Female Leader Engineer is a talent program for female engineering students who aspire to take on leadership roles in industry. A prestigious talent program run by the employer branding and recruitment company CoGig. The Talent program combines inspiration, company visits and case challenges, giving participants first-hand experience of leadership in practice.
The program aims to inspire more women to pursue leadership careers and to support companies in strengthening diversity within future leadership.
A platform for future leaders
Throughout the program, participants have met with leading Nordic companies, gained insights into career opportunities, and built networks with role models in leadership. The finalists prepared a case assignment, and the jury selected one winner who stood out for their leadership potential, innovative mindset, and ability to inspire others.
The winner receives a tailored personal development program delivered in collaboration with Anna Landegren and the New Leadership, supporting their continued leadership journey.
Why this program matters to Stora Enso
At Stora Enso, diversity, equity and inclusion are key to building a high-performing, future-ready organisation. Different perspectives strengthen decision-making, creativity and innovation, while inclusion enables everyone to contribute and grow. By supporting Female Leader Engineer Finland, we aim to create fairer pathways into industrial leadership and broaden the pool of future leaders. This is both the right thing to do and important for our long-term competitiveness. Stora Enso has taken part in the programme twice in Finland and several times in Sweden.
Talent program theme – Equal distribution of power in business
This year’s Female Leader Engineer Finland talent programme award was presented to Elin Wik, a student at Aalto University, Building technology.
Jury were impressed that Elin Wik is a leader who combines confidence with humility and empowers others to grow alongside her.
From the very beginning of the program, Elin demonstrated the courage to share her ideas, challenge herself, and contribute with both energy and authenticity. With a strong commitment to learning and development, Elin has consistently reflected on new perspectives and transformed them into practical leadership insights.Her ability to create space for others while remaining clear, structured, and decisive makes her a leader people naturally want to follow.
The winner's reflection on the program
“The program has been an amazing journey, and I am very grateful to have been part of it. One of the things I have taken with me is the importance of recognising potential, both in yourself and in others. I have learned that leadership is not about having all the answers or being the loudest in the room, but about having the courage to take your place, while also creating space for others to grow.” says Elin Wik, student at Aalto University, Building Technology.
Strong partners behind the program
Female Leader Engineer Finland is made possible in collaboration with leading companies who share the ambition of creating a more inclusive industry. This year’s partners companies were Boliden, Fortum, Atlas Copco Group and Stora Enso.
Atlas Copco Group
"Warm congratulations to Elin Wik on this well-deserved achievement. Elin's accomplishment reflects not only talent and leadership potential, but also the inspiring impact of initiatives that encourage future leaders to grow, challenge themselves, and make a difference. At Atlas Copco Group, we have been proud to follow the journeys of all the talented participants in the Female Leader Engineer program. The dedication, ambition, and leadership potential demonstrated throughout the program highlight the bright future of engineering and technology.We believe innovation is fueled by diverse perspectives and inclusive leadership, and we are committed to supporting initiatives that encourage more women to pursue careers and leadership opportunities in our industry," says Martti Rask, the General Manager of Atlas Copco Finland.
"We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to CoGig and the partner companies that make this program possible. Through collaboration, we can inspire, develop, and empower the next generation of engineers and leaders who will help shape a more innovative and sustainable future. Thank you to all participants for your energy, ambition, and inspiration," continues Rask.
Boliden
"Warm congratulations to Elin on this great achievement, and a big thank you to everyone who took part in the programme and whom we had the pleasure of meeting and exchanging ideas with throughout the year. Boliden is proud to be part of the Female Leading Engineer programme, which supports women’s career development and networking. We want to promote a diverse workplace and encourage women to pursue careers in technical fields, as well as engineering and leadership roles. The metals industry offers a wide range of career opportunities, and we continuously need new and innovative perspectives, for example, to advance technology and drive the green transition," says Hanna-Leena Heikkilä, Corporate Responsibility Manager at Boliden Harjavalta, on behalf of Boliden's Finnish units.
Fortum
"Being part of Female Leader Engineer has given us the opportunity to meet an incredibly inspiring group of future leaders. What has stayed with us most is not only their ambition and curiosity, but also the way they have supported and encouraged one another throughout the journey. At Fortum, we want to help build a more diverse pipeline of talent and future leaders who will shape the energy sector and the transition ahead. A huge congratulations to Elin, and to all the finalists. We hope the program has helped you see the potential that we have been fortunate to see in you," says Ina Englund, VP Talent and Growth, Fortum.
Stora Enso
We are proud to support Female Leader Engineer Finland and warmly congratulate Elin Wik on this well-deserved recognition. The program is an important platform for encouraging more women to pursue leadership roles in industry and technology, including the forest industry. At Stora Enso, we want to inspire future talent to explore opportunities and join us in developing renewable solutions that replace fossil-based materials. Building more diverse leadership strengthens both our industry and our ability to create a more sustainable future,” says Janne Kallio, Head of the Imatra Business Unit, Stora Enso.
