Spotlight interview with UNEL-e alumna, Camilla Silva Fløistrup

2023 marks the celebration of UNEL-e 10th Anniversary. In this Spotlight Interview, Aida Ghazaryan (UNSSC Learning Portfolio Manager) speaks to Camilla Silva Fløistrup (Project Manager at UNDP Guinea-Bissau), who tells us more about her leadership role and the insights she had after attending the UNEL-e programme.

Aida: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey at the United Nations.

Camilla: I am a human rights lawyer and I have been working for the UN for 5 years. My entire career has been focused on the promotion of human rights and working for the UN was a childhood dream! I began by working for the Danish Institute for Human Rights, then I joined the UN as a JPO from 2013 to 2016. I left, because I wanted to focus on my family. In 2021, I decided to return to the UN system; I joined UNDP in Guinea-Bissau. I was hired as a project manager, and I have been working in several areas of the organization from my own project, the one I was hired to implement, to developing gender equality strategies for the whole office. This has been very rewarding but extremely challenging at the same time. I have never learned as much as I have in this period of working for UNDP.

Aida: In your opinion how does the UN System Leadership Framework support your efforts to lead better in UNDP Guinea-Bissau? 

Camilla: Getting to know the Framework and reading more about it has really been a good experience. The work at the UN can be very demanding and one can forget that our ultimate vision is to improve people’s lives. So, getting to know this document has reminded me of the reasons why I want to work for the UN in the first place, as it has clear links to human rights and equality, and the values and behaviours that represent and call for a new leadership culture in the UN. The Framework represents a good way to refresh our memory about working for the greater good. This was extremely inspiring!

Aida: How do you see your role as a leader after attending the UNEL-e?

Camilla: I do not have to be a manager to be a leader. I can lead small, I can lead by example, I can show that I believe, I can try to inspire, and I can make sure I support the team I am a part of! These are thoughts and ideas I already knew, but they have now been solidified by the course. Additionally, the concept of managing up, which I had not heard of before the course, has improved the way I work with my supervisor, making my daily work easier and more relevant.

Aida: How has the UN Emerging Leaders e-Learning programme contributed to your journey as a female leader?

Camilla: It was inspiring to see how the women invited to talk have led their lives within the UN. Having a family and a career is possible.  Their stories have given me hope. Most of the leaders where I am, (both male and female) do not have families and work all the time. Knowing that it is possible and advisable to balance and prioritize family time yet still do my work well has been an eye opener.

Learning that other women are going through similar experiences as myself was another highlight. It made me reflect on my leadership style.   During our sessions, they were switching off their mics because their children were around them, yet they were still able to be present and participant. It made me think of the importance of being empathic and giving room to all sorts of professionals in all phases of their lives.

Aida: Could you pinpoint the most extraordinary moments of your learning experience on the UN Emerging Leaders e-Learning Programme?

Camilla: The talk with the Representative from UNICEF was one of the best. It was refreshing to see leaders putting emphasis on work-life balance and still sustaining a high-level career.  Her intervention was also a gentle reminder that we, as an organization, must work towards equilibrium.

The course/lecture on public speaking was also great!  I had thought of myself a as a good public speaker, but the tips provided made a difference in how I present things now.

One of the last talks with the Resident Coordinator from the Maldives was a real eureka moment for me. The way she mentioned that we must leave our comfort zones and keep learning was so on point! She made it all seem easy and doable!

Aida: This year, we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the programme. What message of inspiration would you leave to all UNEL-e alumni?

Camilla: We are here to bring positive change for the communities that we serve. Our work is more than budgets, Excel sheets, and  delivery rates. If we work well and focus on the change we want to bring, we can, and we will, make a difference!

Aida: Would you recommend this training programme to other emerging leaders? Why?

Camilla: I would 100 per cent recommend this course. I have learned a lot from it. I think it is a fantastic opportunity to challenge some stereotypes and to work on issues of leadership with peers at the same formal level who face similar issues as oneself. It is an amazing reminder that we can be better at what we do, regardless of where we sit, so that more people benefit from our work.

Stay tuned for upcoming UNEL-e Spotlight interviews from UN organizations and Alumni that benefited from the UNEL-e programme.

2023 marks the 10th Anniversary of UN Emerging Leaders experience course. To date, 1,100 mid-level managers across the UN system have benefited from the programme. Together, they come from more than 135 duty stations and 88 different UN organizations.

If you are keen to step up your leadership in the UN, and align your leadership behaviours to the principled and visionary leadership in the UN, we are happy to welcome you to the 2023 Autumn edition of the UN Emerging Leaders e-Learning programme (19 October – 30 November 2023)

Should you wish to see the testimonials of our alumni please have a look at the trailers. You can read more spotlight interviews, or search for #UNELE2020, #UNELE2021, #UNELE2022, #UNELE2023 #UNELEeca across social media.

You are welcome to have a look at our latest open house webinar recording, presentation and programme e-book. For any inquiries on the upcoming editions and customized programmes for emerging leaders, please email unele@unssc.org.