I have had different roles and responsibilities during my career. My path is probably not ordinary; it has challenged me to learn. I also admit that my career has not always been upward – and that has not been easy, but it built my resilience a lot. Currently, I am responsible for the Operational Excellence Department in Development and Technologies at OP Financial Group. I report to our Group CIO.
My path
I started in sales at an insurance company after my Master´s Degree in Economics, specializing in International Marketing. I worked in marketing, sales, communications, and product development for years. I was responsible for various service development and IT projects for online and mobile services and CRM. Those years also included several significant changes and mergers in the companies I worked for.
Being responsible for product and channel development projects, I ended up working very closely with IT people. As a result of my experience in various development positions, I joined the IT department at OP. In the financial industry, IT and business are very tightly connected; therefore, both angles are needed.
Changing from sales and marketing to IT is not a typical career path, but sales and both product and channel development gave me a good background for my following positions.
The necessary skills to navigate the IT field
It is essential to understand both the industry and the technology. How does the business work using technology, and how can technology be used to develop the business and benefit from new technologies? Technology is only useful if you understand how it can benefit your business. Both sides are needed, and actually, they cannot be separated.
Sirkku Ikäheimo, Development & Technologies Director, OP Financial Group
Embracing change
I encourage everyone to jump even a bit boldly into new challenges and not always follow the obvious path and responsibilities. Having the courage to look at something new during one´s career and do things differently in a different environment with different experts and people is important. That is how you learn and build your competencies. But as said, it is not the easiest way.
The importance of learning from failure
Being responsible for new things also means that sometimes one fails – trying is better than doing nothing. I could say that I have failed many times, like any other, with such a long work history. I could also state that I am a person that quickly recovers. I try to think about what I learned and what I can do better next time. Though I must admit that changing my ideas and habits and listening to feedback is not easy – but I am learning.
Working in OP Financial Group
OP Financial Group has offered me different possibilities to grow both in my career and as a person. I’ve learned a lot in the 14 years I’ve been here. I’m very grateful to work for this company. OP Financial Group truly is a great place to work and is full of possibilities for growth. We have had great projects where I have learned new ways of working and met amazing experts; many of the projects have been a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
The best part of my job
My colleagues and the people I work with are the best part of my job. Meeting people and seeing how they solve problems, move forward, and get things done is nice to see every day. That’s the best part—the people—the colleagues. Together, we can reach the sky.
Recharging to move forward
I am an outdoor person – I like the countryside, walking in the forest, jogging, and swimming in open waters. I also have at least a few books that I read at the same time and listen to ebooks. Most importantly, a good night’s sleep and enough time for my family are crucial.
Final message
Encouraging everyone to jump into new challenges and keep learning new things throughout the whole career
