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Beyond the Blend: Purpose, Progress and the Power of Community with Elisa Swanson-Parbäck
In this episode of Beyond the Blend, Steve Knapp sits down with Elisa Swanson- Parbäck, Business Development Director for Sustainable Lubricants at Perstorp Group. What follows is a wide-ranging, insightful conversation that spans diving in Finnish waters to representing the lubricants industry at the European Parliament. At its heart, this is a discussion about purpose, self-awareness, and how sustainability can be rooted in practicality, not idealism. Elisa shares how her path through business has been shaped by a unique mindset, a passion for progress, and a deep appreciation of community. Here, we explore the standout themes from the episode.
Purpose-Led Career Development
Elisa describes her professional journey not as meticulously planned, but as an evolving response to her interests and values. Her career has spanned roles as diverse as diving instructor and IP video technology lead, to now driving sustainable growth in the lubricants industry. What unites these experiences is a strong sense of direction rooted in meaning. Rather than follow a linear career map, Elisa tuned in to what excited her and made deliberate choices based on purpose. A pivotal moment came when she blocked out a date in her calendar for a self imposed 360-degree review. The question she posed: “Am I the right woman in the right place?” It became the lens through which she evaluated her next step—and found a role that brought together everything she was looking for: business development, sustainability, and global impact.
Elisa also highlights the importance of aligning work with personal values. She shares how her role at Perstorp Group brings that synergy to life by offering her the platform to develop sustainable market solutions, proving that career fulfilment often lies at the intersection of purpose and opportunity. Her advice is clear: don’t wait for a plan to appear. Create space for reflection and let curiosity and intention guide your next chapter.
Neurodiversity as a Leadership Strength
A particularly powerful segment of the episode is Elisa’s exploration of what she calls “dyslexic thinking”. Though never formally diagnosed, Elisa recognises in herself many of the traits associated with dyslexia: nonlinear thinking, big-picture pattern recognition, and rapid ideation. By embracing this identity, she reframed what once felt like a limitation into a superpower. This shift allowed her to work with her strengths, not against them. Instead of overexplaining or overplanning, she now consciously holds back on conclusions to allow teams to reach insights on their own terms—a transformative step in her leadership development.
This mode of thinking has proven invaluable in business development and marketing, where empathy, agility and systems thinking are prized. Elisa draws a direct line between her ability to connect disparate ideas and her success in bringing innovative solutions to market. The key lesson here isn’t just about neurodiversity—it’s about self-awareness. When we understand how our minds work, we can lead with more clarity, compassion, and confidence. Her message? Own your differences. They may be your greatest professional asset.
Sustainability from Every Angle
For Elisa, sustainability is more than a corporate objective—it’s a return to common sense. Raised in a family where frugality and reusability were the norm, she sees the sustainability movement not as something new, but as something rebadged. What her parents called “making do”, we now call resource efficiency. Her perspective on sustainability is rooted in pragmatism: it needs to be market-ready, measurable, and inclusive of the entire value chain.
Through her work at Perstorp Group and her role in the UEIL Joint Sustainability Committee, Elisa advocates for real-world solutions that can scale. She recently brought that message to the European Parliament, presenting practical examples of renewable and recycled raw materials being used in lubricants. This wasn’t about ticking regulatory boxes—it was about proving that innovation exists and needs policy support to thrive. Elisa’s approach reminds us that progress in sustainability comes not from slogans, but from solution-building. Her driver is clear: real change only happens when businesses move upstream in the value chain and turn values into action.
The Power of Community
One thread that runs consistently through Elisa’s story is the value she places on
community. Whether it’s the tight-knit trust of a diving team underwater, the cross- sector collaboration of the sustainability committee, or the energy she draws from industry events, Elisa repeatedly returns to the idea that progress is a collective act. She is not a lone crusader. She thrives in teams, networks, and communities of purpose.
This ethos also shapes her view of leadership. For Elisa, strong leadership isn’t about commanding the room—it’s about fostering connection and shared ambition. Her involvement in forums such as Lubricant Expo and UEIL is motivated not by visibility, but by the belief that great ideas happen when like-minded people come together. Even at the European Parliament, what stood out to her most wasn’t the formality or structure, but the sense of democratic dialogue in action. “It’s not as normal as we think” she says. “It’s a community”.
Advice Grounded in Self-Knowledge
When asked what advice she would give to listeners, Elisa delivers something deceptively simple: understand yourself. Know your values, embrace your quirks, and don’t be afraid to ask, “Why do I get up in the morning?” These aren’t just philosophical musings; they’re tools for building a meaningful life and career. Whether it’s through deliberate reflection, tools like Gallup StrengthsFinder, or the act of journaling your own progress, Elisa encourages everyone to make self-knowledge a habit.
She also cautions against waiting too long to be yourself. For many, it takes years to feel they can show up authentically at work. But Elisa urges us to accelerate that process. The sooner you understand what drives you, the sooner you can align your actions with your purpose. Her favourite quote sums it up with a smile: “Always be yourself. Unless you can be Batman. Then be Batman”.
Conclusion: Progress is Possible, Together
Elisa Swanson-Parbäck’s story is a reminder that leadership isn’t about job titles or rigid plans. It’s about leaning into your unique perspective, showing up with intention, and building a career that aligns with your values. Whether she’s shaping sustainable strategies at Perstorp Group or challenging assumptions at the European Parliament, Elisa does so with authenticity and optimism.
In an industry undergoing enormous change, it’s voices like hers that will lead the way—grounded, reflective, and collaborative. From the personal to the political, Elisa shows us that change doesn’t have to be dramatic to be meaningful. You just have to start. And you have to stay connected.
If you enjoyed this article, be sure to subscribe to the Beyond the Blend podcast. Join us as we continue to explore the stories, people and ideas driving progress across the lubricant market—with insight, honesty, and a little bit of humour along the way.
