That was the breeding ground for Caroline when, in connection with her parental leave, she started a mentorship program for the girls in the graduating classes at the nature and technology programs in Örnsköldsvik.
Caroline Backlund started at Knightec in 2014 as a newly graduated engineer. Today Caroline is on parental leave but works as a senior consultant at Knightec with several exciting assignments in the bag, including as Global Function Owner at Volvo Group Trucks Technology in Gothenburg and Greensboro (North Carolina, USA), Vehicle Manager at Scania’s special-order section in Södertälje and System Engineer at BAE Systems Hägglunds in Örnsköldsvik.
“During the parental leave, I came up with the idea of a mentoring program for young girls and saw the opportunity to start it. The vision and purpose were well received by my closest leader and my female colleagues at the Örnsköldsvik office, where all business areas wanted to volunteer as mentors,” says Caroline.
The mentorship program aims to raise interest in the technical profession among girls. The students should have a natural contact and role model in working life to share their thoughts and reflections before future life choices.
“Through mentorship, we want to make the girls dare to believe in themselves and understand their potential even though the path is not always straight,” says Caroline.
At the start of the mentor program, Caroline visited the graduating classes in the nature and technology programs. She gave inspirational lectures about her journey, education, and how she ended up at Knightec. The journey to where she is today was not always evident and straightforward. The idea from the beginning was to become a doctor, then a police officer. After high school, it became the Armed Forces waiting to apply to the Police Academy. A choice she does not regret today.
“In the Armed Forces, where I was group leader, I gained a lot of experience from a leadership perspective. A great lesson that I take with me from there even today, is that you can do exceptionally much more than you initially think. I had heard about how it could take several years before you entered the Police Academy, so after “muck,” I started studying to be a mechanical engineer. During my education, I entered the Police Academy in Umeå. Still, then I had already gained such a great interest in the field of technology that I turned down the Police Academy and completed the mechanical engineering education, and that was the way it was, “says Caroline.
The mentorship program was well received, and after the inspirational lectures at the high schools, the interested girls applied to the program. The program lasts for one academic year, and the students are paired with a mentor from Knightec based on their motivation.
Each mentor couple meets individually once a month. In addition, everyone meets together, both mentors and trainees, a total of three times at kick-off, half-time reconciliation, and in connection with the end. The purpose of the joint meetings is to meet and exchange experiences with each other within the mentorship program.
“It’s incredibly rewarding and fun to have the chance to do something for young girls. More professionals should hook up and do the same to share experience and knowledge for the next generation as it is both rewarding and learning. Not all young people have role models or someone in working life to turn to for advice. For us mentors, it is a relatively simple effort to share our experience, the only thing that costs is our time, but the return on what it provides is invaluable.”
The first mentor program started in the autumn and will last until the spring when the students take the student. The plan is to continue running mentoring programs with trainees and mentors every year, where Knightec assists mentors from all business areas in Örnsköldsvik.
“It is gratifying to be able to give back in a way. During my years at Knightec, I have had a great personal development, bigger than I thought possible. The combination of facing new challenges and, at the same time having strong support from talented, inspiring leaders and colleagues has been the key to my personal development. At the same time, I have a great drive of my own and clear goals with where I want to go, and the mentorship program is one of them, so it’s fun that it has been so much appreciated!” Caroline concludes.
Does it sound exciting, and do you want to know more about the mentorship program? Contact Caroline at caroline.backlund@knightec.se