The 2023-2024 and eighth edition of the AmCham Mentorship Program kicked off at BI Norwegian Business School’s Oslo campus, including 64 program participants from 30 companies across 10 industries – underscoring the unique, cross-industry design of the program. Program participants vary from continuing mentors to those who are brand-new to the program.
Karen Spens – BI Norwegian Business School
Welcoming guests to her venue was Karen Spens, President of BI Norwegian Business School. Spens, who has extensive experience in mentoring relationships, emphasized the importance of making colleagues feel seen, heard, and included to inspire a sense of ownership in the organization’s work and mission through her mantra: listen, learn, lead. Spens has truly unique insights into shaping the leaders of tomorrow, referencing the impressive statistic that one in three leaders in Norway are in fact graduates of BI.
“Listen, learn, lead.”
The session’s second keynote speaker, Jennifer J. Linnekaste, PhD, LPC. and Assignment Manager at Panamera Executive Search, gave a dynamic and engaging crash course in Building a Strong Mentor/Mentee Relationship.
Linnekaste, a former US professor in Counseling Psychology, explained the psychology behind establishing trust, as well as the importance of aligning expectations at the onset of the mentor-mentee relationship; the two top drivers for a successful partnership. She also presented various approaches a mentor can apply in their dialogue with mentees, in addition to practical tools.
“Be present, be honest.”
Jennifer J. Linnekaste – Panamera Executive Search
With its unique cross-industry orientation, AmCham’s Mentorship Program offers a dynamic, internationally minded arena for leadership development.
The program pairs emerging corporate talent with seasoned executives from AmCham Patron-level member companies. The result: a collaborative arena that fosters improvement and reflection, prepares young leaders for the challenges of the international marketplace, and forges bonds between AmCham’s transatlantic member companies.
The Mentorship program is available to Patron-level members of AmCham Norway. For further information and interest in the program, please contact amcham@amcham.no.
AmCham’s recent final 2023-24 Mentorship Program session, warmly hosted by Bain & Company, featured engaging presentations and discussions led by Partner Erik Nordbø and Citi Norway’s Managing Director & Country Officer Pål Rokke.
AmCham Mentorship Program Group Meeting: Inclusive Leadership & Reverse Mentoring AmCham’s recent Mentorship Program group gathering was cordially hosted at GE Healthcare‘s production facility in Oslo.
AmCham Mentorship Program Group Meeting: Work Culture & High-Quality Mentoring AmCham’s latest Mentorship Program group gathering, graciously hosted by AIG, featured enlightening presentations and discussions