Mark Bula didn't think he'd ever enter the steel industry. He is working at a startup that produces eco-friendly steel.
H2 Green Steel is a Swedish startup that aims to produce steel with hydrogen instead of carbon to reduce the CO2 emissions that steelmaking produces. He received an email from the company's chairman about building a steel mill in Sweden.
It would be great to be able to try something overseas. Bula doesn't know if his family wants to return to the US. We are very focused on our jobs in the us. It's more about how you enjoy life and what you do outside. A different lifestyle is what it is.
Bula walked Insider through a day in his life and how work and life in Sweden stacks up against work and life in the US
Bula said he would make it to the office before 6:30 or 7 a.m. when he moved to Sweden. He wakes up at 6 a.m. now that he has a routine.
He said that he didn't drink coffee in the US and that he made himself a cup of coffee.
He works out at the gym across the street from his apartment.
He said that the Swedes are big on exercising. A lot of companies make sure that you have access to a gym or that you are paid to go to one.
Bula takes a bus to the office after showering. He didn't take a city bus for transportation on a regular basis.
Bula checks his email when he gets to the office. He said most of his coworkers came in around 8 or 9 a.m.
Bula sees socializing as part of his role as a leader. He said that he enjoys getting around and talking to people.
In the US, Bula said he had a larger office to himself, but in Sweden the office is open.
The desks float for most of the time. I try to get in early to make sure I have the same desk. It's not possible to take that part of the American out of me.
Bula said he went for another cup of coffee before he started his meeting. Before or after lunch, Bula has fika, the Swedish custom of having coffee and a dessert with friends.
He works with the sales team and the legal person on his commercial team most of the time. Bula said leadership meetings or contract negotiations fill most of his Mondays.
Pre-selling the steel mill is the most important part of the project.
"A lot of what I do is talk to customers and work with the sales team to close offtake agreements to prove to banks and lenders that there is interest in this project."
Lunch in Sweden is done together, according to Bula.
Bula said that a lot of people in the US want to take their lunch and leave. "No, not here"
Bula found it odd that he was expected to have lunch with his coworkers, but now he enjoys sitting and talking with people.
Bula said having lunch with his coworkers is a nice change from a workday lunch.
Bula said that employees take an hour for lunch. Most of the time, he works on market strategies.
Bula is trying to leave the office around 5 or 6 pm so he can go for a walk with his wife.
H2 Green Steel pays for Bula to have Swedish lessons on Mondays at 5 p.m. Three months has passed since he started the lessons.
Bula admitted that it was hard to focus on Swedish lessons at the end of the day. It gives you confidence.
Bula used to eat dinner at 7 pm in the US.
Bula said that they are a lot more relaxed over dinner here. "We were walking in the door, trying to prepare a meal, then rushing through the meal so we could watch tv for an hour and maybe do more work."
In Sweden, Bula goes to the store to pick up food and then goes home to cook dinner.
He said it was a very different pace.
Bula will do work for an hour after dinner. He doesn't like to watch the news because it's in Swedish, but he likes to relax by watching the streaming service.
He doesn't sleep late. The sun doesn't set until 10:30 or 11 pm in Sweden in the summer.
He said the climate, hours of sun, and everything else to be better.
At a startup, every day is different. There is always something different about H2 Green Steel, and I like that.
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