As a trainee who has moved up the ranks at Lerøy Seafood Group, Langeteig is proving a big asset for the entire Norwegian seafood industry. As a co-founder of YoungFish, Langeteig has helped form a community of future leaders and injected imagination and drive into one of Norway's most important industries.

IntraFish Media: How did you enter the seafood industry and why? What drew you to it as a career?

Jonas Langeteig: I was studying at the Norwegian School of Economics in Bergen when a poster from a company called Lerøy saying they were looking for part-time employees caught my attention. It looked interesting, so I applied for the job and got it. I worked in various departments within the company from credit to sales, and learned a lot from some very bright people.

After four years as a part-time employee, I got a one-year traineeship within the group to learn the salmon value-chain from broodstock to ready-to-eat products. This was the perfect opportunity for me wanting to learn more about what we really did in Lerøy and the seafood industry in general.

IFM: What do you aim to achieve in the sector?

JL: I want to contribute to the growth of the Norwegian seafood sector, which I believe is a sector that will be very important for our country in the years to come.

IFM: Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

JL: Still working in the seafood sector, which will by then be the largest industry in the Norwegian economy.

IFM: In your view, what are the seafood industry's biggest future challenges?

JL: In my view, the seafood industry’s largest challenge is attracting the smartest people to work in our industry. To be able to innovate and expand, you need bright people. Today, the two main challenges in Norway when it comes to fish farming is sea lice and escapees. In 10 years I think both of these problems will be solved, but then we may face other challenges.

IFM: What kind of people does the industry need to face these challenges and take it forward?

JL: One of our future challenges is to recruit people who are able to look at things from a different angle.

IFM: What could current leadership in your sector learn to be better at?

JL: Everyone can always be better, and one thing we in YoungFish have focused on is how the industry can attract talent. The seafood industry in Norway has been a bit slow on this, but things are improving. In 2016 the Seafood Innovation Cluster in Bergen are launching the Seafood Trainee Program, which I think will be an extremely popular offer to young people wanting to enter the industry!

IFM: What is the perception of the seafood industry as a career choice amongst younger people, do you think?

JL: Today, I think most young people look at the seafood industry as a bit old and slow. It has always been there, and fish is not a super interesting product like an iPhone or a fancy new application for the same phone. Recently that has been changing, and young people see that it is an interesting sector and that we make a product doctors says people should eat more of! The most hip restaurants in town serve our products, and the economy in the industry is very good.

IFM: What is the single best piece of career advice you have ever received?

JL: I was listening to a talk of Hans Vestberg, the CEO of Ericsson. His mantra is, “If I do something I do 110 percent, or else I don’t give a s**t about it." For me that was good, honest career advice!

IFM: What would you being doing professionally if you weren't in your current role?

JL: I would work on a salmon farm to learn more about the salmon industry. But I get very seasick so I should probably work on a farm in a fjord with little waves.

This is the 21st in our series of 40 profiles. To keep updated follow us on Twitter @IntraFish and @rachelintrafish #ifm40under40.

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