The Swedish born Linnea Johansson throws can't-miss parties for some of the biggest names in show business, including Jennifer Lopez, Sienna Miller, Justin Timberlake, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sean Combs and Julianne Moore.

When did you first realize you wanted to become an event planner?
"I grew up in Ale, a small suburb of Gothenburg and started to cook, mostly because I was bored. Not much was going on where I lived. So I took care of all the cooking at home whilst my mum did the dishes. She had a great patience. It says that you have to practice 10,000 hours to be really good at something; I did my 10,000 hours in Ale. So thanks Ale. I love food, it’s my passion. But I hate being a chef—standing in a kitchen and cooking the same meal over and over again. I need to be creative, and therefore event planner is the perfect match."

What is a typical day for you?
"It’s busy, a lot of emailing, calling and coordinating with people, running around in heels, like most people in New York."

What qualities are needed for event planning?
"You have to be very creative, on one hand, and have all these ideas. And enjoy creativity. But then on the other hand, you have to be super organized to make people happy. It’s an odd combo."

What's the best advice anyone ever gave you?
"It was a woman in business who told me: Learn to charge! Get paid; don’t be afraid to get paid. Even tough I’m still grateful that someone hires me, it was hard for me in the beginning to put a high value on myself."

What, so far, has been highlight of your career?
"One of my big moments was in May, last year. I had been aiming for Oprah a long time, and finally I got the chance to work for her during the time when she was closing down her talk show. It was a big party together with New York Times. I have always been thinking that she’s a nice, easygoing lady. She was very nice, but I got like 13 pages of demands: what kind of drinks in the green room, what car service in New York she preferred, what kind and size of hotel room, what kind of bed, toilet paper and so on. However, you better make that happen—it’s Oprah.

Who would you most like to work with?
"It would be nice if Madonna called me and asked if I can throw a party, but she doesn’t do so many parties. However, I did one party where she was one of the main guests, but it wasn’t her own party. But where I am now in my carrier, I’m not so focused on celebrities as I perhaps was when I first came to New York."

Are you a party girl?
"I’m not a party girl, but I’m definitely a social girl during the week. I go out all week long for my work. But during weekends I’m in sweatpants and a total nerd. I don’t want to go out. Instead, I go to farmers markets, cook, see my friends and hang out with my boyfriend."

In the movie of your life, who plays you?
"I really like Drew Barrymore. She is very New York. She made all these mistakes in young age, but then she figured out how to move on and get back. She is very sweet and yes, I have met her."

Text: Hanna Aqvilin