Employee Success Story: Maria Karlström’s Journey from Systems Engineer to General Manager
At Perseus Group, we’re proud to share the journeys of employees who’ve built meaningful, lasting careers with us, often starting when their company joined through acquisition.
This story features Maria Karlström, General Manager of MOPSsys. Over the past decade, Maria has grown from a systems engineer, to customer support, and is now guiding the business as General Manager. Her journey reflects how careers at Perseus evolve naturally, driven by individual ambition strengthened by the support of a larger ecosystem.
Q: You’ve been with MOPSsys for 10 years now. Can you share what drew you to stay with the business through the years?
Maria: I’ve really grown up professionally here. I began as a systems engineer, then I moved into customer support. Several years later, I expanded into global operations and eventually stepped into the General Manager role in 2021. Each step brought new challenges but also continuity, I’ve always felt I was building on what came before. Staying with the same business has allowed me to develop deeply, rather than just broadly.
Q: You were part of MOPSsys when the company was acquired by Perseus. What was that transition like from your perspective?
Maria: At the time, I was actually on maternity leave, so the decision process was handled by my predecessor, Hans Hallin. When I returned, the acquisition was already done, but it didn’t come as a shock. Hans had always been thoughtful about succession planning and part of his wishes for the acquisition was that I would eventually lead the business.
Post-acquisition, Perseus stayed true to its commitment. Hans and I worked through the practical side of the integration process: introducing new reporting, financial systems, and so on. Those responsibilities gave me a front-row seat to how ownership shifts can be managed without disrupting the essence of the business.
Q: Moving into the General Manager role is a big step. What helped make that transition possible?
Maria: It was daunting at first, taking over leadership of a company is no small thing. But having the support of Perseus, my colleagues across the larger Manufacturing portfolio, and the entire MOPSsys team gave me confidence. I had mentors to lean on, peers to exchange ideas with, and a sense that I wasn’t navigating alone. The whole MOPSsys team worked with me through the transition, and this backing made a huge difference in my ability to step into the role and succeed.
Q: Looking at your current work, what are you most proud of?
Maria: Right now, we’re in the middle of a generational shift in our product. We’ve been working toward this for years, but since joining Perseus we’ve had clearer plans and gained access to a larger cohort of knowledge, which gave my team leverage on our ongoing journey.
It’s been a massive effort, but it feels achievable because we’re not carrying it alone. That’s something I take pride in.
Q: What has your experience been like as a woman leading in the tech field?
Maria: Honestly, I don’t think about it much day to day. The other General Managers in the Manufacturing group have been nothing but supportive, and I’ve always felt respected in my role. That said, representation matters, and I know it’s important for younger women in the industry to see examples of leadership that look like them. If my story helps encourage even one person to stay the course, that’s worth something.
Q: If you were speaking directly to a founder weighing a sale to Perseus, what would you want them to know?
Maria: For us, the acquisition has brought many positive elements to our business. Our team stayed intact, our culture was preserved, and we gained resources we couldn’t have built on our own. Things like shared best practices have allowed us to focus on innovation and product development instead of just keeping the lights on. Hans and I agree that Perseus really has been the right home for MOPSsys.
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