The Leadership Mindset

In this episode of the Leadership Mindset podcast, host Paul Lanigan interviews Netta Huttunen, a sales leader from Helsinki, Finland. Netta shares her experiences, motivations, challenges, lessons, and insights on her journey to becoming a successful business leader.

Netta grew up in a town in eastern Finland known for its beautiful lakes and nature. Although she loved her hometown, Netta realised that the world had more to offer and decided to explore different directions in life. She left her hometown to pursue her college education and has since embarked on a fulfilling career.

During the conversation, Netta reflects on what she misses about her hometown, emphasising the peacefulness and connection with nature. She also addresses common stereotypes about Finnish culture, highlighting that while Finns may appear introverted or shy, they are warm and loyal friends once a connection is established.

Netta shares valuable lessons she learned along her journey to success. She discusses the importance of perseverance and the willingness to take risks. Netta believes that failure is not the end, but rather an opportunity for growth and learning. She also emphasises the significance of building strong relationships and fostering a supportive network.

Throughout the podcast, Netta provides insightful perspectives on leadership and sales. She emphasises the importance of empathy and effective communication in building trust with clients. Netta also highlights the value of continuous learning and staying adaptable in a rapidly changing business landscape.

This episode offers valuable insights and inspiration for aspiring business leaders and anyone interested in personal development and growth.

In this episode, our guest is Samppa Nykanen, who is based in Helsinki, Finland. Samppa shares his experiences growing up in a small town in central Finland, surrounded by the peaceful Finnish Lake District. He talks about his desire to move abroad and experience different cultures.

Samppa delves into the rich tapestry of his personal journey, painting a vivid picture of the challenges he faced and the lessons he learned along the way. He reflects on the transformative power of embracing new experiences and stepping outside of his comfort zone.

Moreover, Sampa sheds light on some often misunderstood aspects of Finnish culture, debunking the notion that Finnish people are inherently shy and reserved. He emphasizes the warmth and openness that lies beneath their initial reserve and discusses the ease of having open and meaningful conversations with Finns once you get to know them.

Additionally, Sampa shares his fondness for the traditions of his hometown, including the cherished ritual of sauna and the joy of swimming in the crystal-clear lakes that dot the Finnish landscape. He reminisces about the tranquility and serenity of Finland, contrasting it with the bustling energy of other countries he has visited.

All in all, Samppa's personal journey and insights offer a captivating glimpse into the unique aspects of Finnish culture and lifestyle. From his humble beginnings in a small town to his adventures in foreign lands, Samppa's story serves as an inspiration for aspiring leaders and a reminder of the beauty and diversity that exists within the global business community.

Kevin grew up in a working class family in the UK and went to an all boys grammar school. He struggled with his weight as a child which he feels made him tougher and more determined to prove people wrong.

Kevin started his career working in retail at Vodafone. He enjoyed the customer interactions and being able to compete on sales targets. He was ambitious and wanted to earn more, so he set his sights on becoming a corporate account manager.

Early inspirations for Kevin were two managers he had at Vodafone - Karen Halford who coached and enabled him, and Sarah Sanders who was his cheerleader. More recently Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool FC inspires him as a leader who creates an environment for people to excel.

Kevin is proud of the sales team he has built from just two people to what it is today. He gets joy from seeing others succeed rather than just his own achievements. The biggest challenge he faces currently is keeping his team motivated during tougher economic conditions.

He believes AI should be used to enable salespeople, not replace them. It can help summarize customer information and allow reps to focus more on the human side of selling.

If Kevin won the lottery, he would travel the world with his wife. Key things for him are spending time with family, music and great food.

Michael O'Hara grew up in rural Ireland, working in his family's pub. This gave him experience interacting with customers and taught him to treat people with respect.

He qualified as an accountant and worked in finance before joining an IT company called Data Solutions. He and his business partner grew Data Solutions over 25+ years, expanding recently into the UK market.

In 2020 during lockdown, Michael started thinking more about sustainability and climate change. He co-founded a non-profit called Techies Go Green to help businesses adopt more sustainable practices.

On a personal level, Michael is most proud of his three grown children. He enjoys spending time with them now as adults.

Looking ahead, Michael is excited about Techies Go Green's sustainability charter to provide businesses a roadmap to reach net zero emissions.

For young people starting careers, his advice is to work hard, become an expert in your field, and treat everyone with respect.

Michael climbed Mount Kilimanjaro about 12 years ago, which was an amazing experience but also showed him firsthand how the glaciers are melting due to climate change. This was an early motivator for his sustainability work.

He emphasizes the importance of measuring your carbon footprint so you can understand where emissions are coming from and create a reduction plan.

Some helpful sustainability actions for businesses include allowing remote work to reduce commuting, cutting back on business travel in favor of video calls, switching to renewable energy, and electrifying vehicles/machinery.

Michael enjoys regular exercise like going to the gym as well as evening walks to unwind. He believes routine is important when managing a busy workload.

If he could make any subject mandatory in schools, it would be sustainability education to change mindsets and culture around consumption, business practices, etc.

When asked how he'd like to be remembered, Michael said as a good family man who raised a happy family, a successful business leader who took care of employees and stakeholders, and someone who contributed to sustainability.

Paul is an international business leader capable of delivering rapid and sustained growth across multiple geographies, cultures and time zones. He believes that everyone wants to be a part of something bigger than themselves, and that, given the environment and leadership, they can surprise even themselves with what they can achieve. He has a strength in harnessing that potential while building the bridge between overall corporate goals and the market realities of multiple international markets.Specialties: SaaS. B2B Sales. Sales Leadership. Sales VP EMEA. CCO. CRO. Chief Commercial Officer. Chief Revenue Officer.Acquisition. Client retention. Relationship Management. AE. RM. KAM. International. Multi-cultural. Subscription services. Technology Sales. Partner management. International Business Development. SMB & Mid-Market. Enterprise Sales. Inside Sales.

Niamh is the Vice President of Global Sales Enablement at Mirakl. Mirakl is a global SaaS technology company that enables businesses to achieve profitable and sustainable eCommerce growth. Mirakl’s industry-leading suite includes solutions in marketplace, drop-ship, supplier catalog management and pay-out, supplier sourcing ecosystem, personalisation, and retail media to revolutionise the way businesses sell online.

Dan has over 25 years of experience working in the IT, AdTech, SaaS industry. He worked as an individual contributor for over ten years in the inside sales centres of Fortune 500 US multi-national organisations. Gateway Computers, Software Spectrum, Fujitsu Siemens Computers.

During the last 10 years he has SCALED the Inbound, Outbound SDR & Commercial Go-To-Market teams for Quantcast, Marin Software, Citrix Systems and Qualtrics. He has been involved in hiring over 152 SDR’s | 56 AE’s & 14 Sales Leaders. These teams combined have sourced $368M in net new SaaS pipeline of which $93.9M resulted in Annual Recurring Revenue. (ARR) for the companies above.

Ciara Crossan is a tech-savvy entrepreneur who has over 15 years of industry experience. She is the CEO and Founder of WeddingDates, a company she started in 2008 with the aim of revolutionising how weddings were planned and booked in Ireland. With a family background in hospitality and a degree in Business Information Systems from University College Cork, Crossan identified a gap in the market and pursued her passion at the age of 25​

Prior to WeddingDates, Crossan worked in recruitment, which honed her skills in persuasion and building rapport with people​. Her expertise has been instrumental in building a successful company that guides wedding venues across Ireland and the UK to elevate their business strategies​ WeddingDates has the mission of making planning and booking a wedding easier online by connecting newly engaged couples with venues and suppliers available on their preferred wedding date​

One of the greatest achievements of her journey with WeddingDates has been building a dedicated and loyal team of 10 employees. The company has shown resilience by surviving a recession and thriving through a global pandemic, marking its 15th year of business in 2023​1​. WeddingDates was also the winner of the Irish Social Media Awards in 2011 and is a graduate of Enterprise Ireland's High Potential Start-Up program. Crossan was shortlisted as “Outstanding Entrepreneur” in UK Women 1st SHINE Awards in 2013​

Outside of her professional life, Crossan is a proud single mother to twin boys. She skillfully balances the responsibilities of home life with her entrepreneurial ambitions. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, particularly outdoors when the weather is good​Notably, she had always wanted to own a hotel, which perhaps influenced her career path in the hospitality and wedding industry​

Crossan's passion lies in brainstorming new ideas with her team, meeting clients and industry friends at events, and providing clients with tools that make their daily tasks easier​. She also advocates for flexible working arrangements and encourages her staff to fit work around family or other external commitments​

Ciara Crossan is deeply committed to supporting local businesses, improving user experience in the hospitality industry, and empowering women in entrepreneurship

Dr. Declan Bogan is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the fields of innovation and sustainability. He has worked with over 160 organisations, offering his expertise at various levels from strategic planning to product portfolio development, human resources, customer service, and overall business proposition. His work extends from the bench to the boardroom, and he has collaborated with a diverse range of organizations, from small startups to multinational corporations.

In addition to his work with larger organizations, Dr. Bogan has also coached many startups, helping them to evolve their business propositions with a strong focus on sustainability and climate issues. His international experience spans across many different sectors, and he is known for his ability to work closely with senior leaders to effect meaningful change.

Dr. Bogan is the CEO and founder of innovate2zero, a company focused on innovation and sustainability. He is also the co-founder of sustHub, Ireland's premium sustainability training business. In these roles, he works with a variety of clients in areas such as sustainability, climate strategy, the circular economy, engagement, and strategic development.

In addition to his leadership roles at innovate2zero and sustHub, Dr. Bogan is a senior lead at the Future of Work Institute, a business under the Cpl umbrella. This role allows him to explore and influence how businesses can adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing economic and environmental landscape.

Despite his extensive professional achievements, Dr. Bogan is perhaps most recognized for his commitment to sustainability and his belief in the potential for innovative thinking to solve some of our most pressing environmental challenges​

Ciara Crossan is the CEO and Founder of WeddingDates, an Irish company that guides wedding venues across Ireland and the UK to elevate their business strategies. With over 15 years of industry experience, Crossan has used her expertise to build a successful company and to support local businesses. She started the company in 2008, at the age of 25, with a vision to revolutionise the way weddings were planned and booked in Ireland. She identified a gap in the market and decided to pursue her passion, drawing from her family's background in hotels and her BIS degree​

Crossan is known for her persuasion skills, which she developed during her time working in recruitment. This ability to build rapport quickly and easily with people has been a significant lesson she has carried over to her current role​. One of her greatest achievements with WeddingDates has been building a strong team of dedicated and loyal employees, and she is proud of the company's longevity, having survived a recession and thrived through a global pandemic​