Testimonials

Full-Length

Mentorship Testimonials

Jonna D.

Ylva-Kristina was my mentor for the duration of a year. We communicated through monthly Zoom meetings, which worked well since I live in Europe and Ylva-Kristina lives in Canada.  With her guidance I was able to transform my vague ideas into concrete plans.

  • She helped me find my strengths and taught me how to leverage them in different situations, such as in job interviews and in various work and life situations. By listening carefully and asking relevant questions she showed me how to find solutions to different dilemmas on my own. Our conversations were a safe place to contemplate ideas and explore alternatives.  I am about to graduate from university and am stepping into working life. Ylva-Kristina witnessed my journey through my ups and downs and helped me process important personal issues and to develop throughout. After each conversation I felt, inspired, full of energy and ready to tackle new challenges. 

    As a mentor Ylva-Kristina is empathetic, open, supportive, knowledgeable and fun. I highly recommend having a mentor to anyone eager to develop and grow. My experience with Ylva-Kristina helped me successfully get the job I wanted, and I now feel much better equipped to handle all kinds of work and life situations with ease and grace.

Julia L.

I had the honor to have Ylva-Kristina Österman as my mentor in the Hanken School of Economics’ Mentorship Programme 2019–2020. We had monthly meetings during the academic year and have continued to be in touch after the official mentorship ended. Ylva-Kristina’s broad knowledge and experience were a great inspiration both career wise and in my personal life.

  • She gave me valuable guidance which both empowered me and helped me plan my future and my career.

    What I valued the most with the mentorship with Ylva-Kristina’s was her ability to listen deeply and to understand what topics were important specifically to me.  She clearly invested time in me and our mentorship. I highly recommend Ylva-Kristina as a mentor. Her experience, knowledge and guidance have been invaluable to me.

Emily S.

Kristina has been an inspiring role model and mentor for me since I was a teenager. I am now 25 and have had a handful of life experiences, all of which her empathy, support, and words of wisdom have touched and helped me to where I am in my life now.

  • Kristina has supported me by using her welcoming and warm energy to create a soothing listening ear. She provides insightful wisdom which you can feel comes from a place of care and emotional intelligence. Kristina is one of the most talented people I know… she owned and ran a very successful business while being a single mother and did not let any of her dreams or lifestyle habits be compromised in the process. She always passes on that sense of confidence with the perfect balance of kindness and compassion.

    Kristina has helped me write cover letters and given me character references for many jobs and volunteer positions, including my current job with the Toronto Police. By using her intuitiveness, she has supported me in helping me recognize my personal goals and how they can best be achieved.

    Kristina is the biggest advocate I know in terms of following your dreams and being yourself.  She helped me gain the confidence to take that next step towards the life I desired through reassurance, encouragement, laughter, and advice. I am now about to move abroad for law school and needless to say, she is my number one inspiration for being an independent woman abroad!

    Her resilience and success in all of the obstacles she has faced and ability to connect with people so genuinely has made Kristina such an inspiring woman that I am so grateful to be able to call a role model of mine.