Ruter Dam - Executive Development Programme for Women Managers

Ruter Dam’s goal is for more women to reach high level executive positions at major companies. 2012 marks the program’s 25th anniversary. Over 950 executives have completed the one-year program to date. Each year Veckans Affärer publishes a list of the 125 most influential women in Sweden. Of the 125 women listed in 2011, 45 had participated in Ruter Dam’s Executive Development and Mentor Program.

Ruter Dam’s Executive Development and Mentor program is organized as a supplement to the training offered by IFL, MiL, IMD, etc. Ruter Dam’s operations are characterized by professionalism, quality, results, a long-term approach, and female and male business networks. We strive to ensure that each participant grows both professionally and as an individual. Ruter Dam’s board of directors takes an active role in the set-up and orientation of the program, ensuring its continuous development.

The program is designed to highlight the value of informal structures and contacts in Swedish and international business communities, help the participants enhance their business acumen and understanding of the “big picture” in industry and society, meet executives from our biggest companies, create a broad contact network of female and male executives in industry and organizations and, through seminars, provide knowledge about strategic leadership and board activities.

Business networks are especially important for female executives - an insight and knowledge that we factor into the program.

 

the programme consists of the following main elements:

Seminars – 22 days divided into six sections

The subject areas addressed at the seminars include: leadership, strategic decision-making, business transformation and strategic change, the external environment world and cultural differences, board activities, female and male leadership, internal and external mentorship, personal growth and advancement, and exchanging experience.

Company visits

Each year the program participants typically make participant five full-day visits to different major companies. CEOs and senior executives host these visits. Over the years Ruter Dam has had the privilege of visiting nearly every major company in Sweden. Ruter Dam visited the following companies in 2011:

  • ICA, hosted by Kenneth Bengtsson, President and CEO
  • Fritidsresor/TUI Nordic, hosted by Christian Clemens, CEO
  • SCA, hosted by Jan Johansson, President and CEO
  • Electrolux, hosted by Keith McLoughlin, President and CEO
  • SEB, hosted by Annika Falkengren, President and CEO

Organized mentorship – External Mentors

Executives from major companies participate as Mentors. All of them are chosen on the basis and interest in sharing their experience, and because they have well documented leadership experience at major companies. Ruter Dam is responsible for contacting and selecting
External Mentors.

Organized mentorship – Internal Mentor

Each participant should have an Internal Mentor from among the senior executives at their own company/Group. The Internal Mentor will help the participant benefit from the program within her own organization.

We recommend that the participant selects her Internal Mentor with support and facilitation from Ruter Dam.

Business network during the program

The participants will become part of a unique business network of female executives from the Swedish business community.

Ruter Dam’s Business Network

Once the program is completed, the Ruter Dam participants are invited to become members of the Ruter Dam’s Business Network, a business network that also includes a CEO group and a Board Member group.

The purpose of the Business Network is to support participants who have completed the program in maintaining an active business network that includes all the female executives who have completed the Ruter Dam Management Development and Mentor Program over the years.

selection criteria for participation in ruter dam’s management development and mentor program

  1. A female executive at a strategic position in her career.
  2.  Experience as an operational manager with budget and personnel responsibilities.
  3.  Line managers are given preference.

The seminars are conducted in Swedish. Female executives from other countries are welcome, it is however a prerequisite that they are fluent in the Swedish language.

If you have any questions or inquiries please contact Gunilla Arhén, Founder and CEO, ga@ruterdam.com.