Name: Janne Bach Falkenberg
Title: Team Manager
Company: Coloplast
Please introduce yourself
Hello, my name is Janne Bach Falkenberg. I am 30 years old and reside in Nordsjælland with my boyfriend, his (soon-to-be) teenage son, and our one-year-old baby girl. I hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering, specifically B.Eng Global Management and Manufacturing. For my master’s degree, I shifted my focus to business and earned a M.Sc in Business Administration and Economics, specializing in Strategy and Organization.
As a fun fact, I was previously an elite showjumping athlete in horseback riding. Nowadays, I pursue it as a hobby at amateur level.
How did you imagine your career when you were around 20 years old?
Although I’ve never followed a specific career roadmap, I’ve consistently prioritized topics that genuinely interest me. I’ve always maintained that I don’t know exactly what I want to do, but I’m committed to pursuing something that captivates me and allows me to excel. From a young age, I recognized my passion for guiding and supporting others to achieve their best performance. As I embarked on my professional journey, I openly expressed my ambition for people management, and voiced that by the time I turned 35, I aimed to lead a team of approximately seven members. Now, at 30 years old, I’ve stepped into my first people manager role, overseeing a team of 12 team members.
What does a day in your life look like in your current role?
In my current role, each day involves a blend of learning and active engagement. As a newcomer to this team, I dedicate time to understanding my team dynamics, delving into the subject matter, and familiarizing myself with external stakeholders and our collaboration with them. Our team tackles a diverse range of tasks, from daily challenges with short-term objectives to strategic initiatives that shape our future direction. Additionally, we handle various intermediate tasks that fall between these two extremes. I also prioritize being available for the team, as my greatest responsibility is to serve as their manager.
What motivates and excites you the most about your career path and the leadership position you hold?
Continuous learning is my greatest motivation and source of excitement in my career path and leadership role. The opportunity to acquire new knowledge and enhance my skills is endless. Whether it’s mastering a new subject matter, understanding a novel process, acquiring a new skill, or learning from others, I consider myself fortunate to have this ongoing opportunity for growth, regardless of my career stage.
Share with us the biggest lessons you learned on your journey to where you are today.
Throughout my journey, I’ve discovered that having all the answers upfront isn’t necessary. When I was younger, I believed I needed to know everything about everything right from the start, as this is what I thought everyone else seemed to do. However, I’ve come to realize that no one truly knows it all. Embracing the opportunity to dive into new tasks or roles with a sense of curiosity and openness is a valuable gift. Even though stepping into unknown areas can feel daunting, you often realize that as long as you make an effort, it’s not as scary as it seems. You are likely more than capable of handling the task.
Tell us about a role model who inspired you to become the leader you are today.
I cannot single out one role model. Instead, I’ve been inspired by a multitude of individuals, adopting a ‘pick and choose’ approach where I select qualities that I find particularly interesting and inspiring. Depending on the context, I may draw inspiration from entirely different individuals. This strategy has allowed me to compile a personalized ‘catalogue’ of qualities that are compelling and useful for various situations.
Moreover, I often find myself reflecting on Pippi Longstocking’s words: ‘I have never tried that before, so I think I should definitely be able to do that.’ And I totally buy into that! But one thing is sure, I’ve met some seriously cool and inspiring women during my time in Coloplast.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, or to students today, what would it be?
Relax, that would be my one piece of advice. It’s quite common to feel overwhelmed by academic pursuits, career prospects, and future uncertainties. However, it’s important to remember that decisions are not irrevocable, and one choice does not have to be definitive for the rest of your life. Educational decisions do not bind you to a limited career path; lifelong learning and personal development are continuous processes that open up countless of possibilities. If you find a subject that intrigues you and you are prepared to make the effort, you will probably be alright.
How do you see STEM education shaping the future?
STEM education is essential in preparing us to navigate and shape the future. In a world where change is the only constant, the importance of STEM cannot be overstated. The sheer number of challenges, appearing simultaneously and intersecting across various domains, is bigger than ever.
I firmly believe that STEM education is fundamental because it equips us with an adaptable toolkit of skills and knowledge necessary to address these complex challenges. It nurtures critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation; competencies that are essential in a fast-changing environment. By the promotion a STEM-minded population, we are investing in a future that is not only capable of meeting the demands of the present but also seizing the opportunities that lie ahead.
Why is it important for you to promote diversity and inclusion within STEM?
Promoting diversity and inclusion within STEM fields is a critical undertaking for several reasons. Firstly, the landscape of inclusion and diversity is complex, and while opinions on the best approach may vary, the underrepresentation of women in STEM is a clear issue that requires action. If you look at Above & Beyond’s page for Lead the Future you will find a statement saying that 60% of managers in Denmark have higher educations within the areas of economics, business and engineering. Yet, only about 30% of the students on these courses are currently women.
This inequality makes it clear that without proactive measures, the gender gap in leadership roles within STEM is unlikely to close. Given the increasing importance of STEM in our future society, it is critical to ensure that all talented individuals, regardless of gender, have equal opportunities to contribute to and lead in these fields. Therefore, I can also without any insecurities say that promoting and encouraging the participation of women in STEM is the right place for me to focus my effort, when it comes to diversity and inclusion.