In the autumn of 1977 my tutor took me to the dean’s Welcome to the University event. I was shocked to hear that 87 per cent of us humanities students would end up as teachers, 3 per cent in other jobs and 10 per cent as housewives. So it was wise to get a teaching qualification as back up. I nevertheless set myself the goal of getting some other work.

I had applied to study the thing I liked – in other words, Finnish Language and Literature. At the university I came to my senses and also studied subjects that I thought would be useful in working life, and to balance that all out I also took courses I enjoyed. I took out the maximum student loan and did teacher training. I have never regretted my years at the university, and I still dislike the thought of students having to graduate within the minimum time. I think it takes time to grow as a person.

Nevertheless, the moment of truth eventually came. I had to find a job: I temped as a language planner, teacher, and research assistant. Then one day after my Christmas holiday I returned home and there was a telegram on the floor, asking me to contact Nokia’s Communications Manager. There were no mobile phones back in 1985. They wanted to invite me to a job interview at the company, for which had done some freelance language work thanks to someone I knew.

That is how I became a communications officer at the beginning of 1986. And I’ve been on that track for nearly 30 years now.