Anni Haaranen is the Delivery Capability Lead at Nokia, leading a team of 15 Project Management Managers, specializing in Supply Chain and Test Engineering. Her primary focus is providing support and creating an optimal work environment for her team to thrive. Starting as a Psychiatric Nurse, Anni later switched to studying and working in tech. Her drive and passion stem from the deep-rooted desire to make a positive impact on the lives of others. This runs as a common thread through her nursing background, current team lead position at Nokia, and family volunteering activities.
Anni Haaranen, Delivery Capability Lead, Nokia
I would say that the most important thing in any enterprise is, while working hard, not to forget about having fun and being connected with other people, as you help each other to get through.
Starting a career in psychiatric nursing and discovering tech
I have always had a lot of interest in helping and working with people, which led me to start my career in psychiatric nursing. Inspired by my mother, who is a nurse herself, I dedicated 5-6 years to this field. However, I eventually realized my potential for growth and sought a new challenge. Nevertheless, my experience in nursing has proven invaluable in my tech career. Even if we talk about high-end technology, we are still people who are doing the technology for other people, so I think it is extremely important to know how we interact, have dialogues, discuss and meet each other. And my nursing background has provided me with priceless insights in this regard.
In 2016, I made the decision to embark on new studies. It felt like a natural choice to enter the tech industry, as I was influenced by my father’s engineering background. What made it even more appealing was the convenience of tech studies, which allowed me to balance both pregnancy and learning, as most of the coursework was conducted remotely. Having started the studies, I quickly realized that it was my thing to do: it accommodated my interest in modern technology and leadership, as well as provided a platform for giving back and helping people to achieve things. It was a perfect combination, and on top of that, the tech field gave me an opportunity to develop all the time, there is no limit to it. So I decided to step on this path and see where it can take me.
As my bachelor’s degree is from Oulu University of Applied Sciences, my studies were very hands-on, we got to really write the software and make an LED light blink. During my master’s studies, the focus shifted toward research, reading, and writing. And it was a perfect combination as I first got to see what the actual work looks like and then dive deeper into the theoretical side. All in all, I encountered a lot of interesting stuff during my studies and naturally, it was hard at times as well. What kept me going forward was the people – my study buddies. Within any kind of activity, you can find a like-minded group of people that keeps you motivated. Besides, the end goal has also kept me going – I knew that, when I am done, I can move on to other things in my career, and, no matter how hard the new courses are, I gain more from them. I would say that the most important thing in any enterprise is, while working hard, not to forget about having fun and being connected with other people, as you help each other to get through.
Professional at problem-solving
After graduating as a nurse in 2011, I started my therapeutic work mainly with youth, children, and families, helping them with their challenges, there was a lot of interaction with people. I joke around about being a “professional at problem-solving” because I’ve been doing this all day long. And I transferred this experience to my current profession – I can look at a problem from a neutral perspective. Previously, I was actually in charge of someone’s life but now the responsibility is different – I know that if I mess up something, no one is in danger and I can learn from my mistakes, they don’t do much harm, it allows me to look at a problem from different angles.
Building confidence and joining Nokia
Nokia has always been quite appealing to me, it has long roots in our society, and I have always looked up to its brand and business, so I decided it would be the one. We have endless possibilities in the company and I can find my path here. I started a six-month internship in the company in 2018, working as a Project Manager responsible for the data migration project. I also wrote my thesis on a process description while working as a Project Manager, and then was promoted to a software specialist job. It was a remarkable moment, the first mentor that I had at Nokia recommended me for the specialist job. I think that it is something very important for the development of each of us – to have someone talking good about us.
Something that I learned when applying to Nokia is the need for courage to apply for the role to get in. I have decided for myself that if there are possibilities, I have to take them. It is also crucial to nurture your dreams and set clear goals to see where you are going with your career. My background and studies have helped me in building this confidence, as well as my attitude. I tend to think that there is a meaning to everything that happens and things work out by themselves, so I do not need to stress too much about something that hasn’t happened. At the same time, if you don’t try you don’t get anything. Working hard provides you with the doors and you have to have the courage to open them.
The best part about joining Nokia has been learning a lot every day. And it’s easy to give your best because we receive a lot of support, and we get to train a lot during our workdays. I think the essentials “open, fearless, and empowered” really describe our culture and how we try to do our work every day. And the most important thing is the people. I have always admired the amount of knowledge, experience, and know-how that we have, and people are always ready to help each other move toward a common goal. It is really easy to sense the Nokia spirit, which I think is about perseverance and togetherness, and also experience and knowledge.
Leading by example and taking breaks
My daily work consists mainly of taking care of my team, my focus at the moment is on making the best conditions for them to succeed in their work. I attend a lot of meetings and have one-on-one discussions. I believe it is important to lead by example to keep my team motivated, thus I work hard but take breaks as well. We have various team activities together to keep our brains refreshed, for instance, team lunches, coffee breaks, and the latest one was playing frisbee golf together.
As for the things that help me to reduce stress, first and foremost, my daughters keep me grounded as I cannot talk about work-related things with them. And then sports, I run and also try to be outdoors as much as I can, the forest is the best place to be, and also a summer cottage, where nothing reminds me of work. And what also balances the work is studying, I think that it is something that is only mine. When I’m studying, I’m not anybody’s co-worker or mother, it’s just me, and it is very important for me as well.
Drawing inspiration and future plans
My role models do not necessarily belong to tech. I admire people who say what they think and who are true to their beliefs and aim to help others. One person off the top of my head is Michelle Obama, she really inspires me as she is using her position to help those in need.
As for the future, I am excited about the new technology of course, which we are developing at Nokia. So going forward to 6G and what it will bring, as well as all the opportunities AI and machine learning will bring in the next 10, 20 years. And unlike some, I am not scared of the novelty, I think we need to harvest the new technology using the right hands, then we’re okay. It is one of the challenges of the industry – new things coming all the time. But it is also motivating and rewarding, you need to keep developing yourself to stay on track.
In terms of my career, I see myself going forward all the time, taking on more responsibilities and knowledge. I’m really interested in utilizing AI and machine learning, and at some point, I would like to be more involved in the actual product development and management side.
Bringing more women to tech
It is an interesting question about how to get more women to pursue their careers in tech and how to keep them in the industry, my master’s thesis topic is actually related to the subject. In recent years, the numbers have steadily increased so we are already doing something right. I think the previous generation may still have prejudice about studying STEM-related subjects and who can study and be interested in them, but younger generations have less of that perspective. I have three girls and it’s very important for me to show them that there are no barriers because of their gender at least. I think it’s important to integrate technology at a young age and educate children about mathematics and STEM in general. Equal treatment from the teachers is also very important as it helps in preventing the spread of prejudice. More to that, seeing more women in leadership positions, the higher the better, is crucial as well. Actually, three years ago my eldest daughter thought of becoming a Prime Minister because, obviously, it’s a woman’s job as well – Sanna Marin is an example.
And when it comes to working life, hiring more women and breaking the masculine norms is important. We need to have more balanced working groups in terms of diversity and make the most out of it. It is also essential to talk well about your colleagues, especially women colleagues, and support each other. During my time at Nokia, mentoring and getting positive feedback is what helped me along the way. I had two mentors and they both have been excellent in providing tips, advice, and upholding.
I think the time for women in tech is right now, and we have to take our place in it. For the people who want to succeed in tech, I would like to say – pick your dream and go for it! Networking and finding a supportive group of people is important, as well as taking chances and applying for the positions, because they will not be given to you at no cost. And of course, develop yourself constantly!
