Two impactful forums have happened this week: the annual World Economic Forum in Davos where some of my good contacts are, and there’s the Talent Vaasa Forum which I had the honor to be a part of. 😊
On January 16, I had the honor of addressing two important groups through my keynote speeches:
1️⃣ Employers and businesses in Vaasa, where I shared insights on how to leverage diversity, equity, and inclusion to build resilient businesses (Completely in Finnish! 🤯) My main message to the employers? Give everyone a chance.
2️⃣ Students looking for jobs, where I discussed how they can build and utilize their social capital (a proven yet unspoken rule) to succeed in Finland, personally and professionally.
I firmly believe that the future workforce is intergenerational, diverse, and differently-abled. To achieve this, we must confront our unconscious biases, be they related to age, background, gender, or any intersection of backgrounds. My aim is not to favor internationals over locals but to level the playing field and emphasize that we all have much unlearning to do, regardless of our background.
Returning to Vaasa and reconnecting with familiar faces, including those from Elukeskus and TE-toimisto, has been heartwarming. Personal connections truly transcend virtual interactions, especially in times of uncertainty, such as during the current job market challenges and Talent Boost funding limitations.
A recurring question that emerged today was, “How do we engage employers and gain their commitment? How can we create opportunities for talent that go beyond boundaries and pipelines? How do we break through the door with the required skill set?”
I spoke extensively about “Recruitment Bingo,” where individuals face rejections and objections like “Not at this time,” “We don’t have a budget,” “We have local staff available,” or “This is not within my responsibility.”
I challenged the status quo and advocated for straightforward storytelling and employer branding to attract the precise talent needed and ensure everyone gets an equal opportunity.
I want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU 🙏 to the amazing organizers who made this event possible and my fellow speakers who shared their valuable insights: University of Vaasa, Novia University of Applied Sciences, Åbo Akademi University, Hanken School of Economics, Pohjanmaan Expo, Juha T. Hakala, and Joel Willans
A special shout out to the Hanken team for being present during my presentation to students. Reconnecting with many of you and meeting in person was an absolute pleasure: Lukumanu Iddrisu, Francis Oyeyiola, Malin Wälitalo-Palo, Minna Martikainen, Pia Jünger
Here’s what some of the amazing attendees had to say:
Feedback from Organizers:
🔹”Innostava, asiantunteva, kohdeyleisön mukaanottava puhuja, jolla kyky antaa kuulijalle toivoa paremmasta tulevaisuudesta.” – Nina Nässlin
🔹”Great speech and so many points with different perspectives! That can start an imagination of something good.” – Malin Wälitalo-Palo
🔹”Kamilla on inspiroiva ja valovoimainen puhuja, joka ottaa kuulijat haltuunsa positiivisella energiallaan. Suosittelen häntä varauksetta kouluttajaksi tai fasilitoijaksi mm. DEI / työelämän monimuotoisuuteen liittyviin tilaisuuksiin!” – Hanna Turpeinen (University of Vaasa)
🔹”Thank you Kamilla for a great, inspiring talk!” – Tanja Risikko
Feedback from Students/Young Talents:
🔹”Thank you for that wonderful presentation you made, it was an eye-opener.” – Olawale Kolade
🔹”Thank you. I was disappointed for the last few days for not having a job for the last 5 months but after today’s session with you, it really boosted my confidence. You are truly an inspiring person. 😊” – Nazmul Hasan
🔹”Thank you for the awesomely engaging presentation, I’m totally stealing the workout for some of my future presentations.” – Maksim Korobkin
I hold hope that individuals will embrace the responsibility of being great colleagues and fostering awareness that we’re all in this together when it comes to diverse recruitment.
In this turbulent time, we need to bring that boost of continuous energy to maximize the return on face-to-face meetings, to enable human-to-human interactions for needed growth and change!
I am the speaker who unites your audience with various backgrounds, leaving them with practical tips, energy, and a feeling of being heard, valued, and seen.
P.S. We’re currently offering a timely 10% discount to those interested in committing to a full, intensive day at the Career Building Bootcamp. Check the link in the comments 👇
P.P.S. Learn more about my keynote speaking and event hosting services here: https://kamillasultanova.com/services/
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