Hanna Junttila, Lumo Analytics
“Over the years, I've learned that work doesn't always have to be fun. But if you have more bad days than good days in a week, it's time to start looking at other jobs. Another important lesson I learnt from my first employer is that you shouldn't work just for the money, there should be at least one other motivator.”
What have you studied and what influenced this choice back in the day?
I studied Geology at the University of Oulu in 1999-2006. The subject was chosen because I have always been fascinated by volcanoes and earthquakes. I also tried to avoid a teaching career by choosing geology instead of geography, but I still ended up teaching geology after graduation.
Later, I complemented my knowledge with a specialized qualification in Foreign Trade and a minor in Business Studies at university while working.
How did you become a Business Development Manager?
My current job as Business Development Manager at Lumo Analytics came somewhat unexpectedly through a headhunter. Apparently, I've done things right in my career, as this was the second job I didn't actively apply for, I was "found".
What is the best thing about your job?
Meeting people and having good conversations. And putting new, exciting technology into practice and showing new customers its potential.
What have been the highlights and most important lessons of your career?
The best moments in my career have been quite mundane. It's always nice to close a deal after a long negotiation. On the other hand, it's been great to be able to talk about things that are important to me in front of a big audience. I've met great people in my working life, and many former colleagues have become friends who have stayed with me despite changing jobs.
Over the years, I've learned that work doesn't always have to be fun. But if you have more bad days than good days in a week, it's time to start looking at other jobs. Another important lesson I learnt from my first employer is that you shouldn't work just for the money, there should be at least one other motivator. Even if it's the nice people you work with.
What do you expect from the future?
At some point I want to study something again - perhaps business management and development. Of course, I look forward to seeing my own work bear fruit and getting Lumo Analytics on a good growth path.
For whom is this a suitable career option?
My own career is a very exceptional career as a geologist. I would recommend geology or process engineering studies to those who are ready to move to the "countryside". The mines are generally far from centers of growth. If you like nature and the outdoors, a geologist's job at best feels like a holiday, where you get to wander through forests. What's more, geologists can make a real difference to the environmental and sustainability issues in the workplace through their own work.
What message would you like to send to a young person pondering their career?
What you want to do when you grow up may become clear to you after years. It's worth studying subjects that interest you, and as interdisciplinary as possible - you never know, even if that course you read just for fun outside your undergraduate degree is the deciding factor when you apply for a job 😊