Elli Kiviluoma, MIK and TiJo

What have you studied and what influenced this choice back in the day? 

In high school I enjoyed and did well in the natural sciences. For a long time I planned to apply to medical school, but in my final year I realised it wasn’t what I really wanted. I knew engineering degrees included a strong grounding in the sciences and, since I didn’t yet know exactly what I wanted to do in the future, they seemed to offer more options than studying a single science subject at university. I started out in materials engineering in Tampere, but it didn’t feel like the right fit academically. After my first year I switched to Information and Knowledge Management, which turned out to be a perfect choice. What appealed to me was the combination of management and information technology, and the chance to develop organisations in a data‑driven way in the future.

How did you end up in your current position? 

Although my studies were interesting, once I started working I began to question my career choice. I wanted more purpose in my work and a less stressful environment. I also wanted to work more with people and to help others. For these reasons, I reconsidered my path in engineering and even thought about changing fields. Then I came across my current role among government job postings and felt it was worth trying before making a bigger change.

What is the best thing about your job? 

I’m glad I applied and that I got the job! I can use my skills in an organisation where my work truly matters. Together with colleagues, I get to think about how we can develop and lead policing in my unit more effectively through data. Because there’s a lot that’s new in my role, having colleagues who are happy to help and work through challenges together is a huge plus.

What have been the highlights and key lessons of your career? 

In my fairly short career, the highlights have been getting my first job in “my own field” in my fourth year of studies and then securing my current position. I’ve learnt more than I expected along the way. The most important lesson is that you may not find “your thing” straight away and you don’t need to. Even though I was happy when I switched degree programmes, I still questioned my choice once I entered working life. As people often say, engineering degrees open doors to many different roles and organisations. Over time, everyone can find their place, both in their studies and at work.. 

What are your plans and goals in the future? 

I’ve always found it hard to choose a specific path without first knowing all the options. Right now, I can’t even imagine everything that might come my way or the opportunities I might create for myself. I hope to continue contributing to data‑driven development within the police and to solve related challenges together with others. My goal is to keep enjoying my work as much as I do now, and to maintain as good a work–life balance in the future as I have today.