played in the 2-person scramble format, which is a popular and social way to play golf. This means that both players on the team tee off, and then the best shot is selected; both continue playing from that point. In this way, teamwork and strategy are combined with a relaxed sense of competition, allowing players of different skill levels to participate on equal terms.

The winners of this year's HHUS Open were Filip Sahlén and Gustav Öman, with a score of –13 over 18 holes. After that, the competition was tough, with three teams tied for second at –11 and two teams in third place with –10.
In terms of placements, Viktor Lundström and Noel Hjalmarsson finished in second place, and Herman Gunn and Elias Hansson took third place.
In addition to the main competition, individual prizes were also awarded: Anton Frölin won Closest to the Pin (closest to the hole on a tee shot). Elin Lustig took home Straightest Drive (straightest shot on the fairway). Andreas Hensdal hit the longest and won Longest Drive.
We had great collaborations with Megazone, PwC, Handelsbanken, and Rouge, all of whom contributed prizes to the competition.
The day started with thick fog during the first thirty minutes to an hour, but when the sun finally appeared, it became 18 degrees with brilliant weather for the rest of the round, perfect conditions for golf. The mood was high throughout the day.
After the round, many competitors gathered at Trubban at the E-pub. It wasn't an official part of the competition, but it was a nice way to end a successful day.


















EKP
Life guards


Three words to describe Insparken: Organized, fun, and friends
My favorite memory: I think my best memory was The Pink Party! We had such a great time, and the ”faddrar” had prepared some really fun games!
What surprised me the most: How dedicated the ”faddrar” were! It was so much fun that everyone was so enthusiastic!
What I look forward to the most about student life: Getting to hang out with lots of fun and friendly people!
Three words to describe Insparken: Fun, stressful, and exciting.
My favorite memory: The pre-parties, especially the one before the gasque.
What surprised me the most: The culture around HHUS and all the people involved in Insparken.
What I look forward to the most about student life: Meeting new people.

Alice Fält SMP Farmers
Three words to describe Insparken: Bonding, chaotic, memorable.
My favorite memory:

My favorite memory from Insparken has to be all the outdoor pre-parties at Tviste before heading to Rouge!
What surprised me the most:
What surprised me most was how I kept showing up to almost every event, even when I was completely drained, but every single time, it was totally worth it!
What I look forward to the most about student life:
I’m really excited to grow both academically and personally, to meet new people, and to make the most of my time as a student, all while hopefully finding the right balance along the way.

Many people may be surprised to learn I am an introvert. I enjoy being introspective, spending time alone, and gain energy through solitude. But this is often a juggling act, as humans we long for human connection, friendships, and relationships. There are those who enjoy their alone time, love being around others, those that try to max out their time with their friends, and enjoy minimal alone time, and those that fall somewhere in the middle. This is something I often struggle with: how to keep up with re-charging my battery, how to make new friends, and how to maintain those friendships.
Coming to a new city as an international student I missed out on our famous Insparken event, where new students can connect, make memories, and start to form friendships. I was uncertain for myself when class started how to go about making friends. I failed to find courage to just speak to new people, and initiate conversations. I sat alone, going to class, going home, not making a real effort to connect, but I also recognized that was not sustainable, and I needed to put myself out there to see who I would connect with. The best place to start is in class. Starting with small talk, perhaps where you are from, why you chose this program, what they think so far, seeing if the conversation at all can spark some deeper connection that may prompt the infa mous “we should hangout sometime,” statement. To my surprise, so many kind and potential friends were sitting in the same class as me, and this little thing helped me form organic friendships. When you hear “we should hangout sometime,” make the plan, and stick to it!


Madison Quigley Vice Presedent HHUS vice.president@hhus.se

By: Madison Quigley
Sometimes there is a misconception that to be friends with someone you must be similar individuals, but I think the beauty about friendships, and any relationship you form in life, is to connect with people from all different backgrounds and to connect on different levels. There are so many different types of friendships that all carry value. You may have childhood friends, school friends, friends from hobbies, acquaintances, close friends, best friends, or even a lifelong friend if you have been lucky enough to find your forever people!
Building and maintaining friendships, you must be open to listening, be caring, offer support when needed, and dare to show some ounce of vulnerability to let people in and truly get to know you. This helps build a foundation of trust. It is equally important to have fun along the way, making new memories. To be vulnerable also means to be yourself, not to shelter who you are just for the sake of making friends. I think during university some may be afraid that they won’t be accepted for who they are, but I think the trick is to find people that allow you to show who you are, find those that accept you, help you grow, and encourage you to continue to grow into a version of yourself that you want to be.
Something that has changed my experience for the better during university has been to get engaged in HHUS, the learning opportunity is endless, but what really makes it special, and rewarding is the people you get to meet. I have gained so many valuable friendships through my time spent in HHUS with those I otherwise would not have met. People from other programs, different cities, and with so many different backgrounds or interests.
Friendships and relationships deserve to be nurtured and are the foundation in my opinion to having a fulfilling life. These are people to share not only the joys of life, but those to lean on when you are also going through your lows. Opportunities to connect with others exist everyday especially in school, if you are looking for ways to meet friends I encourage you to engage in student life, or to sit next to someone new in class and spark up a conversation. Even if you are like me and enjoy your solitude, we all need someone, and life gets that much fuller when you have others to share it with. There is beauty in knowing, and being known. I will forever be grateful for the people I have met along the journey of my studies, and hope you too make everlasting friendships.



As we kick off our university adventure, we’re in for so many unforgettable nights with friends! Just imagine late-night study sessions where laughter fills the air and perfectly flows into cosy movie nights or binge-watching our favourite shows. It’s the perfect excuse to gather with a big bowl of chips or fresh veggies and a tasty dip. Let the fun times begin!
10 potions
10 small carrots
400g cucumber
10 tsk salladskrydda (salad seasoning)
Salt and pepper aftertaste
10 onion powder after taste
5 dl quark cream cheese 10% Kesella

Cut the vegetables into sticks
Mix the dip, dilute it with water, and season to taste with spices.
Variationtios
Use low-fat cottage cheese (lättkesella) if you want to reduce your fat intake. Use sour cream / crème fraîche if you want to increase your fat intake. Vary with different vegetables. Radishes go well with it!
Imagine having friends over, everyone in their cosiest clothes, making some fun memories with delicious treats like vegetables, chips, a cheese platter with fresh fruit dip, and drinks. You can whip up a scrumptious dip using cream fresh from Ica, mixed with your favourite spice and some onion—perfect for those vegetable and chip platters.
As the weeks go by, these gatherings can evolve into cherished traditions. Consider making every Tuesday night “Dip Night,” where everyone brings their own twist to the snack and drink table. You could also host themed movie marathons, complete with costumes and themed snacks, or have a nice board and drinking night. The traditions can add excitement to our lives while studying and create lasting memories that we fondly look back on after we’ve graduated.

These evenings are more than just study sessions; they are the heart of our university experience, where friendships deepen over shared challenges and wins. Each laugh and funny moment, combined with good food, creates more good memories. It’s during these moments that we realise the importance of having a support system, which can lighten the mood with many funny moments.
Friendship is not just about the good times, it’s about supporting each other through the ups and downs when we face all the pressures of university life. Those late-night study sessions can turn into valuable brainstorming sessions, where we help each other understand the material. Late nights of studying will leave you needing snacks and drinks on the table. If you are at school, you can easily buy chips, cream cheese, and a package of dip spices to make a quick chip and dip with water, soda, or energy drinks for a boost. When you are at someone’s home studying, try making some vegetables, a dip, and having some drinks. Add some blankets to make it cosy.




How it works:
One player starts as the dealer. The next player guesses the value (e.g., 7, Jack, Ace) of the top card in the deck.

If you guess correctly the dealer drinks as many sips as the card’s value (Jack = 11, Queen = 12, etc.).

If you guess wrong the dealer says whether the real card is higher or lower, and you get a second chance to guess.

If you miss the second guess as well you drink the difference between your guess and the actual card.
When a card has been played, it’s placed face-up on the table, so it be comes easier to guess as the game goes on.

If three players in a row miss the dealer is replaced by the next person.


Horror
The conjuring: last rites
Get ready for an exhilarating ride in the fourth chapter of The Conjuring series! Join the daring paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren as they face their most haunting case yet, pushing the limits of their courage and unwavering devotion to the supernatural. Slated for release in Septem ber 2025, this highly anticipated film dares you to confront your deepest fears while celebrating the incredible power of love and determination. Don’t miss out on this spine-chilling advent

Animated
Ice Age franchise
Ice Age is a movie series where we follow Sid the sloth, Manny the mammoth and Diego, a sabre-tooth tiger. In the first movie, they encounter a woman who jumps into a waterfall to save her child from sabre-toothed tigers, pushing the baby towards Manny and Sid before disappearing. The two animals commit to finding the baby’s father. Meanwhile, Soto, the villainous leader of the sabre-tooths, sends Diego to retrieve the baby for revenge against its father. Diego deceives Manny and Sid, leading them into a trap to ambush them. On Viaplay, you can find 4 of 5 released movies, and on February 9th 2027, the 6th movie will be released.

Animated
Howls moving castle
In the enchanting world of “Howl’s Moving Castle,” directed by the brilliant Hayao Miyazaki, viewers are swept away on a captivating adventure filled with magical elements and unforgettable characters. The story follows Sophie, a timid young woman whose life takes a dramatic turn when a malevolent witch casts a spell on her, transforming her into an elderly woman. In her quest to reclaim her youthful self, Sophie crosses paths with the charming yet flawed young wizard Howl, whose extravagant lifestyle and insecurities only add to the tale’s allure. Together, along with his eclectic band of companions, they navigate the whimsical landscapes and peculiarities of Howl’s towering, moving castle, embarking on a journey that intertwines love, courage, and the true essence of self-discovery.

“Jumanji” is an exhilarating two-part movie series directed by Jake Kasdan, featuring an incredible cast that includes Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Jack Black, and Kevin Hart. This thrilling adventure takes you deep into a magical video game where four unsuspecting teenagers find themselves trapped. They must navigate through wild challenges and unexpected twists, relying on each other’s unique strengths to conquer the game and find their way out. Get ready for an action-packed journey filled with laughter, teamwork, and heart-pounding excitement!




Stranger Things is a remarkable series that concluded its last season on November 9th. Featuring talented actors like Millie Bobby Brown, Joe Keery, David Harbour, and Finn Wolfhard, it transports viewers to the 1980s, where a group of young friends in Indiana courageously confronts supernatural forces and uncovers hidden government secrets. Their relentless quest for answers inspires us all as they unravel extraordinary mysteries that challenge our understanding of reality.




Embrace the chilling allure of Derry as Pennywise makes a haunting return, not on the big screen but through the captivating new HBO Max series, It: Welcome to Derry. Bill Skarsgård reprises his iconic role, bringing to life the nightmarish clown that has lingered in our dreams since 2017. Set in 1962, 27 years prior to the events of It (2017) and It Chapter Two (2017), this nine-episode journey will grace HBO Max in October, inviting us to explore the depths of fear and the strength that arises from facing
La Brea is an inspiring drama and science fiction series with three seasons on Viapla talented actors Jon Seda, Eion Macken, and Josh McKenzie. A massive sinkhole mysteriously opens up in Los Angeles, leading to an incredible journey as part of a family is separated from one another in a primordial world. Together with a diverse group of strangers, they embark on a courageous fight for survival and unity, determined to find their way back home.
Wednesday

Get ready to dive into the intriguing world of “Wednesday,” which now has two thrilling seasons streaming on Netflix! Join Wednesday Addams on her captivating journey as a student, where she not only grapples with her blossoming psychic powers but also finds herself caught in the midst of a chilling killing spree and a mysterious puzzle that entwines her family’s past. With standout performances from Jenna Ortega, Emma Myers, and Hunter Doohan, this series promises to keep you on the edge of your seat with its blend of suspense, dark humour, and supernatural twists. Don’t miss























































































































