We invite colleagues, competitors, clients and other skilled people from (or relevant for) the industry, for a coffee. Todays guest is Anse Kjersem, Writer and Copywriter, who has written travel- and cookbooks, book reviews and short stories. Anse worked in advertising agencies from 1969, and still does freelance work on the side of teaching Norway’s aspiring (Copy)writers at Westerdals School of Communication. Every student who attended Westerdals the last 21 years knows and has been affected by Anse as a Teacher, Principal and person. When not working, Anse reads the impressive number of 60 to 70 books a year, is a hobby cook and a dedicated grandma.

What inspires you?

Life itself is an inspiration when you have lived for 64 years, so the list is endless:
I’m an early riser, and what inspires me to meet the day are birds singing to each other – and me – outside the window. Getting to work, meeting all the amazing students at Westerdals is a constant inspiration. Teamwork with my colleagues, going to my Turkish greengrocer’s to pick food for dinner, finding new recipes on the internet, phoning my three-year old grandson, walking the dog in the forest, reading a book…. The best thing is, though, that the list keeps growing.


How do you keep exploring and learning?

By living, listening, travelling, looking and reading.

When where you amazed last?

I never stop being amazed when the book I want appears in my Kindle seconds after I have ordered it.

What is your favourite resource library?

Google, books, – and people smarter than me (including my grandchildren).

What’s the biggest challenge the digital communications industry is facing right now, and do this lead you to some predictions?

Digital communication has brought a lot of changes to learning and teaching. The communication between student and teacher is made faster and easier in a lot of ways. But we are still people needing to interact face to face (not only via Skype), and one of the biggest challenges for young people today is to get out there and face the world, not only depending on internet and social media. The challenges for the industry must be all the complicated mechanisms that are involved, but I think the digital agencies will continue to grow, and that the commercial use of mobile phones will bring us a lot of easier ways to live and learn in the years to come.