– We lost 2-300 million – E24

– It is important not to live to death, says Daniel Kjørberg Siraj when E24 points out that he does not live in the house of any classic CEO.

He and his wife tried to live more “CEO”, in a villa on the outskirts of the city. They did not like it and moved back to an apartment in central Oslo, overlooking Akerselva and the kindergarten in the backyard.

– There is some noise. A habit, Siraj says.

For anyone tired of showing off images of beautiful home offices with clean surfaces, bonsai wood, and an overall feng shui feel, Siraj’s home office is a relief. You just sent your kids to school and are taking a seat in the 12-year-old boys’ room.

Where the home office boasts of expensive art or well-stocked shelving in the background at video conferencing, Siraj has a bunk bed and a massive Manchester United flag.

– You should not look at the grades

So no one can accuse the Obos boss of being an idiot. Quite practical, hard-working, and busy with people.

When I was young, there was no planned business career. I’d rather save the world, he says on E24’s Voksenpoeng podcast.

Listen to the full interview with Daniel Siraj where he usually listens to podcasts, or in the player below:

– He was worried about everything that happened with the injustices of the world. I would become a social economist, work at the World Bank, and help develop a fairer international system.

There was only one thing he had forgotten: he had to know math.

– I had not realized that, as stupid as it was.

Growing up in the Bible belt with an active family in KrF, in which he was also active, he spent six months in a Bible school. A friend thought he should study law because “if everything goes wrong, you can at least get rich”, it turned out. Combined with city council work for KrF, there were no good grades, but okay, around a B cut, it’s estimated. It was not good enough for the big Oslo law firms.

– I have reminded you of that many times, you should not only look at the grades. Now there are those who have to give themselves to me to get assignments, so I say “remember, 25 years ago I didn’t get a job with you.” It’s always just as nice, says Siraj.

“Shanghai Shark” in Shanghai

He had another option: At a conference in Shanghai, he had met then-Obos CEO Martin Meland, who suggested he could apply for a job there when politics ended.

– I tend to say that I am probably the only one who has really become the shark shark in Shanghai.

After a few years as a lawyer, the CEO asked him to decide: Do you want to become a good lawyer or a good business? Siraj chose business and moved on to the business development department. You remember well one of the first lessons you learned. He had just gotten married at the same time that Obos had bought the tunnel contracting company Mika.

– While I was on my honeymoon, the businessman got sick and died pretty quickly. It was a very sad story, because he had wonderful company. But he had a lot of knowledge in his head.

Browse the gallery or follow Voksenpoeng_Med_Nora on Instagram to read Daniel Siraj’s school journal.

The company had wreaked havoc and was technically bankrupt from time to time. Siraj had to clean, raise money for new investments and try to put the ship on the right track. It didn’t go particularly well.

– In the end, we sold it to someone else, after losing 150 million kronor or whatever.

He admitted to the CEO that he was embarrassed. The boss thought it was okay of him, because then he had learned something.

– He said it was a bit expensive adult education, but if I took that learning for later, then it was not in vain. I try to live by that even when others make mistakes, because it happens all the time. Not cutting off people’s heads, but asking what we can learn, says Siraj.

Lost 2-300 million

Ever since the Mika incident, he went on to say that he shouldn’t persevere in a rescue operation if things go wrong, but rather cut and make a quick decision.

Mika’s sign flashed before his eyes when he decided to sell Obos outside of the insurance industry. But it has not always been so easy to live by the quick decision principle.

One of the mistakes that still bothers him is a stock sale for which he received a lot of praise from abroad: the sale of homebuilder JM. Obos had bought before the price rose at the publicly traded company. At a company presentation, Siraj had a bad feeling and received a clear signal from the board to sell, up to the flag’s edge first, the stock they could sell without sending a notice. Obos mail was in fact worth more than a billion kronor, and with that they were the second largest owner.

The remainder of the sale he promised to carry out through a thorough process. Obos took the summer vacation.

– While we were going on vacation, the course sank. So … We lost between 2 and 300 million crowns waiting for that summer. It was an expensive summer vacation.

From the outside, it didn’t seem like a mistake: Obos was praised both in newspaper columns and by equity analysts for having sold at the right time and at a profit.

– But for me it is a mistake – why didn’t I do what I had learned and it felt in my stomach?

Jesus as a role model

Siraj’s path to senior management at Obos went through becoming a “shock leader” when he left the business development department to become head of housing development. He doesn’t have a good answer on how he succeeds as a leader, other than that he has felt comfortable working hard and that his friends and family have endured as well.

– Many top managers have had mentors. I read that your role model is Jesus.

– It is a bit of a leadership principle: be close to people. Jesus was concerned with giving something back and being close to ordinary people, not just associating with the great lords. And then it was inspiring and clear.

– Do you have any weaknesses as a leader?

– Oh yeah. First of all, my impatience. I’m trying to be more aware of that. And then I try to get better at letting go of others. I am quite a public person, so others can shine too. It’s good for Obos that it’s not just Daniel, I work with that, says Siraj.

He has simple advice for young people who also want a leadership career.

– You must have faith in yourself. Too many people say “No, I can’t do that, it’s too demanding.” If I have faith in you, I’m not saying it for fun. If I want to give you a career or a chance, it’s because I think you master it and because I want to help you be the best you can, says Siraj.

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