[Alfred Nobel] thought that inherited wealth would just be spoiled in the next generation. So wealth should be put to some positive use in the interest of mankind.
Before serving as executive director of the Nobel Foundation, Michael Sohlman held numerous executive positions in the Swedish government related to finance and international relations.
He was under-secretary of state for foreign trade in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, under-secretary of state in the Ministry of Agriculture, and director of the budget in the Ministry of Finance, among other positions.