Uni-Tankers fosters talent and diversity through mentorship program
In 2023, Uni-Tankers established a mentorship program that coupled two promising employees with mentors selected from the company’s senior management. One of these employees, 22-year-old Louise Schult, had been serving as a Deck Cadet on board a Uni-Tankers vessel for several months a year in connection with her education. Her mentor, Michael Lauridsen, is a Senior Operations Manager.
The purpose of the mentorship program is to find ways to recognise young talents and help further their education and career development. The idea was to give mentees a bigger-picture understanding of how Uni-Tankers works by putting them in closer contact with top management. The program is giving Louise a better understanding of Uni-Tankers as a whole, which has also supported her in her maritime education in general.
“Now I understand much more about how the vessel I’m on and the work we do fit into a bigger picture. It’s going to be important for my future too. My plan after finishing my education is to become an officer or even captain on board a vessel. The mentorship is helping me gain the kind of high-level understanding I’ll need not just to finish my education but to pursue a career in shipping”, says Louise.
For Uni-Tankers, however, mentorships are a two-way street. “To better plan our internship programs and to attract young talent in general, we need to understand how young people experience working with us. So, in addition to learning more about Uni-Tankers, Louise is teaching us about her perspectives and needs. We think of it as a sort of ‘reverse mentorship”, Michael explains.
“It has been incredibly beneficial,” Michael adds. “For instance, we’ve welcomed Marine Cadets for years by placing them on suitable vessels with available space. This approach has worked well, but now we’re considering an even better method. By designating specific vessels as training vessels’ and thoroughly preparing their crews, we can enhance the support and experience we offer to our Cadets.”
According to Michael, insights that Louise is sharing can help Uni-Tankers make these sorts of decisions. And they can give the company a better understanding of how young people experience the opportunities they’re presented with – not just during a cadet program but later when, hopefully, they choose a career at sea, maybe even with Uni-Tankers.
