After a decade in the field, I can say that the advantage of working in tech is the opportunity to have varied roles. Tech studies provide you with an excellent basis to begin with, so if at some point I feel like gaining a new skill, I know the field will support me in acquiring such expertise.
I was graduating high school and exploring my study options when I found technology schools. I had considered studying Veterinary, but I remember instantly changing my mind: tech sounded perfect for me! At first, I wanted to focus on ‘hard’ technology studies: I had my eyes on Biotechnology in Tampere. Then, I discovered Industrial Engineering and Management at the LUT University in Lappeenranta and I knew I had found my match: at high school I had studied Maths, Chemistry, and Physics, and I had been interested in leadership, so this was the perfect combination. I got to complement it with an extensive minor in Energy Technology since I also wanted to focus on sustainability.
A few years later, I was only twenty one years old when I ventured into my first job as a Trainee in the Maintenance Warehouse at the Loviisa nuclear plant. It was one of the best work experiences I have had. It was impressive to get to work at a big power plant while understanding how important security and safety are in a plant.
At that job, I learned that I can always stop if I am unsure of what I am doing. That advice has followed me throughout my career: when unsure, the safest option is to stop and think.
In 2017, after returning from my exchange studies and graduating, I applied to Fortum, luckily secured a job there, and have been there ever since.
Sini Piiparinen, Sales Manager, Fortum
Fortum as a place of growth and exploration
I have been in Fortum for seven years now. I began as a Project Engineer, which was a nice kickstart because I had very different tasks: I was responsible for scheduling the projects, financial analysis, and budgeting, and I worked as a support for the project manager. The diversity of tasks was impressive, surely, and there was also something else that contributed to my learning: my involvement in quite diverse projects, since I had the opportunity to work both with external customers and with the Loviisa power plant.
Although I gained an impressive amount of project management skills, I remember that I used to think about how many of my colleagues were real experts because they specialised in some specific aspect of the project – and this would leave me wondering: Should I also have some niche expertise? Should I focus on something particular, something concrete? Truly, people around me were so gifted and specialised that it was challenging to appreciate my ability to see the big picture as a skill on its own. Luckily, I had wonderful supervisors who offered me a fresh perspective: people who see the big picture and have project management skills as a specialty are essential. And this is so true! This advice gave me so much self-confidence and has ever since guided me in my career development.
After working as a Project Engineer, I had the chance to tackle my very first project as a Project Manager: what a new set of skills I was signing up for! I had to make new and different decisions than before, knowing that every decision naturally would lead to a different outcome: it was such an amazing opportunity for growth. In that role, I understood something valuable: different people need different leadership. Maybe someone needs a good couple of hours meeting to brainstorm, perhaps someone else only needs a quick 10-minute checkup – different leadership is not only good, it is also necessary.
To me, project management is a type of customer service, only that for the team: the project manager allows others to perform well in their role. Understanding what team I have has also allowed me to make the best matches between these experts and our customers, for them to get guidance as customised as possible.
A year of transformations
I have been on parental leave for the last year; having such a life change adds a layer of excitement to my return to work, which will happen very soon. I will return as a Sales Manager; I worked before as a Project and Key Account Manager. Although the title changed, I am familiar with the work: I help customers when they need expertise with final disposal of nuclear waste. In general, we assist customers with the whole life cycle of the nuclear power plants. It is a business based on Fortum’s long expertise managing our own plants; collateral to it, it is also an insightful experience for our experts, since they get the opportunity to engage with external customers and learn.
Personally, Fortum as a workplace has been a place of growth because I have had plenty of opportunities to explore my career path. At the same time, looking at the big picture, I highly appreciate feeling ‘professionally safe’: there is always someone in-house who can provide specific knowledge.
I notice how excited I am at seeing how my perspective has changed now that my personal life has experienced a beautiful transformation. On the one hand, I suspect that from now on work days will probably be sticking closer to an 8 to 4 routine; on the other hand, it feels good to come back to work life overall, allowing my partner to enjoy his share of parental leave.
Let’s make women in tech ‘business as usual’
Yes, I have also been the only woman in the team sometimes. And yes, because of my age and gender, I have encountered mistrust and have had to prove my expertise. At the same time, reflecting on this last decade, I feel fortunate to have been surrounded by women in leadership positions, both in Fortum and before at other jobs. It is a clear sign that things are changing.
I find it essential to normalise the presence of female professionals in the field. It should not be highlighted as odd, surprising, or eccentric; it is normal! It is just another job, and a very interesting one! Studying Physics or Chemistry has nothing to do with gender. Of course, these subjects might have an added challenge, but there is a lot of support out there: for example, at university, it is not easy to pass those Math courses, yet we did it together with friends. There is so much power in a community when it comes to supporting each other in studies and working life. You will perform well, you will become an expert, and along the way, you will always have colleagues or studymates who will help you, or who you will help.
The importance of having mentors
My favourite career advice is one that never gets old, never fails, and never disappoints: get a mentor! I had many already during my studies, but also in my career. I have had mentors at Fortum and previous workplaces, and I have also participated in a mentoring program provided by Tekniikan Akateemiset TEK. I can only be grateful for having experienced mentorship. Because the thing is, it is natural to feel lost at points, whether studying or at work already. It is normal to say “I don’t know what I want to do”. It is normal to be unsure of our performance when we are new in a field or a job. That is why having a mentor is fantastic; that’s when they step in. They provide perspective and in my case, they have boosted my self-confidence too. Mentors can feel like a good, trusted friend who you can share your insecurities with. They don’t provide direct advice but rather guide you into finding your path.
