CAN YOU DO IT ALL?

AN ELECTION’S TALE

By Emma Solgård Rasmussen and Kari Grov

Before the summer Casper Øhlers was IBP Magazine’s Human of the Issue, and if you didn’t know him at the time, you have probably seen his face on posters all over Copenhagen this fall as he ran for Danish Parliament. Even before the announcement of Denmark’s parliamentary election, IBPers have asked themselves how Casper had enough hours in a day to study, work and be so involved in the Conservative party. Through the intense months of September and October, one could follow the ups and downs of campaigning and debating on Casper’s social media, and many are left wondering how he got through it all.

The preparations for the election started before the summer when doing summer school to ease the workload during the fall and election. “I did summer school and worked full time at Nykredit during summer to be able to quit my job in August and have enough money to live for during the campaign. That was quite stressful. I was quite frank with my professors in the two courses I had during the fall semester about my absence when elections came. It ended up working out quite well”.

Making time in the CBS schedule for an election campaign is not straightforward, and shows his commitment to politics. Casper says that the reason he has gotten so involved with politics is because he didn’t see enough climate action, youth representation, and LGBT-justice in the Danish Parliament. “Sometimes the best motivation to do something, is to realize no one else will do it if you don’t” he concluded. However politics is not an easy game to play, and what surprised the new politician the most was the amount of work spent campaigning. With crazy hours and constant stress, management consultants have nothing on parliamentary candidates, Casper pointed out. “The hours are crazy and the stress factor of seeing your face around town for four weeks is horrendous - yet extremely exciting and motivating at the same time”.

Not only is it demanding for the candidate to run for election, but also the candidate’s wallet - especially a student wallet! When asked about how he was able to finance a whole election campaign, Casper thanked IBPers and other friends who contributed to his micro-fundraiser. Companies and private donors have also helped him financially, but like many third-year students, he had saved up some money for an exciting fifth semester. While many students’ savings were spent on a semester abroad, Casper spent it on posters, flyers, and everything else that comes with a campaign.

The highlights of the election were according to Casper debating tax policy in the political TV show Deadline on DR. As well as a debate that was live streamed on TikTok and the national evening news at the same time. “Lastly, all the debates at dorms were fun because of the intimate and cozy vibe. Simply because meeting the young people I tried to represent was so meaningful”.

Digging deeper into the question of how the IBPer got through the stress and anxiety of campaigning, the constant adrenaline made him numb or protected him from feeling too stressed. However, Casper describes the weeks after November first as being burnt out, with a constant feeling of being hungover. Maybe not too surprising when witnessing his politician life through Instagram. Being a politician also comes with the struggle of always having to be the best version of yourself. After a minimum of partying due to a busy schedule and the fear of being caught on camera with a bit too much alcohol in his blood, Casper actually missed clubbing something surprising to himself. So December and January have been payback time with regards to clubbing he shoots in, “it’s been a bit too lit haha”.

However, the election did not scare the new politician away and he is excited to try again in four years when he has more real-life experience from his new job. According to Casper, working now for Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners Foundation on CO2-reduction projects in Denmark is the perfect combination of business and politics. With the hands-on experience of how to actually reach Denmark’s CO2-reduction targets and the lessons he learned from the election, he hopes to stand even stronger.

Lastly, Casper’s tips to IBPers on a hectic schedule who are playing it big is to be nice to yourself and fake your self-confidence. “You (probably) did your best”, and when it comes to networking it “works best if both people feel like they are equal - not in rank or seniority but in confidence and interest. So bullshit your confidence if it’s lacking in the beginning”.