There was an economic depression in Finland when I was a kid. I saw companies going bankrupt and understood they needed people with a financial brain to overcome difficult times. It’s why my first job was in audit at Deloitte Helsinki.
I loved working in audit, with the ability it gave me to see companies across different industries. For me, it has always been important to understand the business behind the numbers. To get international experience, though, I moved to Munich to take a role as an IFRS expert for a large media company. I am still in Munich, but for the past 13 years I’ve been working for the European Patent Office at a job I really like. It’s a great working environment and there are always interesting development projects going on.
I went on the TV show ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’
I enjoy being thrown into places and situations outside my comfort zone. Although, like most people, I am quite nervous beforehand, afterwards I feel great for having been courageous. Once my boss sent me to an important seminar to join a panel discussion on hedging instruments. I wasn’t an expert at all but did some studying beforehand and it went well. As a student I wanted to earn some extra money to finance my studies, so I went on the TV show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
At university, I had concerns about being an accountant. I worried that it would mean few social contacts and that a life of numbers might be boring. But my finance career has been anything but boring. It’s been full of contact with interesting people, both colleagues and clients.
My favourite mantra is something my father said: you should always have something to look forward to. This can be something big like Christmas or a holiday somewhere hot, but also little things like a dinner with friends. It has become my mindset in life.
Luckily, my baby took long naps, so I had time to study for my ACCA exams
If I had the power, I would make a worldwide law preventing discrimination in any form. All people should be treated equally, no matter their gender, ethnic origin, religion or sexual orientation. I think the world would be much better place if we respected each other more.
My biggest achievement is bringing my two daughters into the world. I finished my ACCA exams when I had a small baby, so it was quite an achievement for me. Luckily, my baby took long naps during the daytime, so I had time to study.
I love to run in the park after work. I also love nature, so when I visit my native Finland I always head to a forest to search for mushrooms and berries. Munich also has countryside and mountains close by, offering perfect opportunities for hiking and skiing. Luckily, my husband and daughters also love skiing, so in winter we head to the slopes on most weekends. The aesthetic things in life are also important to me and I always have fresh flowers at home. I also enjoy second-hand shopping and never miss a good flea market.
