Kalle, tell us a little bit about your professional background? How did you end up here?
I started at UPM (Biofuels) in March meaning that I have been with the company now for around four months. During my studies I worked in multiple roles in the manufacturing industry and then in strategy consulting. After I graduated from Aalto University School of Business in late 2019, I joined the industry as Market Intelligence Analyst and have been in the renewables industry since then.
Tell us about your position and on what subjects and projects you work with
In a nutshell, my role as Senior Business Analyst is to advocate fact-based decision-making in the organization with various analyses, covering the whole value chain from feedstock sourcing to the end product markets in the transport and petrochemical sectors. In this position I am lucky to be part of a wide range of activities: working with new business development initiatives; participating in commercial negotiations; closely monitoring the key market drivers such as regulatory developments; and being responsible for building future market intelligence capabilities.
What motivates you at work?
To me it is highly motivating that I am working with diverse topics, hence I am constantly learning something new from my colleagues and our partners. It is also satisfying that the scope of my work varies from longer-term strategic topics to shorter-term commercial activities.
Is there something you have learned from working with biofuels?
UPM is a unique company in the field of renewable fuels with its wood-based feedstock, and I have learned loads of new stuff about sustainable forestry and about the whole ecosystem of wood-based solutions during my time at UPM.
What is it like to work at the biofuels industry?
Working with the biofuels for sure has its perks – first, it is definitely inspiring to work in the industry that is providing solutions in our battle against the climate change. Also, the biofuels industry, and energy transition in general, is a challenging puzzle to be solved but at the same time provide endless opportunities for companies – and increasingly requires collaboration between different stakeholders and that is why I find working with the industry professionally stimulating.
How is the working environment at Biofuels?
I would say that we are rather small organization within the big company – it means that colleagues know each other very well and are always ready to support each other. I have also felt from day one that I have been trusted and been invited to many interesting projects.
Is there a way that you keep up your professional development?
I am quite a curious person by nature – this means that I tend to find something new to dig into and questions to ask. Sometimes maybe too many. I am extremely happy to have such helpful colleagues who are always ready to educate me in their field of expertise – we at UPM Biofuels are working on important, yet complex, topics and I find it important to share knowledge with each other in our own domains.