As Head of Business Intelligence, I’m focused on empowering market and patent analysis and the VTT’s data collection to achieve VTT’s purpose, and together with colleagues creating a data-driven culture.

VTT’s purpose is to bring together people, business, science and technology, to solve the world’s biggest challenges and to create sustainable growth, jobs and well-being. We create systemic and technological breakthroughs that bring fundamental transformation and renewal to industries and societies. We always aim for impact together with our customers. VTT is one of Europe’s leading research institutions.

I love working with my team members, all our colleagues as well as stakeholders to find solutions for a carbon-neutral and sustainable future. I’m inspired every day by my colleagues and the way they’re solving the biggest problems and changing the world. In collaboration, we can turn global challenges into sustainable growth businesses.  I’m member of strategy leadership team as well as extended leadership team. I’m also involved a several steering groups.

After working almost twenty years in Metsä Group (a Finnish forest industry group that operates in international markets) in business development, business intelligence, environmental affairs, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, I worked a few years in strategic intelligence and scenario consulting in a growth company. I have been at VTT since 2019. Until 2021, I was also chairman of the board the Strategic Management Society of Finland (SSJS) that which consisted of 12 strategy professionals. I also like to write blogs etc. As an example of this, note my book: Tarja Ilvonen & Sonja Martikainen (toim.) Itseään isommaksi. Advisory Board strategisen johtamisen tukena. Kauppakamari, 2022.

I am graduated at University of Tampere (Master of Administrative Science) and University of Jyväskylä (Master of Science in Economics and Business Administration), LUT University (Master of Business Administration, industry program) and Karelia University of Applied Sciences (Bachelor of natural resource).