MEKO has taken a significant step towards promoting gender equality and increasing the representation of female leaders within the company by launching its new mentorship program, Astrid. This 12-month program, starting in November 2024, is specifically designed for female employees at MEKO and aims to enhance their personal and professional development through mentorship, coaching, and network building.
What is Astrid?
Astrid is a female mentorship program running from 2024 to 2025. Its goal is to promote gender equality within the company and increase the number of female leaders. The program provides female employees with the opportunity to grow by setting individually tailored goals, which may focus on leadership or other areas of interest. Mentees receive support from mentors who are matched based on their specific needs and goals.
"By implementing a women's empowerment program, we can create a more inclusive and supportive culture that fosters the growth of women leaders and thus increases diversity and representation in leadership positions”, says Malin Fagerlund, Chief Human Resources Officer at MEKO’s Swedish operations.
How does it work in practice?
The program is based on a personalized development plan where the mentee, with support from their mentor, works towards their goals. The mentorship is igned to be individual-centered, where the mentee is the driving force. Mentors provide guidance based on their own experiences and career journeys. The program also includes three group meetings where all participants gather, and adepts and mentors hold individual meetings 10–12 times throughout the year.
Who can participate?
The program is open for female employees within MEKO's organization in Sweden and includes 16 participants in total – eight mentees and eight mentors. Mentors can be both men and women, but all mentees are female. The selection of participants is based on applications, where potential mentees explain why they want to participate and how they want to develop through the program. To become a mentor, one must be a leader within MEKO who follows the company’s core values and has shown good results in employee surveys.
“Throughout my career, I have worked in male-dominated industries, which has made me accustomed to navigating environments where I am the only woman in the room and the advantages and challenges that can bring. As a Sustainability Manager, I often adapt my communication and leadership to suit different audiences to get them ‘on board,’ and that knowledge is something I will pass on in this mentorship program. The mentee I am mentoring has expressed an interest in learning more about this,” says Louise Wohrne, Head of Sustainability at MEKO.
One year program
The Astrid program starts in November 2024 and concludes in November 2025. Throughout the program, mentors will undergo a half-day training in mentorship and coaching to ensure they can provide the best possible support to their mentees. After the program’s completion, MEKO hopes that participants will continue to stay connected and build on the networks they have created during the year.
"I love my job and see a long-term future within MEKO. I applied to the mentorship program to build a strong foundation and to deepen my knowledge of leadership. The program will help me develop my strengths and address my weaknesses, while providing insights into how to adapt my leadership and communication to different situations. This will make me a more confident leader and enable me to create my own leadership style," says Besa Muji Krasniqi, Manager of Internal Controls, Processes, and Routines at the Swedish operations of MEKO and one of the mentees.
Why the name “Astrid”?
The name is inspired by the well-known author Astrid Lindgren, who is famous for creating strong female characters, aligning with the program's goal of empowering female leadership within MEKO.
Follow-up and future plans
After the program ends, an evaluation will be conducted where participants can share their experiences. There are also plans to organize follow-up networking lunches to keep the connections alive. If the Astrid program is successful, there is potential for similar initiatives in the future.
Goals and vision for 2030
MEKO aims to increase the proportion of female leaders to 20 percent by the year 2030. Currently, 15 percent of leaders within MEKO are women, and the Astrid program is an important part of the strategy to achieve this goal. By providing women with the tools and support they need to develop as leaders, the company hopes to create a more inclusive and diverse work environment.
Challenges and opportunities for improvement
MEKO is aware that there are areas where they can improve in attracting and retaining female leaders. By implementing a mentorship program like Astrid, MEKO hopes to contribute to stronger representation of women in leadership positions.
"By implementing a mentorship program like Astrid, we aim to contribute to stronger representation of women in leadership roles," says Malin Fagerlund.
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