“You need the mindset that everything can be solved; things are difficult only until they are fixed.”

I am Minna Lindholm, Managing Director and CEO of HiQ Finland. I also lead our operations in Poland. I am a board member of S Group, Finland’s largest retail, hospitality, banking, restaurant, hotel, and energy organization.

I have nearly 30 years of experience, including 10 years at Nokia and leadership roles at Fujitsu, Tieto, Nordcloud (now part of IBM), Google, and currently HiQ. 

Leading HiQ

Broadly speaking, my role as CEO is to create the conditions for other people to succeed in their work. In practice, it also means ensuring that the organization has the right prerequisites to perform, grow, and thrive. It is my responsibility to ensure our consultants have the tools, support, and motivation they need to succeed. I act more like a coach, enabling collaboration, encouraging diverse perspectives, and helping teams find common ground.

A major part of my role is also staying close to our customers. I spend a significant amount of time meeting clients, listening to their challenges, discussing opportunities, and building long-term partnerships. That is where the real magic happens: through conversations, collaboration, and trust. Being present for both new prospects and existing customers is incredibly important. 

Educational and Professional Background

I have always been an extremely curious person, interested in many different fields and possibilities. Technology became both a surprising and a very natural choice for me. I say it was surprising because at one point I even had the opportunity to pursue studies in diplomacy, one of my big dreams. But ultimately, I chose engineering, a decision I remain incredibly grateful for today.

I earned my Master of Science in Technology, which gave me a strong engineering foundation. Later in my career, I wanted to broaden my perspective beyond technology, so I completed an Executive MBA at Henley Business School. That combination of technical and business education has proven invaluable in my roles.

Skills of a CEO

This role requires strong people skills, as well as communication, negotiation, and a consultative mindset. In technology and consulting, where problems are complex and change is constant, we need the ability to listen, connect ideas, and guide people toward solutions together. 

A Problem-Solving Mindset

A large part of my role is ultimately about problem-solving. Not only solving problems when they appear, but also creating the conditions and processes where fewer problems emerge in the first place

When facing challenges, you need to have the mindset that everything can be solved; things are difficult only until they are fixed. So, having this kind of a mindset that almost everything is possible is really helpful. And I think that, at times, it can become a real superpower. 

But then also, when facing challenges, my first instinct is always to understand the facts. What led us to this situation? Where are we now? For me, it is never about blame or finding guilty individuals. Instead of asking “Who caused this?”, we should ask, “How do we ensure this doesn’t happen again?” 

Very often, mistakes reveal opportunities to improve processes. What can we improve further? And how can we be an even better company? That mindset of continuous improvement is incredibly important. Every challenge contains valuable insight if we are willing to look at it honestly and constructively. 

But solving problems also requires the right people around you. People who can collaborate, challenge ideas, and build scalable solutions together. The real goal is not only fixing one issue but identifying best practices and scaling them across the organization.

I also believe one needs to develop a certain passion for problem-solving. Avoiding difficult discussions or delaying hard decisions only makes situations worse. Strong leadership requires the courage to address issues early, create a sense of urgency when needed, and move quickly toward solutions.

At the end of the day, it is not about avoiding problems but building teams and cultures that are capable of solving them together, continuously improving, and turning challenges into opportunities for growth. 

Staying Curious and Continuously Learning

It is important to understand that almost every interaction can become an opportunity to learn if you choose to approach it that way. Whether I’m meeting customers, colleagues, partners, or teams, I try to approach every conversation with the mindset that there is always something new to understand.

Continuous learning has become a daily habit for me. I intentionally make time every day to learn something new. I spend a significant part of my free time reading, researching, and following developments in technology, business, leadership, and the world around us. 

You need a genuine growth mindset; the understanding that you are never fully finished, never fully ready, and never above learning from others. The moment someone believes they already know everything is often the moment growth stops.

Especially in technology, staying updated is not optional. If you stop learning, you quickly become obsolete, and then you no longer bring value to your team, customers, or organization. 

That is why curiosity, openness, and continuous learning are essential. Staying relevant is not something that happens automatically; it requires conscious effort, discipline, and prioritization.

And honestly, I think I would do this even without my current role. Curiosity is not just part of my work. It is part of who I am.

Artificial Intelligence and Responsible Innovation

Artificial Intelligence is becoming part of everything we do. Yet, despite its growing presence, the human element remains essential. The real question is no longer whether we will use AI, but how we can use it in the best possible way.

As AI adoption accelerates, the conversation often focuses heavily on risks.  Success will not belong only to the fastest adopters of AI, but to those who build sustainable practices, clear governance, and responsible ways of working with AI.

This means creating awareness around where AI should be used, where it should not be used, and what kind of information should never be shared with AI tools or agents. Responsible AI adoption requires both curiosity and caution. 

The rise of AI-powered “vibe coding” and low-code development brings new security challenges. Today, people with minimal coding experience can build highly powerful tools and agents using AI. That creates incredible opportunities, but also demands a stronger understanding of security, controls, and governance. Organizations must ensure the right mechanisms are in place so AI is adopted responsibly and safely.

For many of us, AI has already become an everyday assistant. Personally, I cannot imagine working without it anymore. The speed at which AI has transformed the way we work, think, and create is remarkable. The future is not about replacing humans with AI; it is about learning how humans and AI can work together effectively, responsibly, and intelligently.

Well-Being and Sports

I consider myself a seasonal sports enthusiast rather than someone focused on a single sport. During winter, I love cross-country skiing, ice skating on sea ice, and other outdoor winter sports. In summer, I enjoy running, tennis, cycling, and spending as much time outdoors as possible.

In today’s hectic world, it is not always realistic to find time for long workouts every day. But there is almost always an opportunity to do something small. Sometimes it is simply taking the stairs instead of the elevator or trying to go for short walks every day, making that a daily habit.

Beyond sports, music is another important source of energy and inspiration in my life. I enjoy many different genres and try to attend concerts whenever possible, both in Finland and while traveling.

Work-Life Balance 

I see work-life balance as extremely important, but there are times when my family reminds me not to work so much. At the same time, I feel privileged to do work that I genuinely love. 

For me, balance does not necessarily mean disconnecting completely. I have a very entrepreneurial mindset, and I get satisfaction from seeing progress, solving challenges, and moving things forward. Taking an important call on a holiday does not automatically cause me stress because I do not view meaningful work as a burden. What matters more is understanding the difference between healthy engagement and unhealthy overload.

That said, recovery and boundaries are still essential. I consciously try to protect weekends and dedicate time to other aspects of life so that I can return to work as a better version of myself. More importantly, as a leader, I also feel responsible for protecting my team from a culture of constant overwork.

My Favourite Quote

One quote that resonates with me is: “The future depends on what you do today.” I believe this mindset is incredibly powerful because it shifts the focus away from blaming the past or external conditions and toward the actions we can take ourselves. True leadership is about recognizing what is within our control, focusing our energy there, and having the courage and discipline to move forward despite uncertainty.

Finally, it is important to acknowledge that I would not have come this far without the support of others: family, friends, and colleagues have been great allies. I am extremely grateful to my parents and grandmother, whose encouragement and belief in me have shaped my journey since childhood. At the same time, it is also important to remember to be a good ally: you can lift others and empower someone.