12 Jun 2025

‘Shadowing’ a Colleague Across Kvarken – A Unique Experience

What is it like to step into a colleague's shoes on the other side of the Kvarken strait? Axel Lindberg, process engineer at Övik Energi, had the opportunity to find out when he was offered the chance to visit Vaasan Sähkö for a week in January through the Bothnia Green Energy project's HR pilot. In turn, Michaela Dahlsten, HR Director at Herrfors, lent her shoes to an HR colleague from Övik Energi in February.

Job shadowing means following and observing another person at their workplace to gain an understanding of their tasks and work environment. It is similar to a short student exchange, but in professional life. This makes it a unique way to learn by watching, listening, and asking questions directly from a colleague in practice.

A Week Full of Insights and Inspiration

Before heading off for his job shadowing experience at Vaasan Sähkö, Axel wrote a list of questions he wanted answered during his time in Vaasa. Based on his interests and job responsibilities, his host Johan Erikssonprepared a detailed schedule for the week. Michaela did the same for her colleague Helen Eriksson from Övik Energi. She also made sure to inform her own organization about the visit and encouraged her colleagues to include the visitor in their daily routines.

During his week in Vaasa, Axel gained a deeper understanding of how another energy company works on various issues that his own organization also faces. The days in Vaasa were filled with scheduled activities, discussions, and spontaneous conversations that offered new perspectives. Outside of working hours, Axel also got the chance to explore Vaasa, including attending a hockey game with Johan.

“Since I’m a process engineer, the most interesting part of the week was visiting EPV’s combined heat and power plant, which has a large thermal storage and electric boilers. We’re currently procuring an electric boiler ourselves, so I wanted to learn as much as possible about them. It was also very rewarding to hear how Vaasan Sähkö manages its district heating distribution”, says Axel.

 

In Jakobstad, Michaela and her guest discussed topics such as talent acquisition, employer branding, HR systems, and language culture. The colleague also joined a field visit to a hydroelectric power plant and participated in a training session for technicians on the implementation of a new HR system.

“Our staff is very welcoming and open, and so is Helen, so she quickly became part of our work community.Additionally, most people at our office speak Swedish, so communication went smoothly”, explains Michaela.

New Faces and Rewarding Discussions

For Axel, the job shadowing week at Vaasan Sähkö was not only an opportunity to see how another energy company operates but also a way to build relationships that can facilitate future collaboration. It is valuable to put faces to colleagues in another company and to know who to call if different questions arise.

“It was extremely rewarding to have discussions with my counterpart at Vaasan Sähkö, and we learned a lot from each other. There are many things that are done in a certain way within a company, which can be hard to understand unless you’re there for several days and can see how the work is carried out in practice.”

In discussions with her Swedish colleague, Michaela noted that there are some country-specific nuances in laws, collective agreements, and terminology between energy companies, but typical HR challenges are the same no matter which side of the Kvarken strait you are on. At Finnish Herrfors, which is bilingual, all communication must also be provided in both Swedish and Finnish – something Michaela’s guest particularly noted.

A Path for a Lifelong Learning

The Bothnia Green Energy project aims to establish job shadowing as a regular part of collaboration between energy companies in the Kvarken region. In fact, Axel is already looking forward to welcoming visitors from Vaasan Sähkö and would gladly go on another job shadowing visit. Michaela’s tip for host organizations is to try to involve the visitor in a specific project within the company, so that they can get an even deeper understanding of the organization. Michaela would also be happy to go on her own job shadowing week:

“Absolutely! I believe in lifelong learning. I’m eager to develop in my role and in my way of working, and I like finding better processes that improve workflows in my organization”, she says.

Caption: Michaela Dahlsten, HR Director at the energy company Herrfors, hosted a colleague from Övik Energi in February.

Click here to read more about the project Bothnia Green Energy!

Text: Kvarken Council