Intro to the Graduate
I’m Christoffer, a Global Finance Graduate at Novonesis, and I’ve been with the company since September 2023. I’m from northern Denmark, where I completed my bachelor’s degree at Aalborg University before pursuing a master’s degree in Accounting, Strategy & Control at Copenhagen Business School. Currently, I’m in my third rotation, spending 6 months in North Carolina, USA, where I’m supporting our commercial area of Human Health Biosolutions as a Finance Business Partner. Previously, I’ve done rotations in Corporate Finance and the Integration Execution Team, which provided me with a stronger financial toolbox, massively expanded network and senior management exposure.
When did you first hear about the Graduate Programme?
I had the pleasure of participating in Novonesis’ annual case competition in 2022 – called “Doing Business In” – which took me to San Francisco. Over the course of 12 days I was broadly exposed to Novonesis, their biosolutions and the most flexible graduate programme in Denmark. I also engaged with Novonesis at career fairs and other recruiting events, which solidified my interest in the company and the finance graduate programme.
What made you apply to the programme?
Upon being introduced to Novonesis, I was instantly drawn to their positive impact on the world, the flexibility in the graduate programme and the culture. Novonesis’ biosolutions use enzymes, microbes and probiotics in an ever-expanding number of industries such as biofuel, dairy, household care, advanced protein, plant health and dietary supplements. Seeing how Novonesis reduces and eliminates the use of harmful chemicals, creates more sustainable products and enhances shelf-life and functionality of various products is beyond inspiring, as our solutions improve the planet’s and more than 5 billion people’s health every week. Additionally, Novonesis’ graduate programme is different from others, as it doesn’t have a fixed number of rotations; hence, rotations and their length get decided on an ongoing basis and according to your wishes and interests.
What has been the highlight of being a graduate so far?
My journey has been full of highlights, ranging from leading aspects of the annual report, driving cross-functional and divisional integration projects and serving as an advisor to a business division in North America. However, the true highlight for me has been the people I’ve been working alongside. The culture at Novonesis is fundamental, creating an environment that is not only highly trusting and ambitious but also remarkably social and flexible, accommodating personal life needs.
Another significant highlight has been witnessing the merger of Chr. Hansen and Novozymes into Novonesis. Working on the merger directly in the integration team and in various finance departments, I got to experience two incredible companies combine not only their employees, but also their potential. This has also emphasized the expanding possibilities within Novonesis, as we are on a significant growth journey, while continuing to improve the world and people’s lives along the way.
What has surprised you the most about working at the company?
I was surprised about the workplace dynamics and the trust given everywhere, as work in Novonesis often requires you to collaborate with people across functions and layers. The culture enables you to participate, drive and influence decisions even though you’re fresh out of university. Opportunities to take on more responsibility or step outside of your comfort zone are encouraged, while managers and others are always ready to support if needed.
What has been the biggest challenge you have had to overcome as a graduate so far?
The biggest challenge for me was to learn and realise my right to have an opinion and to share that opinion, regardless of whether it is in a conversation with a senior executive or a minor detail in an analysis. In fact, I have experienced that being opinionated on your own journey as well as seeking possibilities yourself is the best way to make the most out of the graduate programme.
What advice do you have to other applicants that are considering applying for the programme?
My best advice for potential applicants is to be yourself. Novonesis is a company that embraces diversity across countries, experiences, personalities and opinions. Additionally, I recommend having an idea about what kind of work excites you and what you hope to gain from the graduate programme. Having a moderate understanding of this enables the best alignment between you, your goals and fit into Novonesis, as the opportunities within the Global Finance Graduate programme are nearly infinite.
