- Multi means diversity

We met with her and a group of colleagues to reflect on what diversity means in practice. It quickly becomes clear that this is not a topic that can be limited to one definition. For some, it is about openness and being able to be yourself, for others, about finding your place in an industry that has long been male-dominated.

– Diversity is how we are by nature. People are different and that is positive, not least in workplaces, because it often does something to the chemistry and energy in the room. I myself have an ADHD diagnosis and have chosen to be open about it, even though some may automatically think that everyone, and especially boys, are the ones who climb walls and constantly end up in conflicts due to, for example, anger management problems. I would like to show that it is entirely possible to work at Multiconsult even if you have a diagnosis, you can even become a manager, says Thomas Andersen, who is a department manager.

– Diversity is often referred to as a kind of burden for employers, but the benefits it provides are rarely talked about. A workplace is like a football team: It rarely scores a goal if you send a team with 11 left-backs onto the field, he adds.

Breaking down prejudices

- Can you be yourself completely and completely in Multiconsult?

- I am myself at work – even though I am Muslim and have parents from Turkey, Norway is my homeland, and my wife and I live like a completely normal Norwegian family. For me, it is important to be open about who I am, which is why we have invited neighbors and colleagues to our home several times for Iftar, which is the meal that Muslims eat at sunset during Ramadan. It is important for us to share the meal with Norwegians to show that we live completely normal lives. If you read the comment boxes, you would think that all Muslims live in caves and make bombs at home, says Ibrahim Temel.

Håkon is also open about being queer at work – in Norway, that is.
– It's not like I introduce myself with "Hi, my name is Håkon and I'm gay", but if it comes up as part of the conversation, I'm open about having a male partner. If someone is curious and asks, I answer openly and honestly, and I hope that this can help build bridges and break down prejudices, he says.

Reflecting society

Elisabeth Schjølberg has also experienced being met with skepticism because she is a woman. When she started at NTH in the mid-1970s, she was one of 12 women among 250 students. For 50 years, she has been committed to cheering on girls in the construction industry. 
- I have always been concerned with finding a balance between when to fight for girls in the industry, and when to hold back. If I push too hard, I achieve nothing, she points out.

Elisabeth Preus also studied at NTNU a few years after her namesake.

– We were 13 percent girls in the mechanical engineering department. I eventually chose the technology track where there were even fewer girls, so I went a little against the grain. For me, it has been an advantage, because many were looking to recruit women into technology jobs. When I recruit new employees for my section, I am concerned that we should reflect society, instead of selecting. It is a great advantage that the workplace is naturally diverse, she says.

More diversity

Like many people with a minority background, Ibrahim had to fight extra hard to get into the engineering industry. After graduating in 2016, he worked for a year as a financial advisor while submitting over 150 applications for engineering jobs.
– It is well documented that it is more difficult to get called in for an interview with a name that does not sound very Norwegian. I came to Multiconsult for an internship and have been here ever since. I did not mention in the interview that I am Muslim, but I told my boss right afterwards. I do not need much accommodation, but I pray five times a day and attend Friday prayers in the mosque, he says.

Ibrahim usually prays in the gym, and has a home office on Fridays if possible.
– I appreciate that such flexibility is possible. The canteen could perhaps be better at vegetarian food since I depend on meat being halal, but I generally feel that Multiconsult has become more diverse during the eight years I have been here. I recently heard that a woman who wears a hijab has been hired at one of the regional offices, and that is a new milestone, he says.

Håkon Duus works on solar energy projects both in Norway and internationally, but thinks carefully before traveling to certain countries. In countries such as Egypt and Tanzania, homosexuals can be prosecuted under criminal law, and in Uganda the law allows for the death penalty for homosexuals, in addition to life in prison.
– I do not travel to Uganda, and in other countries I have to censor myself by saying that I am single even though I have a partner. I also do not want to travel to the USA anymore. It is painful and sad that I cannot be myself in other countries, and that is precisely why it is so important that pride is celebrated and marked. It is about human dignity and values, and really about the right to exist on the same terms as others. With the change in rhetoric from political leaders in the US and parts of Europe, this year is also about taking a stand for the values ​​you fight for, even when it costs a little more, he says.

The best minds

Construction and civil engineering is at the top of the list of industries where most people feel they have to hide aspects of themselves – a full 76 percent.
– I don’t think it’s just about the industry being male-dominated, it probably also has something to do with the atmosphere. The contractor side protects its own in a way that I sometimes miss in consultants. The tone on a construction site can be quite tough, and jokes can often come at the expense of, for example, women and gays, but I think that’s about what is an acceptable margin of action. You just have to look at what’s happening in the US these days, and how this affects the world we live in – the problem isn’t really Trump himself, but all those who choose to accept his behavior without asking critical questions, says Thomas.

He believes it is important and good that Multiconsult always strives to capture the very best minds, regardless.
– If we do not hire homosexuals, Muslims or people with diagnoses, we miss out on an extremely large amount of good expertise, which instead goes to our competitors. Therefore, we must work to ensure that people dare to be themselves completely and fully. We must ensure a climate where it is natural to ask your immediate manager for some adaptation if you need it. It is often experienced as an advantage to be a little different when you are familiar with your own strengths and weaknesses, he states.