We believe career development is for everyone, and that each colleague should have a personalised development plan. With Talks on Career Development, our goal is simple: to inspire and empower, ensuring career growth is a supported, year-round journey, not just something reflected on once a year.
Practical as well as inspirational
Imagine a dedicated space where colleagues can share career growth stories, receive expert advice and explore opportunities no matter where they are in their professional journey. Talks on Career Development spans six countries (the Nordics, Estonia and Poland) and offers something for everyone – whether they’re aiming for a promotion, exploring new fields, or planning their next steps more generally.
Covering topics like goal setting, development planning and career dialogues with managers, each session is designed to equip employees with tools to plan their futures. Attendees can join in person or virtually, or catch up later by watching a recording.
The highlight of each event is a panel discussion featuring a diverse mix of experts and Nordea employees, sharing both career advice and real-life anecdotes. With 12 events scheduled in 2024 and over 3,100 participants attending the first ten, the hybrid initiative has already been a hit.
Stay curious and keep learning
One of this year’s panellists was Katarzyna Bieszk, Head of Execution Leadership in Nordea’s Technology Innovation and Excellence unit. She shared the story of her 24 years at Nordea, and offered advice to those looking to develop:
“When I first joined Nordea, fresh out of university with a degree in physics and mathematics, I didn’t know anything about banking or IT – but I was eager to learn. I started out as a team assistant, taking on all kinds of tasks, which soon led to me becoming an analyst and then transitioning into coding. I’ve always believed in learning by doing.
Over the years, I’ve taken on many different roles. A key moment for me was completing a project management course offered at Nordea, which opened the door to managing major projects – like Nordea’s first operations centre in Poland, one of my proudest achievements.
I’ve always sought new challenges, whether managing mergers or leading cloud initiatives. I’ve learned to embrace risks and trust that I’ll figure things out as I go. But what’s made my journey truly special is the people at Nordea. I’ve always felt supported. My advice to anyone looking to grow here is simple: stay curious, keep learning, and trust the journey.”
Mattias Fras, another panellist, shared insights from his position as Group Head of AI Hub at Nordea:
“You might not expect it but 80 percent of my work is about people, and 20 percent is about technology. I can’t stress enough the importance of cultivating talent and building strong relationships, especially in uncertain times. I’m really proud to help my team expand their skills and broaden their perspectives across the business.”
His advice? “Be proactive. Find a mentor outside your team, expand your network, and explore different parts of the business. Make the most of the training on offer.”
Taking career development seriously
At Nordea, we don’t just talk about career development – we live it. Talks on Career Development is one of many ways we ensure employees have the resources and support to shape their career journeys.