Career ambassador: "it makes a difference when someone listens"
Kim Henningsen is a career ambassador at the Department of Biomedicine. Over the past year, he has helped many early-career researchers find direction and courage in an academic world that can often feel unclear and uncertain.
"I don’t know if I solve all the problems or challenges that colleagues bring to me – but I do know it makes a difference when someone listens," says Kim Henningsen.
As a career ambassador, he primarily supports postdocs and assistant professors in navigating the academic landscape. And there's real weight behind his advice, as he has experienced that uncertainty himself.
"I let chance guide my own career. I wasn’t particularly proactive, and that led to a lot of uncertainty – and also missed opportunities. That’s something I want to help others avoid," he says candidly.
From Berlin to Bartholin
Kim Henningsen has been employed at the Department of Biomedicine since 2017. With a master’s degree in molecular biology and a PhD in neuromedicine, he has worked both as a lab manager and researcher in Aarhus and at the renowned university hospital Charité in Berlin.
Today, he leads the local technician team and coordinates a wide range of tasks at the department – most recently the institute’s move to new buildings. He is also one of 12 career ambassadors at Health, appointed in connection with the launch of the faculty’s career development package targeted at postdocs and assistant professors.
"I’ve always cared about ensuring we thrive in our work life. It’s largely about knowing where you want to go and what options you have. That’s why I immediately wanted to contribute to this initiative when the opportunity came," he says.
Career development at Health
How do you create clarity in an academic career often marked by temporary positions and many questions? At Health, we actively work to provide young researchers with better support and insights into their career opportunities – both within and outside the university.
In a series of articles in Inside Health, you’ll meet some of the people involved in the career development efforts – and gain insights, reflections, and experiences that may help guide your own career.
Want to know more?
Visit the career site for early-career researchers at Health or find and contact your local career ambassador via the overview on Health's website.
A confidential conversation can change everything
According to Kim Henningsen, the role of a career ambassador is not about providing ready-made answers, but about asking the right questions.
"I try to help colleagues figure out what they actually want. I can’t and shouldn’t decide for them, but I can help them see the possibilities – and maybe take the first steps toward making a choice or decision," he explains.
He emphasizes that the conversations are both confidential and non-binding.
"You show up as you are – and with what’s on your mind."
Typically, he asks for a CV in advance and starts the conversation by asking about the person’s dreams and ideas.
"From there, we can develop a strategy for what to do next. But often it’s enough just to talk to someone. Simply booking a time and showing up for a conversation with a career ambassador forces you to reflect on your situation. And in many cases, that makes a difference."
While the career ambassadors at Health are primarily there to advise postdocs and assistant professors, PhD students can also reach out – for instance, if it doesn’t feel natural to have that type of conversation with their PhD supervisor.
"You don’t need to have a specific problem. It’s perfectly okay to just be curious about your options and how you might get there. I’ve received messages afterward from people saying they feel more motivated, contacted a company – or even landed a new job. That’s really rewarding," says Kim Henningsen.
We need to be more visible in everyday life
The career ambassador role is part of a broader career development package launched by Health in 2024. The package includes seven initiatives aimed at making career paths more transparent and helping individual employees make informed decisions – both within and beyond academia.
Among the initiatives are the appointment of career ambassadors, career development conversations with immediate supervisors, and the option to create a personal career development plan.
"It’s a really good package. But we ambassadors need to be more visible at Health than we are now. I believe that way we can make a bigger difference for more people," says Kim Henningsen, and continues:
"For example, we could give presentations at various staff meetings or department meetings – just so colleagues know we exist and get a sense of how we can help."
He underscores that career guidance shouldn’t only be seen as an individual responsibility.
"Immediate supervisors should encourage their staff to think about their future. But that takes a certain set of interpersonal skills – and maybe not everyone has them, or has the time and attention for career development in a busy leadership role. That’s why a function like ours makes sense," says Kim Henningsen.
The ambassador role brings energy and meaning
As a father of four children aged 7 to 26, and with a daily schedule as a team leader and coordinator, finding time can be a challenge for Kim Henningsen.
"I probably spend up to 10 hours a month on the ambassador role, and it’s not because I have endless amounts of time. But I prioritize it because it feels meaningful. And it’s also about being efficient. I plan the conversations in natural gaps in my calendar and do my best to be 100 percent present when I talk with people," he says.
These conversations have also significantly contributed to Kim Henningsen’s own daily life and work at the institute.
"It gives me energy when I can see that something I say or do helps others. It forces me to stay sharp about what it really means to have a good work life. So, in reality, I learn at least as much from the conversations as those I talk to," says Kim Henningsen.
Contact
Career Ambassador and Senior Consultant Kim Henningsen
Aarhus University, Department of Biomedicine
Phone: +45 40 50 73 77
Email: kh@biomed.au.dk