Studying International Business and Sales Management at the University of Eastern Finland was the first building block for Mikael Pennanen on his path towards the career of his dreams. As it happens, he landed a job even before finishing his studies, and within three years of graduating he had become Managing Director at Meltwater, one of the leading global companies in the field of social media monitoring and engagement. In his current position, he also takes part in recruiting new employees and is always on the lookout for freshly graduated, internationally minded team players with a good command of business English – very much like the IBS students at the UEF!
Seven years ago, Mikael, a keen ice hockey player from Lahti in Southern Finland, took the first step on a career path that would skyrocket him to a top position offering a vantage point to the world of business and the cutting edge of marketing and digitalisation. He began business studies at the University of Eastern Finland. He knew that getting a master’s degree in business administration would open up a wide range of possibilities. After all, in the modern-day world, most companies need professionals with business knowhow.
– I chose my field of study by looking at how it would affect my future career. Getting a business degree will multiply your options.
The UEF’s programme had particular appeal for Mikael because of the international aspect, and he is leaving the door open for working abroad later on in his career.
Building a network
Mikael found Kuopio to be a fun city in which to study; there are great parties, interesting activities, and nice restaurants. What he particularly underlines is the special communal atmosphere that might be missing in larger university cities, as many students come to Kuopio from somewhere else. He says that some of his university friends are still his best mates.
According to Mikael, the hardest part of studying is getting into the university in the first place. Once admitted, it’s up to you how much you want to invest in your studies and what are you planning to take away from your education.
– One of the most important things to do while studying is to network. Many people will be working in the same field as you in the future, and it will be very beneficial later on to have contacts.
Mikael’s studies included a lot of project work that gave the students a glimpse of what their future working life might look like. For instance, they had the chance to engage in interesting hands-on assignments with real companies. These projects also involved group work, which Mikael sees as a very important skill in the world of business. In addition, his language skills improved immensely during the studies. In his words, the programme gave him invaluable lessons in business English and communicating in the world of work.
Landing a job
Everybody knows that getting a job is no small feat, and at first, it didn’t seem like an easy task for Mikael either. While on a student exchange in Austria, he reached out to multiple companies for summer job opportunities, among them his current employer, Meltwater. After numerous rejections from other firms, he heard back from Meltwater. However, they were looking for someone to fill a permanent position and Mikael still had his thesis to do, so their story didn’t kick off – just yet. Nevertheless, they clearly saw his potential at Meltwater and decided to keep his contact details and stay in touch. Consequently, every three months someone from HR called Mikael to see how he was doing with his studies.
Finally, in February 2019 came the decisive moment. Mikael was still unsure whether to pursue doctoral studies or start looking for a job. He was approached once again by Meltwater, and after looking into them a bit more, he realised that the international company would be a really interesting option for him. He took the job they offered and finished his thesis on the side – and the rest is history.
In April 2022, after three years of working for Meltwater, Mikael was just promoted to Managing Director.
I’ve achieved more than I ever believed would be possible.
Work-life balance
Mikael’s childhood love for hockey continued throughout his studies – he was one of the founding members of HC Preemio, the business school’s hockey team – and he still manages to find time for his favourite sport. So, it’s not all work and no play in the world of business these days. In fact, Mikael’s employer emphasises the importance of a good work-life balance and also arranges a lot of communal, social activities that keep up the good spirit in the workplace. Work is supposed to be fun!
Mikael says that when he clocks off, so to speak, at five o’clock in the afternoon, he feels free to concentrate on other areas of life. Meeting up with friends and doing sports bring a nice balance to his life.
Even though he says there’s absolutely no need to be a workaholic in his line of work, he himself likes to keep busy – he has a business of his own on the side with a researcher at UEF, Markus Raatikainen, and they offer consultation services to companies on entering new markets and esports, among other things.
A bright future ahead
Mikael is an ambitious guy who doesn’t shy away from responsibility. During his three years in his current workplace, he has learned a great deal and gained a lot of self-confidence. He continues to aim higher and has his eyes set on a more strategic position in the future.
Currently in this line of business, there is a real need for new employees, and the best candidates can have their pick – and might even be headhunted. A master’s degree is a highly valued asset in the job market. Meltwater, for example, works with universities and is constantly looking to hire new graduates.
This is what Mikael has to say to anyone considering the IBS programme at the UEF:
– Be serious about studying and put in the work to reach your goals. It will benefit you in the future.
While he admits that it can sometimes feel irrelevant to study old theories about marketing, for instance, he has now realised that he actually uses the knowledge he gained in his studies in his everyday work.
By purposefully building his skills and being open-minded about his options, Mikael was able to get a job he truly enjoys. And how do we know this? To quote him, “I know that I’m in the right place because I don’t get the Sunday blues.”
