UNIC: Tell us some of your daily habits that keep you inspired and motivated?
Kaisa: Working with the upcoming slate, analyzing past data, tracking competition and business environment AND eating chocolate :) and skiing.
UNIC: What is great leadership in your opinion?
Kaisa: Being actually interested in your team members, being open-minded and leading by example makes it easier for others to follow you.
UNIC: What were the most important leadership lessons that you learned while climbing the career ladder?
Kaisa: Being open to new projects, thinking big – also horizontal.
UNIC: Did you have mentors along the way?
Kaisa: Yes, I had one mentor when I started my career. I have also had a lot of mentees eg. team members who I coach weekly/monthly.
UNIC: What were the most significant challenges you faced as a female professional in our industry?
Kaisa: When I became the first female sales manager in Finland in 2000, I had to learn to play golf in order to be able to hang-around with the industry guys :)
UNIC: Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently?
Kaisa: I would have questioned more often the way of doing business or bring out the unfairness and inequality in the organisations I worked in. It is just better to change an organisation and not just wait and see.
UNIC: Looking back at your career journey so far, what are you most proud of?
Kaisa: Increasing the business by 60 % in five years.
UNIC: With such a demanding career, how do you keep the balance between work and your personal life?
Kaisa: During weekends I just focus on my personal life, family, friends and hobbies and don’t even check the mailbox on my phone.
UNIC: You were a mentor in the fourth edition of the UNIC Women's Cinema Leadership Programme. How was that experience for you?
Kaisa: It was empowering to connect with fabulous females across the globe. We face very similar problems in our daily lives and these meeting were very energizing. We connected well and got mutual support.
UNIC: What advice would you give to current mentors and mentees?
Kaisa: Have self-confidence and energy to achieve the next level targets both in your business and personal lives.