SACC Georgia had the pleasure of interviewing Sandra Carlborg, six-time World Long Drive Champion competing in the World Long Drive Championship in Atlanta in October. Sandra’s mission is not only to grab her 7th championship win but to inspire other women and mothers that they are capable of doing the same. After making a big switch in her career, focusing on her strengths, she pivoted from traditional golf to Long Drive. Sandra uses her experience and transferable expertise from her journey to become a world class athlete in inspirational talks and lectures to business leaders who want their companies and employees to thrive. 

Sandra experienced the world through her golf clubs 

Sandra is based in Alingsås, on the West coast of Sweden, and has competed in 33 countries and 14 states in the US. She started out her professional golf career in 2004 and after 13 years she transitioned into Long Drive. 

“I decided to quit regular golf and focus on what I was excelling in, which was Long Drive”

Sandra tells us she never reached her full potential playing traditional golf, she was really good at hitting the ball far and prior to quitting golf she had even competed in several World Championships in Long Drive just for fun. 

After taking a break from competing during the pandemic, and welcoming her first child in 2020 and her second child the following year, in 2023 she decided she was ready to go back to competing. Sandra has made a commitment to be in her best shape ever when she turns 40 in November this year. She aims to inspire women and mothers that it’s possible to bounce back and achieve their goals. Sandra further mentioned that her goal is to win the World Long Drive Championship here in Atlanta between October 18-22.

Long drive - the showman of golf 

They call Long Drive the Rock n Roll of golf. It is truly an entertainment sport Sandra explains. Essentially the game is to hit the ball as far as you can and each player receives 6 balls to hit within two and half minutes. Long drive has picked up popularity in recent years and the women’s competitions started airing in 2017. Sandra recently returned to Alingsås from winning gold in the World Long Drive Kingsport championship at Cattails at MeadowView Golf Course in Tennessee. The competition in Tennessee was broadcasted on The Golf Channel and she describes the adrenaline she got from winning as magical. 

Going for Gold at World  Long Drive Championship in Atlanta

Between October 18-22, Sandra will be in Atlanta to compete in the World Long Drive Championship at the Bobby Jones golf course in Buckhead. The pressure for this competition is high as Sandra states she has come to win. 

“Not only for myself, my motivation that keeps me going is to pave the way. Through dedication and planning you can reach your goals, and that’s what I hope to do in Atlanta” 

The pandemic caused the growing sport of Long Drive to stagnate slightly but the upcoming Championship in Atlanta will put it back in the limelight. 

Business and Long Drive - the unexpected intersection 

Sandra is currently a 6th time world champion, the leading female player in Long Drive in the world. Coming to Atlanta to grab her 7th win, by working steadfastly and staying dedicated to her goals. 

“I love my job and I love to entertain - I am doing what I do best and my passion is to share that with others so they can do the same”

When she is not winning championships, she conducts clinics, lectures, golf performances for companies and others. Sandra has worked her way back to the top and is passionate about sharing how. Sandra is available for clinics and lectures while in Atlanta. You can reach Sandra Carlborg through her website.

Who are you?

My name is Hibo. I am 24 years old, born and raised in Lund in the south of Sweden. I recently acquired my bachelor degree in Political Science and Economics from Linköping University. My interests include: journalism, running and studying French.

Why did you apply for the internship?

I was looking for an opportunity where I could combine my interest in international business & development with living abroad. I’ve heard great things about SACC and Atlanta is rumored to be the fastest growing city in the US, so I thought this would be a great opportunity. 

What are your first impressions of Atlanta?

When I first stepped out of the airport it was a bit of a shock and it almost felt like entering a sauna. Apart from that, this is a huge city with lots to do and I love the diversity of the city. I cannot wait to explore all that "Hotlanta" has to offer. 

What did you do prior to your internship at SACC-GA?

My most recent experience was with the Embassy of Sweden in Kenya, contributing to the embassy’s trade and politics section, as well as the multilateral projects with the UN. In addition to this I have volunteered at various non-profits, many with a focus on youth empowerment which is something that is very dear to my heart. 

What are your expectations for the internship?

I am hoping to grow, both personally and professionally. I am a curious person and I am excited to learn more about the function of SACC, the intersection of Swedish and American businesses and hopefully contribute to growing the organization!

Meet Dan Erling the President  and CEO of Accountants One! 

Meet our members Jeff Arnold and Richard Kline at Sought + Found, LLC.
Are you on the lookout for unique interior design, or maybe a special birthday gift? Make sure to check out Sought + Found and contribute to supporting small businesses around the world. Visit their online store here!

We are super excited to present our next board member! This is a way for you to get to know SACC GA's board members in a video format.

Meet  John Woodward! 

John has been involved as a SACC GA board member for several years. He is Vice President, Global Commerce, Metro Atlanta Chamber and Honorary Consul for Slovak Republic 
Enjoy!

We are excited to present our new Segment Member Spotlight. This is a chance for you to get to know the SACC GA members more through video format. 

First out is The Dressie Law Firm, we visited them last  year to learn more about their law firm and connection to Sweden! 

Enjoy!

We are super excited to present a new addition to our series, Board Member Spotlight. This is a way for you to get to know SACC GA's board members in a video format.

Jonas Jarvholm is a patent lawyer  and partner at Ballard Spahr, and has been involved as a SACC GA board member for several years. He is born and raised in Gothenburg, Sweden but went collage and started his career in the US. 
Enjoy!

Meet Tindra and Sudhir from Green Boom. 

Green Boom is one of our member companies that took part of our internship program and hosted a Swedish intern. Read our interview to learn more about their experience.

Tindra

Tell us about yourself:

My name is Tindra, and I am 22 years old and I grew up in Borås, Sweden. In June, I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Jönköping international Business School. After graduation, I moved to Atlanta to work as a trainee at Green Boom.

 

Tell us about your impression of Atlanta:

It definitely exceeded my expectations. I think it is a great, vibrant city with a variety of activities, restaurants and availability to meet new people. You definitely notice the southern hospitality. It is a big spread-out city, which can make it hard sometimes to get around without a car, so Uber and the MARTA have become my new best friends. 

Learning experiences:

Working for a start-up is remarkable to me, as I get a deep insight into the business and get to do a multitude of tasks. That has made me more hands on and more explorative in finding solutions, as there are no manuals to follow. But most apparent is to take advantage of networking at all times and be responsive. 

 

Sudhir:

About Green Boom

We manufacture 100% biodegradable and non-traceable oil absorbents used to clean up oil spills at sea, on land or industrial environments. It is a very niche industry. We work with clients everywhere in the world but primarily the US, the Middle East and in Europe. So we work all hours of the day, because we might just wake up and our clients in the Middle East get off work.

Best thing with a trainee?  

Everyone at Green Boom has something different that they bring to the table. For instance Dr Deng and I are both scientists, Parker manages the sales operations, whilst David handles the day-to-day operations. There have been a lot of positive things about having a trainee at Green Boom. Tindra being straight out of school, being from a different country has brought some insightful perspectives on our sales team and Green Boom as a whole. 

Who are you?
My name is Lina, I am 25 years old, and I was born and raised in Gothenburg,
Sweden. Recently, I finished my Master’s degree in International Business and Trade
at the School of Business, Economics, and Law at the University of Gothenburg.

Why did you apply for this internship?
I have always wanted to work abroad, especially in the US. The Swedish American
Chamber of Commerce is a great place to kick start your international career. Being
at SACC-Georgia is exciting since Atlanta is a hub for many different industries.

What are your first impressions of Atlanta?
Well... they do not call it Hotlanta for nothing! My first impression was that it was
very hot and humid, but also, you can not miss the Southern hospitality. People in
Atlanta are so friendly and people always smile and say Hello even if you do not
know them. I love the city, it is full of life and many things to do.

What did you do prior to your internship at SACC-GA?
I was a full-time student at the University of Gothenburg, acquiring a Master’s degree
in International Business and Trade. I also worked part-time at a company called
Cellmark as a Sales Service Coordinator. In addition, I volunteered for several youth
organizations in the town where I lived. This is a great passion of mine

What are your expectations for your internship?
My expectations for this internship are to gather valuable experiences that I can use
in my future career, as well as to evolve as a person. I pursue the experience of
working in a different culture and get a better understanding of how businesses
operate in the US, as well as how a chamber of commerce functions. I also look
forward to expanding my network and developing relationships here in Atlanta and across the US.