Supporting Vantaan Energia's DEI journey with group coaching, HR process review and facilitated Leadership team session

Vantaan Energia, one of the largest urban energy companies in Finland, embarked on its DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) journey by establishing a dedicated DEI taskforce. Recognizing the need for external expertise to guide their efforts, they invited me to support them in establishing a solid foundation for their DEI work. The taskforce needed help in creating a shared understanding of DEI concepts, practical advice on what initiatives to advance and how,, and an evaluation of how their existing HR processes and policies helped to support inclusivity and equity.

To address these needs, I designed a comprehensive approach, combining facilitated group coaching sessions with the DEI taskforce and a detailed review of HR processes.

During the first group coaching session, I introduced the fundamentals and terminology of DEI in a highly interactive workshop format. I encouraged participants to raise their questions and explore their thoughts in depth, and we tackled common misconceptions about DEI, which led to dynamic and insightful discussions. By the end of the session, the DEI taskforce has achieved a unified understanding of the key concepts, tailored specifically to the needs of their organization.

After the initial session, I conducted a thorough review of Vantaan Energia’s key HR processes, including their recruitment guidelines, equality plan, and salary review process. I identified opportunities for improvement and provided actionable recommendations to strengthen inclusivity and equity across these processes.

In the second group coaching session, I led the taskforce through the essential components of impactful DEI work and presented the findings and recommendations from my HR process review. I facilitated a collaborative discussion where the DEI taskforce mapped out their immediate next steps for advancing their efforts. By the end of the session, the team had a clear roadmap, and the HR team took action to implementing my recommendations of HR processes.

Through my sessions, the DEI taskforce realised that engaging the leadership team was critical to ensuring the success of their strategic DEI efforts. To build leadership commitment and buy-in, I provided tailored training for the executive team, focusing on the strategic principles of DEI and how they could align with organizational goals. My training not only introduced the key concepts but also fostered meaningful dialogue among leadership team members, enabling them to develop a shared understanding of DEI’s importance. I facilitated their decision-making process, helping them in prioritising DEI initiatives alongside other strategic projects.

Maarit Rantala, HR Director at Vantaan Energia, reflected on the impact of our collaboration:

"We are grateful to Heidi Pech for her invaluable expertise and her role in driving Vantaan Energia’s DEI progress. Her guidance has been instrumental in clarifying DEI concepts and showing us the concrete steps we can take to promote equity and inclusion across our organization."

If you are interested in my support for your organisation's DEI journey, have a look at my advisory services.