Name: Helle Mølgaard
Title: Head of Drawings
Company: Nature Energy
Degree: MSc. in Engineering
- Introduce yourself, and share a fun fact that makes you unique!
My name is Helle Mølgaard. I am 39 years. I have studied Industrial Design and completed a MSc. in Engineering at Aalborg University.
Before entering the University, I was 3-4 month at social security. I postponed my master with a year because of maternity leave. Later, I received an award for my master thesis (BIZ award).
- What does a day in your life look like as Head of Drawings at Nature Energy?
I am Head of Drawings at Nature Energy. A typical workday goes through the following steps:
-Grow and develop the department as well as ensuring a great work environment through present and visible management
-Plan, prioritize and allocate resources for project tasks
-Develop and improve methods, instructions, and workflows to ensure efficiency in projects
-Ease the cross-functional teamwork
-Strategy planning and coordinating with other leaders
- What motivates and excites you the most about your career path and the leadership position you hold?
It motivates me:
-When the department and people within it grow, and they enjoy their work.
-When the cross-functional teamwork gets strengthened and my employees get acknowledged for their professional competencies and great efforts.
- Share with us the biggest lessons you learned on your journey to where you are today.
There is no straight way of becoming a leader or how to be one. The leaders of today do not look like the leaders of tomorrow. You must adapt and adjust along the way.
- Tell us about a (female) role model who inspired you to become the leader you are today, and how (s)he impacted you personally or professionally.
I have never had a specific role model or being one who have had any idols. Instead, I have observed people and their different qualities, entered discussions and been very curious of how others look at specific situations. I enjoy keeping an open mind to how people perceive the world and why – to stay curious and learn. I accept the differences and try to understand them, but I will also fight for the right to keep my own view.
- If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, or to other young female students today, what would it be?
Other people are often telling you to have a big long-term plan, but it is okay to have small goals, celebrate and see what comes next. The most important thing is always to consider what is right for you.
- How do you see STEM education shaping the future?
I think STEM educations are important to develop a cross-functional mindset and pave the way for the synergies between the different disciplines.
- Why is it important for you to promote diversity and inclusion within STEM?
STEM is to embrace diversity and inclusion. It is implied by its DNA.
- What steps has your company taken to promote a more diverse and inclusive workplace, and which one has been the most effective?
Nature Energy has taken the initiatives of educating the existing and next generation of managers at the company on relevant topics within DE&I.