Henna Väätäinen

My research interests focus on leadership, virtual leadership, social capital, and silence in companies and public organizations.

I am particularly interested in exploring how leaders can promote participation and use of one´s voice in work communities and what factors can cause silence and reduce the willingness to participate. My goal is to deepen my understanding of the factors influencing silence, such as leadership practices and the role of emotions in the life of organizations. My latest research area is the ecosystems of public business services that support the growth and development of companies.

In my dissertation titled "Embracing Paradoxes in Virtual Leadership: Leadership Supporting Social Capital and use of one´s Voice in Municipalities," I examine leadership practices that can cause silence in organizations and affect employees' willingness to participate. The research is based on interviews that investigate which practices inhibit participation and which promote participation and social capital.

Additionally, I have studied various aspects of leadership, particularly the effects of virtual leadership on team dynamics and performance, the importance of social capital for organizational success, and the impacts of silence in work communities.

My work experience includes thousands of hours of training in various subjects, emphasizing leadership and organizational development. I have worked as a business developer, business manager, and lawyer, as well as in various people management roles. My diverse background provides me with a solid foundation to train practices that support development and people management in both public and private organizations.

In my current research, I focus specifically on studying the ecosystems of public business services that support the growth and development of companies.

My work aims to provide organizations with practical tools and strategies that promote open interaction, participation, and the building of social capital in diverse work environments.