“I always leave our conversations feeling inspired”

You probably know the feeling.

You are facing a challenge at work and need input to solve the situation.

You talk it through with colleagues, but you also need to discuss it with someone who can see things from the outside and has no stake in the matter.

A fresh perspective and new insights can make all the difference – something Rebecca Wendelboe Olsen has experienced time and again.

Rebecca is a mentee in Pharmadanmark’s mentoring programme. She signed up because she was looking for a senior profile to spar with – someone who could look at her challenges with fresh eyes.

“I can be quite hard on myself, so it has meant a lot to have Katrine say: You’re doing well.”

“Katrine has helped me reflect on the tasks and situations I’ve faced. She’s been able to look at everything from the outside, ask questions, and at the same time reassure me about my strengths as a leader,” says Rebecca.

“I can be quite hard on myself, so it has meant a lot to have Katrine say: You’re doing well. You made the right decision.”

Becoming a stronger leader

Katrine is Rebecca’s mentor. Her full name is Katrine Husum, and she is a trained pharmacist with a Master’s degree in Medical Business Strategy. She has worked with project management in the Life Science industry for more than 20 years.

Rebecca, who studied molecular biomedicine and holds a PhD in immunology and infectious diseases, currently works as a department manager at Gubra. She leads a team responsible for analysing blood, urine, and tissue samples from preclinical studies.

Although leadership is not new to Rebecca, she still wants to continue developing as a leader – and the mentoring program seemed like the perfect opportunity.

“I want to become more aware of my own leadership style and continue to grow. Both strategically and in my work with people, so I can create the best possible environment for my team, where they can both thrive and perform,” says Rebecca.

Inspiration and new ideas

Throughout her own career, Katrine has benefited greatly from having role models to look up to, and she herself has had mentors on several occasions.

Now, she felt it was her turn to give something back.

One of the things Katrine especially brings to the conversations with Rebecca is her passion for project management.

“One of the key differences between a project manager and a line manager is that project managers often have indirect leadership responsibility, where team members formally report to someone else. That means you need to find different ways to motivate people,” says Katrine, continuing:

“It has really enriched our conversations to dive into these motivational factors.”

“It has really enriched our conversations to dive into these motivational factors, and it’s been incredibly interesting.”

Katrine emphasises that she, too, has gained a lot from the mentoring process.

“I always leave our conversations feeling inspired – and I often come away with ideas for how I can approach things differently,” she says.

“It has also been an exercise in staying quiet. I tend to move quickly into solution mode, but it’s healthy to become better at listening. And in these conversations, I don’t have to come up with the solution – it often emerges naturally during the dialogue.”

“It has also been an exercise in staying quiet. I tend to move quickly into solution mode, but it’s healthy to become better at listening."

Rebecca agrees that the mentoring programme has been highly rewarding. Having access to Katrine’s extensive leadership experience has been invaluable, and their conversations have helped her gain a deeper understanding of herself.

“At its core, it’s also a unique opportunity to connect with someone you otherwise would never have met. You gain new perspectives and are challenged in your way of thinking,” says Rebecca.

Walking makes difficult conversations easier

The pair have typically met face to face throughout the programme. Since their workplaces are located close to each other, it has been easy to meet for walk-and-talk sessions, they explain.

“We both work in Hørsholm, and we’ve often met in the Arboretum, which is a bit like a botanical garden. We’ve gone for walks there, and we’ve both really appreciated it – conversations just flow more naturally when you’re walking,” says Rebecca.

“From the very beginning, I felt that I could open up and talk about things that were difficult and personal."

According to the two women, it makes a big difference not sitting across from each other at a table, maintaining eye contact the whole time. Walking side by side makes it easier to talk about topics that are not always straightforward or easy.

And everything has been open for discussion, Rebecca emphasises. She has experienced a strong sense of confidentiality, which has been important to her throughout the process.

“From the very beginning, I felt that I could open up and talk about things that were difficult and personal. An important part of the mentoring programme is having a confidential space where you don’t feel the need to hold anything back – and Katrine and I have been good at creating that space together,” says Rebecca.