Entrepreneur
Founder
Changemaker
Driver
Doer
What is Springboard
Springboard addresses the difficulties that people of immigrant background face in Norway particularly as they relate to securing employment or growing their own businesses.
Springboard empowers immigrants, especially women, with the tools they need to start their own businesses. The primary goal of this project is to provide professional training through detailed courses and mentorship for immigrants to secure the skills and knowledge they need to improve their lives and start sustainable businesses.
Training will be provided across via in-person and digital courses on vital topics and information needed to successfully start and grow a business (i.e. making a business plan, business strategy, accounting, marketing and branding, technology tools to grow your business) and/or find work. The in-person courses will take place in six Norwegian cities.
*There are no costs involved in participating in the program.
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Why Springboard?
People of immigrant backgrounds encounter varying degrees of discrimination on the grounds such as gender, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual preference or socio-economic position. In Norway today, many immigrants (women and men alike) believe that they are unlikely to secure skilled work regardless of their academic attainment and professional experience. They often attribute this to their race, ethnicity, religion, language barrier and the perception of being “the other” or foreign.
This belief continues to be the trend and has now become the status quo, as newly arrived immigrant people learn that their opportunities are limited. For those able to secure employment, they are often employed in low-skilled jobs. With Springboard, we plan to challenge societal limitations that have been internalised by people in our target group, and chart a new way forward, together.
What We Will Do
The primary goals of this project are to amplify the voices of immigrants on the economic, social and professional challenges they face, and, to provide a training platform for business skills acquisition and entrepreneurship. This project seeks to not only highlight existing problems but also find actionable solutions by engaging with stakeholders across social and economic sectors. Through this series of events, we aim to facilitate competence development, business understanding and strengthened self-esteem for immigrant people in cities across Norway.
With Springboard, we aim to amplify the conversation on professional empowerment for our target group, whilst creating a platform for visibility, job opportunities, and socio-economic progress for immigrant and minority groups in Norway. In so doing, we hope to break barriers, create networks and enable employment opportunities that will empower.
STRATEGY
APPROACH
- Identify & engage with all stakeholders
- Open applications in each city for interested participants to join program
- Map out ecosystem & collect relevant data
- Launch program in each city & execute on measurable goals

ACTIVITIES
- Host Springboard Launch Seminar (in each city) with community thought-leaders & stakeholders
- Run masterclasses over a defined number of days
- Facilitate relevant skill acquisition & networking sessions
- Connect participants to mentors & extended network

OUTCOME
- A minimum of 30% of participants establish sustainable companies
- New professional networks, business skills, job opportunities for participants
- Continued support & mentorship for participants
- Complete a data driven report to map impact, experience & best practices






- WHO YOU ARE -
IDENTITY
18 – 65 years of age, and identify as being an immigrant, a member of a minority group, or a repat.
INTEREST
Have an interest in starting your own company and may already have a business idea.
PERSONALITY
Self-starter, energetic, ambitious and eager to improve your professional and personal life.
- WHAT YOU GET -
BUSINESS SKILLS
Over 16 hours of learning that includes business skills acquisition, branding, marketing and networking.
ONLINE COURSEPORTAL
Courses on relevant topics that include Business Strategy, Digital Marketing, Financial & Legal requirements that is accessible 24/7.
NETWORK & MENTORSHIP
Increase your network & opportunities. Learn from experts & experienced entrepreneurs.
THE PROGRAM

ON-SITE COURSE
We will hold in-person workshops in cities across Norway throughout the year. The Springboard workshop will provide skills and tools needed to accelerate your business acumen and grow your business. Selected participants will receive tailored feedback on their ideas and projects. They will also learn from industry experts and entrepreneurs who will share tools and best practices.

DIGITAL COURSE PLATFORM
The digital platform will provide various multi-media resources full of video courses, documents and tools to assist your entrepreneurial journey. Participants of the on-site workshops will also join the digital platform to access additional resources and continue learning and improving their skills from the comfort of their homes.
This platform is free and open (with registration) to everyone and members of our target groups across Norwegian towns, cities and communes.
More information will bes sent out to participants and published on our social media.
SPRINGBOARD ROADSHOW CITIES
Stavanger
June 22 - 25
Event Ended
Oslo
August 10 - 14
Event Ended
Bergen
August 24 - 28
Event Ended
Asker & B@rum
October 12 - 16
Event Ended
Kristiansand
October 26 - 30
Event Ended
Trondheim
December 7 - 10
Virtual Event
Drammen
Postponed to 2021
Kristiansund
Postponed to 2021
A Big Thanks to our Amazing Panelists, Mentors & Facilitators

Chisom Udeze
Founder, Diversify & Mettle Consult
Economist, with expertise in Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy, Monetisation & Growth

Leïla Rezzouk Rossow
Founder, Papillon Bergen & Co-Founder of Support not Protect
Project Partner, Panelist & Workshop Facilitator

Ejiro Elizabeth Iluore
Founder, Inter-Nationals
Panelist & Workshop Facilitator with expertise in Finance

Fungi Ottemöller
Associate Professor, University of Bergen
Panelist & Workshop Facilitator

Sarah Przedpelska
Program Director, Catalysts
Panelist & Workshop Facilitator with expertise in Project Design, Management, and Research

Rahwa Yohannes
Founder, Manifold
Workshop Facilitator with expertise in Project Design and Execution

Nikol Mard
Founder, Network for Work
Workshop Facilitator with expertise in Communication and Networking

Sarifa Moola-Nernæs
Consultant, Bjørnefjorden Kommune
Panelist & Workshop Facilitator

Iva Ogrizović
Program Director, Diversify
Springboard Project Management

Kim-Andre Nikolaisen
Founder, TechUp
Mentor & Course Facilitator with expertise in Website Development, SME Accounting & Digitalisation

Jenny Berstad
Director of Partnerships, Diversify
Multi-city Project Facilitation

Jelena Boljević
Project Manager, Diversify
Multi-city Project Manager

Ateh Atabong
Founder, SAWA Foods
Mentor & Workshop Facilitator, with expertise in Business Idea Generation, Validation & Design Thinking

Ampy Heiman
Community Manager, Diversify
Events & Community Director, Brand Execution

Carl-Johan Sylvan
IT Consultant, Netlight Consulting
Workshop Facilitator with expertise in Agile Methods, Customer Focus, Build-Measure-Learn & MVP

Dora Poni Loro
Social Worker, Bergen Kommune
Panelist with expertise in Project Startup and Management

Rianne Vogels
Founder, Startup Consultancy & Adjunct lecturer in Entrepreneurship, BI
Workshop Facilitator with expertise in Business idea Creation & Validation, Business & Revenue Models, Fundraising & Investment

Ons Priotti
Organisational Psychologist & Speaker's Coach
Panelist & Workshop Facilitator with expertise in Design-Thinking and Research & Analysis

Latifa Anda
CEO, Lelo-Development
Panelist & Workshop Facilitator with expertise in International Business, Marketing, Innovation Management & Branding

Kenny Kaluiji
Founder @ Decarbonify
Panelist & Experience Sharing with expertise in Sustainability & Circular Economy

Rozalin Aliramaei
Founder, Elenovations
Panelist with expertise in Electrical & Telecommunication Engineering, Bio-electrical Research & Development

Hyacinth Walters-Olsen
CEO, Fotobaren AS
Workshop facilitator with expertise in Business Development, Corporate Partnerships and Strategy

Randi Mannsåker
Speaker, Coach and Intercultural Trainer at the Stavanger Chamber of Commerce
Workshop facilitator with expertise in Project Management, Intercultural Competencies

Kay Kgaogelo Olorunju
Founder, Living Seeds
Workshop Facilitator with expertise in Business and Personal Development

Patricia Mendez
Founder of Salsitas AS and Seeds of Norway
Panelist and Experience Sharing

Guillem Cheung Montano
Geologist and Founder of Guillem Cheung Photography
Panelist and Experience Sharing

Maria Amelie
Entrepreneur and Founder of Startup Migrants
Panelist

Vanessa Kamara
Senior Associate, Ernst & Young
Experience Sharing

Ka Man Mak
Founder, The Oslo Desk
Experience Sharing

Raja Skogland
CEO, TheFactory Academy
Experience Sharing

Erik Falk Hansen
Chief Talent Sourcer, Avantgarde Search
Panelist with expertise in job opportunities and career development.

Gilbert K. Adarkwah
Lecturer/Assistant Professor in Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Innovation,
BI
Workshop Facilitator with expertise in Strategy, Product and Pricing, and Investments Policy

Ali Zareiee
Founder, Adapt360 and The Mars Society Scandinavia
Experience Sharing

Faraaz Ali
Communications Director, Founder Institute
Workshop Facilitator with expertise in Communications and Business Development

Anna Yevseyeva
Founder, ENK på 1-2-3
Workshop Facilitator with expertise in operations management and accounting.

Dr. David L. Sam
Professor of Cross-cultural Psychology, University of Bergen
Experience Sharing

Lasse B. Lien
Professor of Strategy, Norwegian School of Economics (NHH)
Workshop Facilitator with expertise in Business Strategy, Growth and Management

Kathleen Offman Mathisen
CHRO and Internal Communications, Grieg Seafood ASA
Panelist with expertise in HR Consulting, Crisis Management, International Project Management and Business Development

Irene Kinunda Afriyie
Consultant, Fargespill; Public Speaker
Panelist with expertise in Research, Public Speaking and Teaching, with focus on diversity and leadership

Åshild Aarø
Community Manager, StartupLab Bergen
Workshop Facilitator with expertise in Sustainable Innovation and Design Thinking

Kristoffer Bondehagen
Performance Marketing Specialist, AG&
Workshop Facilitator with expertise in Digital Marketing and Communications

Barbara Salopek
Founder and CEO, VINCO Innovation Consulting
Workshop Facilitator with expertise in Innovation and Business Development

Paula Ironside
Founder of Hunter and
Florence; Visual Designer
at Huma
Workshop Facilitator

Marius Jones
Researcher at NHH,
Public Speaker,
and Podcaster
Workshop Facilitator

Aditi Jajal-Newey
Founder of Flow
Concepts
Panelist

Adriana Ruiz
Adviser, Agder fylkeskommune on the project Likestilt Arbeidsliv
Panelist

Dalmar Shirwac
Works in rehabilitation, member of Kristiansand City Council, Chairman of the Borad of FIDA
Panelist

Robertha Höglund
Head of Intellectual Property, Elkem ASA
Panelist

Terje Klungland
CEO & CoFounder CoWorx AS
Panelist and Workshop Facilitator

Trond Martin Backer
CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, Kristiansand region
Panelist

Patricia Hartmann
Project Manager, Agder fylkeskommune
Panelist and Workshop Facilitator

Vår Lund
CEO at LundConsult AS
Workshop Facilitator

Clare Jortveit
Senior adviser at University of Agder
Workshop Facilitator