by Mikael Gislen of 
My path was vastly different before I embraced the adventure defining my life.
I grew up in a small village in Sweden and, in the summers, I worked on the neighbour’s farm to get some pocket money. I was lucky to get into IT early and had a short career in Sweden in the 1980s.
My wife and I travelled to India in the early 1990s, and we found that India was the place we should go.
The journey to India marked not just a new beginning for me but also for what would become Gislen Software. We planted our roots in Chennai with just a handful of employees. From the start, we grappled with the nascent internet technologies that were only beginning to shape the world. Through sheer determination, we forged relationships with early clients, including giants like General Electric and Q-Free, a global leader in road toll administration.
The dot-com boom brought exhilarating highs—our company grew rapidly, fuelled by a global appetite for digital transformation. But with the boom came the inevitable bust, and the world, along with us, reeled from the economic fallout and the shock of 9/11.
The challenge of years marked by abundance followed by years of harsh scarcity felt like a modern-day Joseph’s life in the Bible, but unlike Joseph, we had no dreams to guide us. Unprepared for the dry years that followed, we found ourselves at a crossroads where sacrifice became essential. I chose to forego my salary, our management team took cuts, and, regrettably, some of our dedicated employees left. Yet, through it all, resilience remained deeply woven into the fabric of our company.
Then, in 2004, a change arrived in the form of an opportunity with Norwegian Q-Free. This partnership became a beacon of hope, a turning point that saved us and propelled us forward. In just one year, our billing accounted for a significant portion of India’s software exports to Norway—a testament to our potential and also reflecting our growing capabilities. The challenges of the early 2000s fortified our resolve, enabling us to build reserves that would shield us against future adversities.
But our journey wasn’t just about survival, growth, and keeping our values firm. From the beginning, we committed to building a flat organisation with strong ethical business practices that would make a difference beyond profit. In 2013, we took a significant step toward reducing our carbon footprint by switching our Chennai office to solar energy and batteries. Today, we proudly offset three times our remaining carbon dioxide emissions and are on the path to becoming net Carbon Neutral before 2030. Our commitment to sustainability is more than just a policy; it reflects our belief in being good stewards of resources and doing what’s right for the planet.
We also believe a responsible company should contribute to society. The Little Lambs School for underprivileged children, which we started in 2005 with only four children (including my oldest son) and now has close to 300 students from pre-kindergarten to the 7th Standard. In fact, the school also supports some 50 children beyond that age, until bachelor degree or vocational training. Our contribution to the school, financially, logistically, and in terms of moral support and time, is a cornerstone of our commitment to social responsibility. This school is more than just a charitable project—it embodies our belief that education is a powerful tool for change and that businesses have a role to play in uplifting their communities.
As we celebrate 30 years since the company was founded in September 2024, I hope it will be inspiring for others to learn about our journey of perseverance, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to quality and service. Gislen Software is not just a company; it’s a testament to what can be achieved when a business is driven by purpose, resilience, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the world, and yes, it has been rewarding as well both for me and my amazing Indian team.
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Mikael Gislén is the visionary founder and Managing Director of Gislen Software, a company that has been at the forefront of ethical software development for 30 years. Originally from Sweden, Mikael’s journey to India in the early 90s marked the beginning of a remarkable adventure that transformed a small startup in Chennai into a recognised entity serving leading clients in Sweden and the UK. Under his and his Indian colleagues’ leadership, Gislen Software has delivered world-class software solutions. It has also remained committed to sustainability and social responsibility, as seen through initiatives like the Little Lambs School for underprivileged children and the company’s journey towards becoming carbon neutral. Learn more about Mikael’s work and the services offered by Gislen Software. Contact Mikael directly, read his blog, or follow him on LinkedIn.
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Bridging Cultures, Building Quality
A few aspects of Gislen Software’s journey:
Global Reach: collaborates with top-tier clients like Scandinavian Airlines, Volvo Cars, the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS), demonstrates that Gislen delivers world-class software solutions on an international scale. Long-standing partnerships, such as with Kantar Sifo since 2005, and Scandinavian Airlines since 2011, are a testament to quality and reliability.
Technical Excellence and Unwavering Commitment to Quality: consistently pushes the boundaries of innovation, mastering a growing array of technologies and services, relentlessly pursuing excellence across a broad spectrum of projects, from bespoke software development for large-scale public transportation systems and cutting-edge medical technology to market research, analytics, artificial intelligence, and advanced eCommerce platforms, as well as systems integration solutions.
Commitment to Sustainability: using solar energy and batteries since 2013, marking a significant step towards reducing the carbon footprint of the principal office in Chennai – and, as for the remaining carbon dioxide, currently offsetting that by 300 per cent! In other words, consistently going above and beyond what is required according to the law in environmental efforts. Seeking, and well on the way to becoming, ISO 14000 certified.
Diversity and Inclusion: exemplifying a commitment to gender equality and inclusive growth, with 30% of the workforce being women, and about 50% in leadership positions.
Community Engagement: Gislen contributing actively to both local and global communities, from supporting underprivileged children through the Little Lambs Educational Trust which it founded and is actively sponsoring, to organising Chennai’s second-largest annual marathon, the MEPZ Run.
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