Under the title "Your compass for career entry", the second edition of the joint mentoring program of The Hochschule Niederrhein, the Unternehmerschaft Niederrhein and the Krefeld network "Leading Ladies in Town" has come to an end. After a project period of six months, mentors and mentees took stock at a joint closing event at the Unternehmerschaft Niederrhein premises on Ostwall in Krefeld. "I have gained a lot more experience, which has not only given me practical insights, but has also eased my personal fears and strengthened me," summarized 24-year-old Meryem Bekmezci. As a graduate of the Faculty of Industrial Engineering at Hochschule Niederrhein, she embarked on the project in order to define her own career goals more clearly and constructively tackle her fears of taking on responsibility.
"She clearly succeeded," summarizes Sabine Weber, who has been a mentor to Meryem Bekmezci as Director Global Project Purchasing at Rheinmetall AG for the past six months and has supported her in overcoming personal hurdles and challenges. "At the beginning of our collaboration, Meryem couldn't imagine how to build a professional career that was demanding and time-consuming without losing herself in the process. I showed her ways to achieve a healthy balance." In addition to her own profile analysis, topics such as self-marketing and self-reflection were also on the agenda.
"This is exactly what the mentoring program is all about," said Prof. Ralf Kampker, who developed the program in the Faculty of Industrial Engineering, and the HSNR's Equal Opportunities Officer, Drin. Sandra Laumen, join in. "The format is intended to offer young female graduates a safe space to leave their comfort zone and discover new strengths in themselves. We are delighted that the program was once again able to offer the young mentees an atmosphere of trust and support them in their personal development." She is also delighted that the format has been expanded to include additional faculties in the new edition, namely Mechanical and Process Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science as well as Chemistry and Health Care.
Following the degree of the mentoring program, Kirsten Wittke-Lemm, Managing Director of Unternehmerschaft Niederrhein, also believes that the goals have been achieved - from which the economy in the region should now benefit. "As an employers' association, we see supporting young women in developing their professional identity as an investment in the future. The working world of tomorrow will benefit from supporting young women today. In times of an acute shortage of skilled workers, it is more important to us than ever to make the best possible use of the potential of young women. And I see our ambitious mint-affine mentees at the forefront of this!"
Project manager Pola Jungmann agrees. "The mentoring program is a win-win situation for both sides. We are therefore looking forward to a new edition and many interested participants on both sides, who we want to network with each other again through company visits, application checks and personal discussions."
With almost 12,803 students, The Hochschule Niederrhein is one of the largest and most efficient universities of applied sciences in Germany with campuses in Krefeld and Mönchengladbach. With over 87 Bachelor's and 27 Master's degree programs, the university opens up new perspectives for young people. Thanks to its problem- and transfer-oriented research, the HSNR is an innovative driving force for companies in the region.
More than just an employers' association: Unternehmerschaft Niederrhein offers its member companies a competence flat rate from a multi-professional team of experts. From advice on employment law and ergonomics to collective bargaining policy issues, public relations work and continuing education - Unternehmerschaft Niederrhein offers member companies an all-round carefree package. It is currently used by around 800 companies with around 90,000 employees. The area covered by the association is the left bank of the Lower Rhine.
