Twenty new pairs started their EnergyAcademy mentorship journey

The mentorship program is one of the activities organized by EnergyAcademy, a unique collaboration between companies and universities in the Vaasa region. From this year’s record 200 applications, twenty mentees were selected from the University of Vaasa, VAMK, and Novia. Based on their fields of study, they were paired with mentors from ABB, Danfoss, Etha, Hitachi Energy, Vaasan Sähkö, and Wärtsilä. All the participating companies took part in a quick interview during the event, where they were challenged to answer questions about their strengths, values, future direction, and areas for improvement.

The event began with welcoming speeches from the City of Vaasa and VAMK University of Applied Sciences. Cecilia Raunio, Finance and Strategy Director at the City of Vaasa, spoke about the city’s initiatives toward carbon neutrality, its status as the Nordic energy capital, and emphasized the vital role of students in the global energy transition.
In her speech, Jenna Puska, Head of Business Services at VAMK, highlighted the importance of connecting students with worklife early on to help them gather the knowledge they need to form realistic expectations.

– Those who gain the most from the mentorship program are those willing to learn. Challenge your mentors, and there’s a good chance they’ll learn something as well, Puska emphasized.

A successful mentorship is a win-win experience

Pauliina Budd, HR Business Partner at Hitachi Energy, presented an extensive toolbox of tips and advice for the new pairs, highlighting the importance of setting clear goals for the mentorship and meetings. She also encouraged the mentors to use their company’s network, allowing mentees to connect with other relevant individuals within the organization who may have different profiles than the mentor.

Several former mentors and mentees were also invited to share their experiences at the event. Anu Käräjämäki, who has been a mentor twice, described the potential benefits:

– Mentorship can, at its best, give you a new person to your ‘personal board of management,’ a group of trusted individuals you can turn to for advice. Anu also noted that being a mentor herself gave her new ideas and a better understanding of how to utilize her knowledge.

Mai Alatalo-Ly, a former mentee, shared how the experience provided her with greater self-awareness and support in choosing a direction.

– My mentor didn’t force her opinions on me but actively listened and coached me to find my own answers, she explained. Her mentor, Marjo Keturi, shared how she was positively influenced by Mai’s enthusiasm.

Aina Rodríguez Angelet, who joined the program as a mentee to gain deeper insight into the energy sector, spoke about the practical benefits:

– I got the understanding and basic knowledge for the daily work I do now. Oona also helped me with contacts for my thesis. For Aina and her mentor Oona Björkbacka, the mentorship developed into a lasting friendship.

The goal of the EnergyAcademy mentoring program is to support students’ transition into working life by developing their knowledge, skills, and confidence. Marika Kuusisto, Talent Acquisition and University Relations Lead at Hitachi Energy, emphasized that the program’s strength lies in the diversity of participants, who come from various backgrounds, nationalities, fields of study, and professions.