Employee Spotlight: Mari Tarkiainen, HR Business Partner
If I had to briefly explain what we do at Nuuka, I would put it like this: at Nuuka, we help property owners and property managers make buildings smarter, more energy-efficient, and more sustainable. By combining AI with strong real estate expertise, we help our customers reduce energy consumption, lower emissions, and improve indoor conditions without compromising the comfort of building users. And we do all of this without CAPEX investments. For me, it is important to work for a company whose mission and product I genuinely believe in. Nuuka’s solution is something I can stand behind 100%.
Nuuka´s AI SolutionsThe culture positively surprised me
When I joined Nuuka as an HR Business Partner, I expected to find an innovative technology company with ambitious growth plans. And that is exactly what I found.
What I did not expect was how strong the culture at Nuuka already was.
I quickly noticed that the culture of communication at Nuuka is very open. Difficult conversations are not avoided, but they are handled constructively and with respect for one another. People feel comfortable asking questions, challenging ideas, and expressing different opinions.
To me, that is a sign of psychological safety. And psychological safety is not created by writing a few impressive sentences in a company’s values. It is created by how people treat each other every single day.
Another thing that immediately stood out was people’s willingness to help one another. If someone needs support, there is always someone ready to help. For an HR professional, that is probably the best possible starting point.
Building, not maintaining
One of the things I enjoy most about my work is the opportunity to build something new.
I did not step into a ready-made HR role. Instead, I have had the opportunity to shape the role, make it my own, and introduce some new processes along the way.
Whatever the process may be, I believe they should all follow one basic principle: I do not believe in creating processes just for the sake of having processes.
My thinking is actually quite simple. If a process makes people’s work more difficult, something is wrong with it. A good process should make everyday work easier, support people, and help the business grow. It should not create more bureaucracy.
Less bureaucracy. More action.
One of the highlights of my journey at Nuuka has been working closely with our CEO Petteri and CTO Mikko. We share a very similar way of working.
We do not spend weeks going around in circles. We discuss. We decide. We try. We learn. And then we move forward.
Of course, not every idea works. Nor should it. Growth does not happen without the courage to experiment. That is also why we believe that taking calculated risks is part of growth.
Responsibility and freedom go hand in hand
If I had to sum up my leadership philosophy in one sentence, it would be this: “Responsibility and freedom go hand in hand.”
I do not believe in micromanagement. If we hire skilled professionals, we also need to trust their expertise. I want people to have the freedom to do their work in the way they believe is best. But freedom does not mean there are no expectations. Quite the opposite.
We are an ambitious growth company, and everyone is expected to take ownership, show initiative, and deliver results. In other words, to have an entrepreneurial mindset.
It is not about working more. It is about working smarter. And I believe AI has an enormous and increasingly important role to play in that. Clear goals, simple processes, and mutual trust will take you much further than micromanagement ever will.
Connection does not happen by accident
Although we work in a flexible hybrid model, we make sure people also have opportunities to meet face-to-face. Our teams usually come together at the office once a week in the locations where we have an office. Those days are not simply about meetings. They are about conversations, exchanging ideas, solving problems, and getting things done together.
Once a month, the whole company comes together for our All Hands, where we share business updates, celebrate successes, and openly discuss where we are going and why.
To me, this is a good example of how freedom and transparency can go hand in hand. People have the freedom to work independently, while at the same time we make sure we stay connected as one team. This is exactly the kind of culture I want to help build.
Growth beyond borders
One of the most interesting aspects of my role has been the opportunity to contribute to Nuuka’s international growth.
Today, our technology optimizes buildings across Europe, including in Portugal, Spain, and most recently Austria.
It is great to see a Finnish technology company growing internationally while staying true to its values. And those values are not something we compromise on.
I have also had the opportunity to explore Nuuka’s potential expansion into the Greek market. It has allowed me to combine HR, business development, and international growth in a way I could not have imagined just a couple of years ago.
And that is exactly what makes this role so interesting. No two weeks are the same. One day I might be working on recruitment, the next on onboarding, employer branding, or internal communications, and another day I might be exploring new market opportunities.
I like it that way, because it means I am constantly learning something new and staying curious.
People make the difference
The longer I have been at Nuuka, the more convinced I have become of one thing: technology is important, but ultimately, people make the difference.
Culture is not built through value posters or impressive speeches. It is built through everyday actions, trust, and collaboration. It is built when people genuinely want to help each other succeed.
When those things are in place, results tend to follow.
That is why I believe we are building much more at Nuuka than smart and energy-efficient buildings. We are building a workplace where people have the opportunity to make an impact, take responsibility, and grow together.
And that is exactly why I enjoy working at Nuuka so much.
Interested in Nuuka?
If this story made you think that Nuuka might be the right place for you too, feel free to get in touch.
You can follow Nuuka on LinkedIn and check out our current job openings. And even if there is no suitable role available right now, let’s connect anyway. I am always happy to tell you more about what it is really like to work at Nuuka.
And if you would like to learn more about what we actually do with our customers, take a look at our solutions on Nuuka’s website. You will see how we help make buildings smarter, more energy-efficient, and more sustainable.
Talk soon!
Mari Tarkiainen, HR Business Partner
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