Inspiring Sweden's next generation of female engineering leaders
We continue our partnership with Female Leader Engineer, welcoming Sara Lindstrand, Director of Sustainability at AFRY, as the new program sponsor
Female Leader Engineer is a talent program driven by CoGig, aiming to inspire and support more women and non-binary individuals to take on leadership roles.
The program creates a unique meeting point for Nordic businesses and engineering students with leadership ambitions. It serves as a platform where participants can connect with industry experts, gain insights into various businesses, and discover career opportunities after graduation.
We are proud to continue this partnership for the third consecutive year and had the privilege of speaking with this year’s sponsor, Sara Lindstrand, about her role in the programme and her thoughts on leadership.
What drew you to become a sponsor for the Female Leader Engineer program?
Different perspectives are needed to create the best solutions for our clients. We need a diversity of perspectives when we shape the lived environment and society to be an inclusive space. It's also vital for securing talent and, ultimately, for the competitiveness and profitable growth of our company. This initiative is an important partnership to support female engineers in reaching leadership positions.
What challenges do women face when advancing to leadership roles in engineering, and how can organizations provide better support?
Many women are incredibly qualified, but they often face obstacles. These can include limited access to informal networks and structures where key decisions are made. These dynamics can slow down their career progress, even when their competence and ambition are strong. To better support women, engineering organizations must ensure equal access to opportunities and champion mentorship and sponsorship. We also need to challenge biases in recruitment and promotion processes. It's crucial that we foster a culture where all leadership styles are valued.
What advice would you give young women considering leadership roles?
Step out of your comfort zone. Seek out mentors and sponsors who can guide and advocate for you. And most importantly: trust that your perspective and leadership matter.
What impact do you expect this collaboration to have on the broader engineering community?
By shifting norms across the industry, we can inspire companies to rethink how they attract, retain, and promote talent. Gender equality in engineering leadership is about using diverse perspectives to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. When we have diverse teams and when women take on leadership roles, organisations benefit from different approaches to problem-solving, increased productivity, and better collaboration. Ultimately, it shows that diversity in leadership is a key driver of innovation and competitiveness.1
Building bridges between industry and future leaders
As part of the program, each partner company hosts a dedicated Partner Day. On October 8, we are excited to welcome participants to our headquarters in Solna for an immersive day focused on professional growth and networking.
Let’s continue to support diversity and inclusion, and together shape a future where everyone has the opportunity to lead and make a difference.
Footnotes
- 1. https://www.apa.org/topics/women-girls/female-leaders-make-work-better a↩