Laura helps students and companies connect — “My goal is to support students in developing career skills and self-efficacy”
How can the Innovation Centre team support researchers and students at the University of Oulu? We offer a wide range of expertise, from commercializing research results to developing business ideas and career collaboration! To make our experts more accessible to you, we’re introducing them in this blog series.
This time, we’re featuring the newest member of our team, Laura Määttä, our expert in work-life collaboration!
Tell us a bit about yourself!
I have a Master's degree in Education and have also studied Finnish language and literature. I do theatre as a hobby, which has helped me become more confident and expressive — even in front of a classroom. Most recently, I worked as an event and project coordinator for the student union at Oulu University of Applied Sciences. Over the past three years, I helped organize over a hundred different events, including Hurmos, which is actually Finland’s largest academic year opening event!
My personality type is INFP, just like Frodo Baggins! I really relate to Frodo as an empathetic idealist, setting off on a journey to Mordor despite uncertainty, because the cause matters.
What do you do for work?
As an expert in work-life collaboration at the Innovation Centre, I have two main areas of responsibility. First, I coordinate and develop working life collaboration at university courses. Second, I organize career events on campus.
This is a new role at the Innovation Centre, and it will continue to evolve based on the needs of students and faculties.
What’s the best part of your job?
The team and their expertise! It’s inspiring to see how knowledgeable my colleagues are in their own fields as well as when working toward shared goals.
I also find my work genuinely interesting, as I get to support students and their well-being. My goal is to help students develop both career skills and self-efficacy!
What advice would you give a student looking for a job?
Reflect on your personal strengths beyond your technical skills! What makes you you? What kind of job would suit you? How could you grow and develop?
I also recommend taking the VIA Institute’s strengths test to identify your top 3–5 character strengths. It’s a great tool for building self-awareness.
And don’t hesitate to take opportunities to network already during your studies. Also, remember to be kind to yourself — you don’t need to succeed in everything right away or know exactly what you want to be “when you grow up.” You can take your time and build a career path that suits you.
What’s your favorite innovation?
The printing press, hands down! It gave rise to universities and has hugely advanced the spread of information and equal access to knowledge.
I think it’s important that language and the ability to express oneself are widely accessible. Let’s also cherish the richness of the Finnish language!
Tell us something about yourself that people might not know!
My first long-term job was at a spa hotel owned by Paavo Väyrynen, where I worked as a receptionist, bartender, kitchen assistant, wine bottler, taste tester — basically whatever was needed. One highlight was when President Tarja Halonen visited the hotel, and I got to heat the sauna for her!
What do you do in your free time?
I act, crochet, and go for walks. I’m also passionate about visual arts and reading — I’m a heavy user of both museum and library cards! Right now, I’m performing in a children’s play written by a friend and directed by another. I was also part of an improvisational theatre group for a long time.
When can people reach out to you?
Feel free to contact me about anything related to working life! I’m especially looking for ideas on how to better integrate career collaboration into studies. Have you encountered a particularly good practice in a course or elsewhere? Would you like a specific organization to visit campus? Or do you have an entirely new idea?
