A Journey Beyond Banking: The Story of Snædís Ögn Flosadóttir
Snædís Ögn Flosadóttir didn’t set out to work in banking. She’ll tell you that herself. Her early years moved across various parts of Iceland, with a formative stretch in Norway, before she eventually put down roots in Hafnarfjörður — a town she loves, particularly when the Christmas lights go up.
She graduated in 2003, two-year-old son in tow, and immediately took on the double load of family life and building a home from scratch. That house became the place her children grew up in. Engineering was the dream — she wanted, in her own words, to “save the world” — but student loans had other ideas. A part-time position at Kaupthing, now known as Arion Bank, was the practical solution. What she found there surprised her: a sector far more rooted in social impact and collaboration than she’d expected, with pension funds playing a bigger role than she’d imagined.
What is your most important habit as a manager?
“My foremost habit is listening. I relish conversation, yet I strive to channel my enthusiasm in lectures, panels, and at dinner tables at home. My current role demands that I absorb knowledge from a vast array of sources — whether from colleagues, customers, or international partners. This well of insights is invaluable. In order to navigate the complexities of my responsibilities effectively, I must understand the landscape, including where my role begins and ends.”
How do you approach strategic planning or long-term goals?
“My approach to strategic planning is deeply rooted in relationships and tangible goals. Everything we strive for must be realistic and resonate with our daily operations. In other words, our strategies should align with our actions and aspirations. While this may sound straightforward, it’s often where organizations falter, leading to cynicism about progress. Fortunately, at Arion Bank, we’ve successfully forged this connection in recent seasons, executing clear strategies that yield significant results across all sectors.”
What technology or innovation has changed the way you work the most in recent years?
“I must highlight three transformative tools: PowerBI, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Each has substantially eased my workload and accelerated projects of all sizes. However, I find AI particularly intriguing — there’s still a vast realm of possibilities yet to explore. It will be fascinating to see what it brings in the near future.”
How do you start your day?
“I wish I could boast of early morning runs or cycling to work accompanied by a green smoothie, but that’s simply not the case! Instead, my morning ritual involves a robust four cups of coffee — three as I prepare and the fourth sipped on the way to work. Not the healthiest routine, but it gets me through!”
What do you enjoy doing most outside of work?
“Beyond skiing and cycling, traveling is my passion — it’s an adventure in itself. In recent years, my partner and I have made it a point to include our children in our journeys, exploring every inhabited continent. Whether wandering deep into the Amazon rainforest, chasing kangaroos in Australia, sailing down the Nile in Egypt, visiting the Maasai in Kenya, sailing through Halong Bay in Vietnam, or hiking Machu Picchu in Peru, these experiences foster a profound bond among us, creating lasting memories.”
What was your first job, and what did you learn from it?
“My first job was at a fur processing facility when I was just 13. I spotted the advertisement in Morgunblaðið, convinced it would be a thrilling opportunity, and applied on behalf of a friend and myself. The job was tough yet rewarding, and it instilled in me the importance of hard work from an early age. We were eager not to fall behind our older colleagues and quickly proved ourselves capable. This job also required us to be resourceful — navigating school schedules to attend work and arranging for group pizza deliveries on weekends, a clever way to ensure easy meals for our extended shifts.”
What would be the title of your autobiography?
“This Doesn’t Happen by Itself. It articulates my broader philosophy about life — relationships with family, friends, and the endeavors like home construction, work, and study. If you find yourself considering shortcuts or half-hearted attempts, remember there’s always someone out there ready to lend a helping hand.”
Snædís Ögn Flosadóttir went from young mother and part-time bank teller to a senior figure at Arion Bank — not by following a straight line, but by staying curious, building real relationships, and, above all, listening. Her story is a reminder that the careers worth having rarely look the way you planned them.
