Sanja Hovilainen | Director MU Finland
What initially attracted me to MU nearly 18 years ago was a job advertisement from MU, seeking “Business Talents with People Focus”. This opportunity resonated with my passion for people and psychology, aligning perfectly with my international business degree and prior global experience. Today, those same reasons still motivate me; I have the privilege of meeting, assessing, and supporting a diverse range of individuals within an international company every day.
Over the years I have found several other reasons to remain at MU, including constant possibilities for learning from clients, colleagues and various projects. I appreciate the freedom to organise my schedule according to my personal circumstances, the ability to support clients and individuals alike, and the excellent mix of services backed by certified tools and processes.
MU is not perfect – no company is. Admittedly, I have contemplated opportunities beyond MU and even explored them twice over the past 18 years. Each time, I was approached by someone I knew with an interesting opportunity, yet I ultimately returned to MU, deepening my appreciation for our values and culture. This journey has transformed me from a young talent into a seasoned leadership advisory consultant, and I now proudly consider MU my professional home.
There is a special connection among those who work and have worked at MU. You can sense it during our gatherings and reunions with former colleagues, although it can be challenging to articulate to those who haven't experienced it. If I were to describe it, I would say that it boils down to the freedom to be your true self among colleagues. Our diverse mix of personalities is valued, fostering a psychologically safe atmosphere throughout the company.
Another great characteristic about MU, that I haven’t experienced in other companies I’ve worked for, is the freedom we provide, allowing individuals to shape their work experience while achieving their goals. This blend of autonomy and support fosters an entrepreneurial spirit within a collaborative and successful environment.
Reflecting on my career, a significant highlight that has left a lasting impression on me dates back to 2015. It started when we got a request from a client to perform a sales capability audit for their entire sales organisation of 400 people around the globe. The challenge wasn't the number of assessments; it was the timeline—they wanted it completed in just four weeks.
Though initially hesitant, I was encouraged by my leaders to take on the project as the project manager. We built a project team of 25 consultants and 8 coordinators and dove into the delivery, working all odd hours to accommodate the participants different time zones. My responsibilities included calibrating the assessments’ quality among the consultants while leveraging MU's tools and methodologies. Ultimately, I compiled the data, producing aggregated reports and recommendations for the client. After four weeks of intense collaboration and an extraordinary attitude and team effort from my colleagues, we successfully delivered our findings and secured a satisfied client for years to come.
Since that project, I have managed several other audits and capability reviews, but none have matched the scale and intensity of this experience. It really proved MU’s strength and boosted my confidence as a consultant. This project also guided my focus towards learning more about advisory projects – and today I can call myself a true professional in this area.
Great colleagues, an inclusive culture, freedom, and a transparent, results-based earnings model are the key elements that bring me the most value as an employee. However, MU is “Built to Last,” providing a strong foundation for everything we stand for. As an independent, foundation owned company, we don’t have to worry about being sold to a larger consultancy that could jeopardise the unique culture of MU, which I find reassuring. This independence allows MU to invest in research and development and remain focused on our mission—leadership effectiveness. Without this ownership structure and long-term strategy, we likely wouldn’t have our industry-leading success rate, which is a point of pride for every employee at MU!