When I began to study history, my goal was to become a researcher. I didn't even think about studying anything else as history had been my only choice since my early school years. After graduation, I was commissioned to write one history book and competed for scarce research grants. Postgrad schools did not exist back then. In order to make ends meet, I took on small commissions for various publishing houses.

When I finished my doctoral thesis, I discovered that there were no research posts open anywhere, and since my spouse and I were both working as temporary researchers, the corporate world started to seem all the more tempting. An opportunity to work in the publishing industry opened up after I finished my thesis, and I decided to go for it. This experiment turned into permanent work, and I have enjoyed the media business. My tasks have varied and the field has gone through changes, so it certainly hasn't been dull.

Originally I dealt mostly with book publishing. Then I learned a lot about digital publishing, and later, about publishing magazines. My current job as the CEO of Metsäkustannus Oy  serves as a nice continuum for my career, since we publish magazines, books and digital products. No area in the media industry or management overall seems alien to me anymore. I was never scared of accounts: they work as a sort of source material or tool for a company.

Outi Karemaa is currently the CEO of Metsäkustannus Oy (in Finnish)

Publications:

• Doctoral thesis Vihollisia, vainoojia, syöpäläisiä. Venäläisviha Suomessa 1917–1923 (’Enemies, tormentors, parasites. Russophobia in Finland, 1917–1923’) Bibliotheca Historica 30. ’Finnish Historical Society-Suomen historiallinen seura. 1998.
• Vanhan tieteenalan nuori korkeakoulu. Eläinlääketieteellinen korkeakoulu 1945–1995 (‘A young college for an old discipline. The college of veterinary science 1945–1995’)
• Various articles in scientific periodicals, conference publications and non-fiction on the theme of Russophobia. Numerous popular articles and author interviews for periodicals, for example on crime fiction and history. Regular book and film reviews for Ruumin kulttuuri magazine 1994-.