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The inspiration behind Nobel Week Lights: ”Light, art and technology intertwined.”
Nobel Week Lights has quickly become a beloved public celebration. During Nobel Week, Stockholm residents flock outdoors to marvel at the spectacular light installations, where contemporary lighting technology meets artistic expression. ”We aim to create a moment of gathering: around light and around something meaningful”, says Lara Szabo Greisman. Nobel Week Lights is a light festival that illuminates Stockholm during the darkest time of the year – a free cultural experience for everyone. Presented by the Nobel Prize Museum, the festival invites international and local artists, designers and students to create light artworks inspired by the Nobel Prize. The installations shed new light on the scientific discoveries, literature and peace efforts of Nobel laureates while offering a fresh perspective on the city. Fagerhult is Principal Partner of Nobel Week Lights 2024, and this year’s edition features 16 different light installations across Stockholm. The artworks can be experienced from 7–15 December, including ”The Wave”, a light installation by the art collective Vertigo, located in front of the Parliament House where visitors can walk right through the luminous wave. The Wave by Vertigo ”Light and art and creativity is incredibly intertwined because these are technologies that are constantly evolving. So part of the fun working with the artists is that they are constantly testing new technologies. And we see these incredible visual results which are based on just pure innovation”, says Lara Szabo Greisman, co-founder and producer of Nobel Week Lights. Lara Lara Szabo Greisman and Leading Lights by Les Ateliers BK The significance of light as a collective force, its ability to encapsulate life and death, joy and sorrow – indeed, the very essence of what it means to be human – makes lighting a powerful medium of artistic expression, she argues: ”The dream for the festival is that this becomes a personal experience for each and every member of the audience. A moment that they remember and cherish . A moment that they think about later and bring forward as their story of connecting with the city.”
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Reversed Mentoring 2024 –“All leadership is about people”
Over the past six months, sixteen leaders from companies around Jönköping have each had a mentor via the Reverse Mentorship program. What makes it »reverse« is that the mentors are younger and at the beginning of their professional careers, while the mentees are more senior. Kristoffer Emanuelsson, production manager at Fagerhult, and Maria Liljeqvist, unit manager within home care in Jönköping municipality, are one of the mentor duos. Hello Maria and Kristoffer! Reverse Mentoring has come to an end. What have you focused on during your teamwork? Kristoffer: “We didn’t have any specific goals from the start, but we have reflected and talked a lot, and Maria has come up with input on what I can focus on in my everyday life.” Maria: “I think we have had a clear theme, where we started from Kristoffer’s thoughts and questions and reflected on them.” Kristoffer, was there anything you wanted to highlight – and now can take you to your everyday work life? “I wanted to focus on how I can engage colleagues, and we had several discussions about feedback. It’s easy to get stuck in the classic ‘Good job!’, but instead let a little more developing communication come across, and I want to get better at that towards my colleagues.” Maria chips in: “I told Kristoffer; you don’t get to say ‘Good job!’ unless you also elaborate on what they did well. It’s so easy to get stuck there.” reversed mentorship Changing old habits and established patterns can be a challenge, how did you like stepping outside the comfort zone? Kristoffer: “When applying, I decided to give this a real chance. Otherwise, there’s no point! It is important to note that the results largely depend on one’s attitude. That you want to and dare to be a little uncomfortable. We’ve had good discussions and, at the same time, a lot of fun, and that’s vital.” Maria: “Kristoffer was brave and dared to test the ideas and methods we discussed. It has kept us moving forward.” Maria, did you learn anything that you take with you – beyond your role as a mentor? Maria: “Yes, absolutely! Even though we work in very different environments, leadership is always about people, individuals, and how we lead them. That is a valuable insight. Also, we’ve had fun, and Kristoffer strengthened me in my role as a leader. Having a senior leader who listens, embraces and tries my ideas and thoughts about leadership was great.” You work in widely different industries, have various levels of leadership experience, and are new acquaintances to each other. What are your takeaways from that? Maria: “We are quite different as individuals, and it was interesting to reflect on that in different scenarios and how it affects leadership. We have learned a lot from each other.” Kristoffer: “I think it is important to be open about one’s shortcomings, and at the same time embrace new ways of thought. And maybe put any differences about how long you’ve been a leader or age aside – and focus on the conversation. Maria has asked some tougher questions where I felt somewhat uncomfortable, but it has made me question old habits and why I do things a certain way. She has done that very well.” Kristoffer, from your perspective as a mentee – how do you view Reverse Mentorship? “Initially, it felt a little uncomfortable, but I recommend taking the chance to apply. Having a mentor was interesting, and reverse mentorship is very rewarding. Reflecting with someone without a connection to my everyday life opens other thoughts and questions. We will stay in touch.”
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