Development consultant Jacob Lykke Andersen found community, knowledge and new courage in the TalentAcademy. Together with his mentor, CEO Sara Gry Striegler, he talks about being passionate about creating social change - even when it's hard
Incubators, trainee programs, networks. There are many resources available for young people with big dreams and the will to live them out. But what if those dreams are not just about exit strategies and career ladders? Where can you find a community if you are a young person who wants to make a difference?
In 2023, development consultant Jacob Lykke Andersen and 16 other young people were accepted intothe TalentAcademy Social Innovation, a partnership between Danish Social Innovation Academy the Tuborg Foundation to support and develop young change makers. The academy program was an eye-opener for Jacob
"What I got most out of it was meeting the many other people who are working to do good for others. It became very clear that partnerships, across all activities, are absolutely crucial to achieving more than you can on your own."
Through joint activities and individual sparring in a mentoring program, Jakob gained new perspectives on his work, including in relation to the difficult exercise of bringing very different voices together.
"I'm more confident now! I feel more at ease when trying to ask difficult questions and see what happens in the room. It's not always possible to achieve the ultimate ambition, but you dare to start the conversation."
The difficult art of change
Sara Gry Striegler, head of Danish Social Innovation Academy CEO of Nordic Health Lab, was Jacob's mentor in the TalentAcademy. Together, they focused on Jacob's personal development and long-term goals.
"As a mentor, you are not bound by the same relationships and goals as you are as the leader of an organisation," says Sara Gry Striegler. "I am completely free to help Jacob with his wishes and dreams. For example, looking five years ahead and asking: What will I have achieved? What will I be known for? What is my path towards these goals?"
Sara has over 15 years of experience in creating change on major agendas, e.g., health and social issues and young people's mental well-being. She has no doubt about where the biggest challenges lie in choosing social change as the core of her work.
"It's a completely different way of leading. You have to be able to go out into a market or a landscape of players and lead a change process without a mandate or authority to decide what people should do. How do you motivate? How do you build visions across organisations? How do you create common goals that people want to work towards, despite coming from different organisations different agendas? And how do you create enthusiasm and direction that goes beyond your own organisation? It's one of the hardest things to do, but also one of the most fun."
Patience and experiences of success
Jacob recognizes Sara's experience from his work at the Ethical Trade Association, whose main purpose is to create alliances across such diverse actors as businesses, civil society, and trade unions.
"There are a lot of bad things happening in the world, but we must not lose heart when it comes to actually taking action," he says. "As human beings, we must act now, and we can actually do something. We have a role to play, and we must not give up, even if it sometimes looks a little difficult."
"You also have to be able to curb your impatience," says Sara. "It's easy to feel that things are moving too slowly when you're passionate about creating change."
"Yes, and you have to remember to celebrate your successes!" adds Jacob with a smile.
People instead of organisations
Both Jacob and Sara have gained valuable experience from their time at the TalentAcademy their mentor-mentee relationship.
"the TalentAcademy really challenged me," says Jacob. "You learn completely new approaches to system change and the opportunity to think creatively. It's clear that everyone on the team is passionate about doing good for others, and we could talk to each other for hours!"
For Sara, meeting Jacob and taking on the role of mentor has strengthened her daily work of leading change. "In a way, Jacob has been a mirror for me. He is both critical and curious as a person and has questioned some of the assumptions I make in my everyday life. I have learned a lot from that." Although her relationship with her employees on a daily basis is different, she can transfer many of the skills she develops in her role as a mentor.
"Fundamentally, leadership is about honesty and trust, and about helping my colleagues on their development journey. But being a mentor is also a strength when it comes to bringing external players together in a change process. After all, you form relationships with people, not organisations."