WOLT
“ We ’ ve built some unique features into our insurance program because we ’ ve listened to courier partners in every country ”
GARRETT OLSON HEAD OF INSURANCE & RISK MANAGEMENT , WOLT
Who is Wolt ’ s Head of Insurance , Garrett Olson ? Despite being based in Copenhagen and having an inconspicuous surname , Garrett Olson is not actually Danish by birth . He was raised in Minnesota and spent time studying in Arizona before embarking on a career outside the United States . In fact , Olson comes from a long line of Petersens , Eriksens and Olsons – Danes and Swedes , meaning the Nordic connection has come full circle .
After emigrating almost 20 years ago , Olson has lived and worked in Mexico , the Czech Republic , the UK , Switzerland , Brazil and , since 2016 , Denmark – which he now calls hjem . But he has always been imbued with a sense of ‘ wanderlust ’ – or vandrelyst , if you insist .
“ As a kid , my parents would take me hiking in Yosemite and we would travel all over the US ,” Olson says . “ I think I was months old when I went on my first trip . I think by the time I was five I had been to Hawaii and Canada a handful of times . We travelled a lot .”
That adventurous curiosity continued into Olson ’ s adult life . Often moving around for work , he claims to enjoy nothing more than the pure confusion that comes from experiencing a new culture inside and outside the office . “ I ’ m comfortable being uncomfortable . The sights , the smells , the food and the feeling of being stranded in a Japanese train station and not knowing what you ’ re going to do ,” he jokes . “ Finding your new dentist and barber shop , opening up a bank account and even figuring out the best watering hole to catch a football match is part of the routine of being an expat . ”
But Olson is settled now – both at Wolt , and in his adopted homeland of Denmark . When he and his wife order takeout for the evening ( using Wolt , of course ), they usually plump for Thai cuisine or sushi . But left alone , he will always take a trip straight back to his roots . “ Whenever I have a chance , I order fried chicken sandwiches ,” he says . “ I think so far I ’ ve found two places in Copenhagen that come close to the ones back at home .” fintechmagazine . com 119