Experience reports MINTrelation

Field report by Nicole H.

Girls, women and companies shape future professions

I was also one of these people. I was able to take part in this project as an ambassador. MINTrelation was a good opportunity for me to be involved in improving the image of STEM professions and making them more attractive. There were many reasons why I took part in the project. I wanted to show the schoolgirls how interesting and varied technical professions are. I think it's important to pass on my experiences so that they can get an idea of what STEM professions are like. MINTrelation is one of the first projects to promote the position and status of young female employees, particularly in the metal and electrical industry.

Through your own experiences as a woman in a company where you have to deal almost exclusively with male specialists, you have learnt to deal with this, to assert yourself against men and to gain recognition from them. The professional expertise you gain over time is also recognised by men.

Girls and young women are often put off by this male domain and avoid areas such as the metal and electrical industry. They may doubt their technical skills and their ability to assert themselves as a woman in a company and associate typically male professions with hard physical labour.

As an ambassador, I was able to contribute to reducing these prejudices against the industry and give the girls an insight into some STEM professions. My own experiences helped the schoolgirls to lose their uncertainty about choosing a technical career, and with the help of the ambassadors' career portraits, we were able to give the schoolgirls a new and more appealing picture of the various professions and encourage them in their decision in favour of a technical career.

MINTrelation has given our company the opportunity to get in touch with talented young female employees and to inform the general public about the company's commitment to young people. ELHA is committed to economic and social responsibility in our society by participating in MINTrelation.

The experience with MINTrelation was very positive. In joint workshops and through online collaboration, we were able to get in touch with many other female ambassadors who have often had the same experiences in a technical and male-dominated profession. Together, we considered how the position of female professionals in the industry can be strengthened and ultimately we were well prepared for how we can familiarise female students with technical professions.

MINTrelation also helped me to improve my own position. By taking part in individual coaching sessions, I learnt how to present myself, act confidently and resolve conflicts constructively.