Hi, my name is Lotta and since my childhood, I have always shown interest in the creative side. During my high school years, art was the subject that resonated with me the most. However, as I have come to notice, life is not always a linear path, and I ended up graduating from business school, specializing in marketing, even earning a master’s degree in the field. This led to a career in the finance business, where I took roles in marketing, sales, and business and services development.
Taking the leap: it’s never too late to change direction
After 10 years of pursuing a career in business, I took the time to question myself and do some soul-searching. “Is this what I really want to do? Is this my story?” Eventually, I started studying in the International Design Business Management program (IDBM) and through it, I found myself immersed in the subject of Service Design, a field that was becoming a hot topic at the time, but most importantly, answered a lot of the questions I had while working in business management, such as how to solve problems in product and service development by thinking outside the box and adapting a creative and agile mindset.
I felt very connected to the mission of Service Design, which was all about customer-centricity and thoughtfully building services through extensive practice of researching, testing, and prototyping, to create as much value to the customer and end-users, as possible.
I felt very connected to the mission of Service Design, which was all about customer-centricity and thoughtfully building services through extensive practice of researching, testing, and prototyping, to create as much value to the customer and end-users, as possible. Remembering the obstacles I faced before, and how a lot of times businesses would spend a considerable amount of funds and resources on products and services that the customers wouldn’t use in the end, it really made me think. Everything clicked then, and this was the kick-start to a full change, from working in the finance industry to working in Service Design within creative agencies.
Diving deeper into self-discovery
Hardly any journeys in life are linear.
Maternity leave allowed me to go even further in my self-discovery journey. During the leave I wondered about the world of entrepreneurship and freelancing. First, I went on to work as an independent consultant. Then, I received an offer from a tech company, dividing my time between entrepreneurship and being a tech employee. Soon I was leading the tech company’s design team of digital and service designers. As hardly any journeys in life are linear, after a while I went back to working for a creative agency.
My KONE journey: from in-house designer to leading a global team
Being an in-house designer was already something that I had thought about and planned for, so after the pandemic hit, I decided to take the leap. The stable environment and stronger connection to customers were the selling points to finally shift to an in-house role and accept an offer from KONE in 2020 as a team lead for Service Design. For me, KONE has always been the number one employer in Finland, due to the super strong brand, the successful servitization of a manufacturing company, and the global design team with several design disciplines represented. Therefore, I was super excited to join the company.
For me, KONE has always been the number one employer in Finland, due to the super strong brand, the successful transformation of a manufacturing company into a service-oriented business, and the global design team with several design disciplines represented.
In 2022 I became the head of Service and Digital Design, leading a global team of over 15 designers. Service and Digital Design domain’s purpose is to become a leader in customer culture by creating future services and appealing to the next-generation digital solutions, aligned with KONE strategy and brand. As head of Service and Digital Design, I lead and manage a team of service and digital designers, with my key responsibilities including mentoring, overseeing design projects, hiring, managing resources as well as collaborating with stakeholders from various departments and vendors. Encouraging professional growth and a healthy work life balance within the team is also a key part of my role.
KONE's global business, with its diverse range of products and services, provides a fruitful environment for a designer.
Over the years at KONE, I have had the chance to work on a variety of interesting projects and make meaningful progress with my team in several areas, such as operations, culture, and collaboration. KONE's global business, with its diverse range of products and services, provides a fruitful environment for a designer. You can engage in service design, digital product design, and physical product design, all within a global context. It truly makes KONE a unique place to work.
Although I love the work and projects at KONE, what matters most to me is the people. One day, when I look back, I think I will best remember the people I’ve encountered. Through my work, I've had the opportunity to meet and bond with fellow designers around the world. No matter where you travel, you always feel a connection with other designers. We all share a common passion for similar topics, which creates a unique sense of camaraderie.
What matters most to me is the people.
Saying yes to change and new opportunities
I often reflect on what has brought me to where I am today. I believe my openness to new opportunities has been vital. Saying yes has been my go-to approach, which has helped me build an ever-growing network, a key factor in my journey so far. Looking back on my career, the most significant lesson I've learned is the importance of having the courage to embrace change and explore new paths. In my experience, it's crucial to continuously seek out new opportunities and learn along the way. My advice to others is to stay curious, never settle, and always look ahead, planning your next steps.
In my experience, it's crucial to continuously seek out new opportunities and learn along the way.
If you are looking for your next growth opportunity, visit our KONE career page, we want to hear from you!