Networker with energy to spare

Essi Kiuru was well aware of what she was getting into when she was appointed Administrative Director. “I worked a lot with Hannu Pietilä, my predecessor, when I was working as a lawyer at Learning and Research Services. I felt the time was right for a job change and a new challenge.”

text and photo Anna-Maria Raudaskoski

To Essi Kiuru, Administrative Director, most of the duties of her new position have a familiar ring. But she would not have sought the demanding top position, had it not posed distinct challenges: total management of a large organization offers an interesting learning opportunity.

Having started in January, Essi Kiuru has spent the first few weeks getting acquainted with the job and staff. It hasn’t escaped her notice how much the university has changed during the decade she was away. Before moving to industry, she worked as lawyer at Learning and Research Services.

“Rules of the game in the academic arena are getting closer to those of the business world. Economic planning is becoming more pervasive, performance targets are set for all activities, level of international engagement and the pressing need to increase it are being felt everywhere. All this shows that the university is part of society and a link in a chain that creates innovations and employment.”

For Kiuru, settling into her new position as Administrative Director is facilitated by the fact that she has a long experience of innovation activities, contract management, protection of intellectual property, immaterial rights, information technology and process development. She is also familiar with issues of responsibility in risk management and advising management in legal matters.

International industry has by and large assumed the North American management and corporate culture. “Not everything that I learned in the industrial setting is directly applicable to the academic world, but some of the ideas could certainly be adapted to fit our operational culture. To give an example, methods of streamlining and implementing cost-effective solutions could very well be tailored to our needs”, she explains.

Kiuru is pleased to note that a number of initiatives have been carried out within university administration to improve efficiency. Even now, several measures are being implemented.

“One way of improving activities is to offer more services in electronic form. To accomplish this, we must move away from silo mentality toward a more collaborative approach. And, of course, by going online we’ll be able to save some money.”

Kiuru already has some thoughts and ideas to improve dialogue and cooperation between administration and the scientific community. “I’m about to tour the faculties, and I’m open to fresh ideas and suggestions. Cooperation is important”, Essi Kiuru contends.

“It helps that I’m quick to pick up things and, thanks to my previous experience at the university, I know half the people who work here”, she explains.

Keeping up-to-date on the net

The theme for the current academic year is strengthening communality and community spirit. To Essi Kiuru this means that coming to work in the morning should be an enjoyable experience. “You have to feel that your work is meaningful and that it is appreciated.”

Kiuru’s international experience has taught her that it is not easy for Finns to give feedback to their colleagues, be it in the form of thanks or constructive criticism. “That’s a big limitation. If you’ve given someone positive feedback, it is easier to offer a word of correction when it’s called for.”

On the other hand, Finns are good at taking responsibility for their work. “Encouraging employees to take charge of their work and trusting in their abilities is important. Coping at work is easier, if the supervisor gives the employee new, stimulating tasks whenever possible”, she says.

Essi Kiuru promises to be easily accessible and she’s keen to use modern communication technology to that end. It comes naturally to her to use Skype, Lync and other systems that make light work of everyday tasks. LinkedIn and other networks support her in fostering international contacts.

She is also an avid reader of domestic and foreign web publications, interested in a range of topics.

In the first part of the year, Essi Kiuru did not dare to count the hours spent at the office, for getting to know the operating environment and staff and dealing with practical matters was an intensive experience. However, this energetic woman assures that she is not going to make a habit of long working hours.

“You can’t just keep working all the time; you must take care of your own wellbeing. My recipe for wellbeing includes an hour of exercise everyday, ranging from incidental exercise to jogging or skiing.”

As the mother of three sporty girls, she is actively involved in sports club activities.