From coffee shop to mine: young people are getting a taste of different career paths
On April 19, three Russian cities – Chita, Norilsk, and Murmansk – hosted the final of the SVET ON forum. It was the fourth time Nornickel has held large-scale activities for those wanting to try their hand at entrepreneurship, volunteering, engineering, and information technology.
For the company, celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, it is not just a great opportunity to reflect on its accomplishments, but also to invest in the future by engaging the next generation.
ELENA KRYUCHKOVA,
Head of Nornickel Corporate Communities:
"The forum aims to provide vocational guidance: it helps young people understand how to apply their talents, what opportunities are available nearby, and how to establish themselves and thrive in their local communities. The most popular topics included entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, lean manufacturing, creative industries, and the media environment".
TED-style talks – brief informal speeches in which guests shared personal stories and unorthodox ideas – were the highlight of the day. In each city, four professionals spoke to attendees, one from each field: entrepreneurship, volunteering, engineering, and technology.
A discussion titled "Serious Dialogue" summarized forum takeaways and thoughts sparked by the speakers'. Teenagers joined the conversation about future careers. They reflected on what they had heard, posed probing questions, and debated which kind of knowledge would serve them the best throughout their lives. Their biggest concern was, "How can I apply these ideas right now — in my city and in my situation?"
After the speeches, participants moved to the interactive space, where theory was directly translated into practice. In one group, engineers guided participants as they assembled robots from a building set. Another group discussed actual production cases. The third group tried their hand at entrepreneurship by creating business models for northern cities.
Speaking with experienced professionals in an informal setting was particularly beneficial for those still to set off on their career path. Young people were able to:
Over 1,000 participants attended the final. Throughout the day, the forum site resembled a huge laboratory of the future, where everyone could find something they liked and take a shot at it there and then.
This year, the project's geography and audience expanded: previously, the forum was held only in Norilsk and was aimed at school students, whereas this year's events took place in Monchegorsk, Nickel, Zapolyarny, Chita, and Norilsk, and were also aimed at older participants, including college students and Nornickel's young talent.
A discussion titled "Serious Dialogue" summarized forum takeaways and thoughts sparked by the speakers'. Teenagers joined the conversation about future careers. They reflected on what they had heard, posed probing questions, and debated which kind of knowledge would serve them the best throughout their lives. Their biggest concern was, "How can I apply these ideas right now — in my city and in my situation?"
After the speeches, participants moved to the interactive space, where theory was directly translated into practice. In one group, engineers guided participants as they assembled robots from a building set. Another group discussed actual production cases. The third group tried their hand at entrepreneurship by creating business models for northern cities.
Speaking with experienced professionals in an informal setting was particularly beneficial for those still to set off on their career path. Young people were able to:
- receive personal career advice;
- learn about internships and educational programs;
- discuss specific steps they need to take to implement their projects;
- find mentors in their area of interest.
Over 1,000 participants attended the final. Throughout the day, the forum site resembled a huge laboratory of the future, where everyone could find something they liked and take a shot at it there and then.
This year, the project's geography and audience expanded: previously, the forum was held only in Norilsk and was aimed at school students, whereas this year's events took place in Monchegorsk, Nickel, Zapolyarny, Chita, and Norilsk, and were also aimed at older participants, including college students and Nornickel's young talent.
The forum lasted four weeks, with each week dedicated to a specific topic. In the last days of March, participants immersed themselves in entrepreneurship: young businessmen discussed their ups and downs, forum attendees learned how to create successful startups while keeping in mind the specific aspects of the northern territories. The following week was dedicated to environmental volunteering. Participants met with representatives of national parks and wildlife reserves, and took part in environmental initiatives and activities that promoted a responsible attitude towards nature. The third week introduced forum participants to the world of technology and engineering, including lectures on jobs of the future, and workshops where school students learned about artificial intelligence and also even assembled robots. Participants descended into the "Anhydrite" mine and visited the Corporate University's training grounds. The final week focused on creativity and technology. Participants discussed how the creative industries work, learned the fundamentals of journalism, and discovered what the Media School does.
Over the month, more than 3,000 visitors attended the forum. It featured 170 events, with speakers discussing the prospects for more than 100 occupations. The emerging career opportunities sparked curiosity for both teenagers and adults. The program was tailored to the needs of different age groups, including career-counseling sessions for college students, and engaging instructional activities for schoolchildren. Nornickel's young specialists often acted as mentors, sharing their expertise and working together with participants to generate practical solutions, fostering a vibrant professional dialogue.
The SVET ON forum helps young people discover opportunities in their local communities. Today, Nornickel employees work across more than 5,000 occupations, including metallurgists, engineers, educators, ecologists, designers, programmers, and lawyers. Each of these occupations contributes to the region's sustainable development. The SVET ON-2025 was the largest event in the forum's four-year history. Each participant was able to create an individual development plan, make useful connections, and set goals for the future.
Over the month, more than 3,000 visitors attended the forum. It featured 170 events, with speakers discussing the prospects for more than 100 occupations. The emerging career opportunities sparked curiosity for both teenagers and adults. The program was tailored to the needs of different age groups, including career-counseling sessions for college students, and engaging instructional activities for schoolchildren. Nornickel's young specialists often acted as mentors, sharing their expertise and working together with participants to generate practical solutions, fostering a vibrant professional dialogue.
The SVET ON forum helps young people discover opportunities in their local communities. Today, Nornickel employees work across more than 5,000 occupations, including metallurgists, engineers, educators, ecologists, designers, programmers, and lawyers. Each of these occupations contributes to the region's sustainable development. The SVET ON-2025 was the largest event in the forum's four-year history. Each participant was able to create an individual development plan, make useful connections, and set goals for the future.
Nornickel’s photo archive
April, 2025
April, 2025