Cecilia Ekholm is Consul General for Sweden in San Francisco from 1 December 2025. She was previously Commissioner General for Sweden at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan 2024-2025. She has also held functions such as Special Envoy for Sustainable Business at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Swedish Ambassador to Peru. Cecilia Ekholm has a MSc in European Politics and Policy from the London School of Economics as well as a degree in Political Science from Lund University.
Some of us have already had the pleasure and privilege to meet and listen to our new Consul General a few times after her arrival in December when her predecessor Anna Lekvall was promoted to a position for the entire North America at the Swedish foreign Affairs Department (UD) in Stockholm.
Our Consul General is a high energy and well-organized promoter for any new mission she takes on and connects immediately with people she meets. We live in a very uncertain time with daily surprises in world politics. This week the leaders for NATO met in my home city Helsingborg and I was able to listen to a couple of press conferences. This became a wake up call for me. Every representative answered questions from the journalist with a sense of urgency, confidence, hope and resilience. Sweden’s and Finland’s entry into NATO has also brought a new meaning to Scandinavia /” Nordic countries. We need to stick together not only as countries but also as immigrants in the Bay Area. Welcome to the events the coming week. Register on Eventbrite links.
I sent some questions to our Consul General and she responded immediately:
Where did you grow up, Tell us briefly about your family and schools and early influences.
I grew up in a mid-size town in Sweden called Jonkoping in Smaland. It is a city with a long and strategic history dating back to the medieval period. It was officially founded in 1284 by King Magnus Ladulås, largely due to its important position along trade routes between southern Sweden and the inland regions. In the 19th century, Jönköping transitioned into an industrial center, becoming internationally known for its matchstick production through companies like Jönköpings Tändsticksfabrik. I also have a deep connection to the Swedish coast, where part of my family comes from- Bohuslän. I grew up spending every Summer in the striking coastal landscape shaped by the last Ice Age. Smooth, rounded granite cliffs rise gently from the sea, worn over time by wind and waves, creating a distinctive mosaic of bare rock, small islands, and skerries. The coastline is deeply indented with narrow inlets and fjord-like bays, dotted with fishing villages and red boathouses. It is still my summer paradise.
I noticed we both are alumni of Lund University. Tell us about your studies in Lund and about London School of Economics.
I am also partial to the South of Sweden, having spent part of my university studies in Lund. Lund University, founded in 1666, is one of Sweden’s oldest universities, located in the historic city of Lund is consistently ranked among the top universities globally. I spent some wonderful years there, with easy access to Copenhagen as well as having the opportunity to study two semesters abroad, in Scotland and in Spain.
Another favorite city of mine is London, where I had the privilege to study a Master in Political Science at the London School of Economics. Living in Bloomsbury and being part of a vibrant international community gave me friends for life, including many Americans who were also studying there. We are now spread across the globe, some stayed in London, others moved to other countries such as Portugal and New Zeeland, but some are here in the US, and I am very happy that I now have the possibility to visit them again.
Your long career in Foreign Service Department in Sweden and abroad including most recently an ambassador’s post in Peru. How have you been able to combine it with family life?
My family has joined me in previous postings, and my children have grown up in Spanish-speaking countries, having lived both in Chile and Peru but also joined me in Japan. Being a diplomat is a fantastic way to experience the world, but it can also be a challenge, not the least when we ended up being in Peru during the Covid pandemic. Not only was it a hard lock-down but we had many Swedish citizens stranded in remote areas of the country – from the desert in the South, in the mountains and in the Amazon in the North of Peru. We had some intense months before we could establish that everyone who needed to leave the country had been able to make it home to Sweden again. Did you know that SAS made its longest flight ever between Stockholm and Lima 2020? We heard that many pilots signed up to do that flight to repatriate Swedish and European citizens during covid and that it still holds the record.
What are your passions in life?
I have always been an avid skier, Alpine down-hill as well as Nordic cross-country. If you grow up in Sweden, you´re almost guaranteed to have at least one winter sport as part of your life. In later years I also started discovering the Swedish mountains during Summer and now I try to hike in the North once a year. A clear favorite is Abisko, with its subarctic landscape, expansive views, and untouched nature. The famous Kungsleden (King’s Trail) begins here, drawing hikers from around the world with its well-marked paths and varied terrain. Hiking in Abisko is especially popular in Summer and can be a unique experience when the midnight sun provides nearly endless daylight, but it is equally striking in late Summer and Fall when it is possible to catch the Northern lights. I have hiked there many times with my family. It is an interest that unites us and gives us opportunities to meet and enjoy family life and something I look forward to as my children are now grown up. My son is 24 and in his last year of university studying engineering. My daughter is 21 and travelling the world so I don’t get to see them as often as I’d like so to be able to spend some quality time together in nature is precious to us, be it hiking in the North, skiing, or fishing for mackerel in Bohuslän.
Tell is about your exciting job in SF and how you envision the role of collaborations between the Sweden and tech industry here for the future.
In many ways San Francisco and California feels like the perfect match for me, not only is it an exciting work environment, where I get to learn new things every day, especially in the tech world. It is also an area of outstanding beauty and people share a great love of the outdoors. I have already managed to go camping in Marine county with my husband and look forward to continue to experience this beautiful city and state.
I am also proud of the strong ties between Sweden and California. Swedes were among the European immigrants who traveled to California during the Gold Rush. Many settled in San Francisco and nearby areas, contributing to early communities and trade. In the 19th century, Swedish sailors regularly arrived in San Francisco, helping establish early Scandinavian networks and maritime links across the Pacific. Swedish-American institutions, were founded in San Francisco and the Bay Area, preserving language and traditions.
These days, the Consulate General and Team Sweden welcome tech start-ups who are establishing partnerships in the Bay Area. Universities like Lund University and KTH collaborate with institutions such as Stanford and UC Berkeley on research, particularly in technology, sustainability, and AI. Swedish companies like Volvo, Ericsson, IKEA, and newer tech firms maintain offices or partnerships in California. We also work in partnership with California on green tech, electrification, and climate policy, with joint initiatives and knowledge exchange. I am looking forward to connecting to the Swedish community here, continue to build on our beautiful heritage and strengthen Sweden-California connect.