The KASVA-Karkelot and Back to Work event was held in Nivala on 26-27 August 2024 and provided a unique opportunity to peek behind the scenes of success and learn new things. Many insights emerged from the discussions on what makes business services and entrepreneurship successful. One key finding was the importance of networking and interaction - experience, sharing and collaboration create a platform for businesses and business services alike to work together.
Success does not happen alone but is built on collaboration and shared goals. This message was underlined in the speeches of both entrepreneurs and business service representatives. A clear vision and a clear direction for action are the key to achieving your goals. "Resources are often limited and you shouldn´t waste them," said Lauri Jouhki, Business Service Manager. According to
Mr. Jouhki, clear objectives, communicating them and allocating resources correctly are the keys to success.
The importance of cooperation between businesses, business service organisations and municipalities was highlighted by many speakers. Entrepreneur-driven decision-making and open interaction with municipal actors were seen as important factors that enable continuity and sustainable development. In this way, businesses and development organisations act as partners, not competitors. Decision-making is supported by data and reporting, which helps to target resources correctly.
Ville Kyllönen, CEO of Konesilta Oy, winner of the Think Big award, said: "In everyday business life, it is important to pull together and share responsibility and to try - and sometimes fail. According to Mr Kyllönen, looking in the mirror is an important action to take in times of failure. This simple but powerful message reminds us that self-reflection and recognizing our own mistakes are stronger weapons than shame or covering them up. Successful people learn from their mistakes and use them as a springboard to their next success.
Back to Work keynote speaker, Teemu Hostikka, told the success story of NTRNZ Media Oy, an Oulu-based company that is at the heart of the Eränkävijät TV series. The series has won several Golden Venla awards and sold its content to more than 100 countries. According to Mr Hostikka, the success is down to authenticity and the courage to do things their own way, without the burden of the past on how wildlife programmes "should" be made. Hostikka said that mistakes were made and resources were underestimated in the beginning, but the authentic content and original approach made the series a phenomenon.
Success requires the courage to make your own choices and take your own path, even if it involves risks. It is this courage that carries you through difficult times and steers you towards the new. Often, many people come our way to tell us right from wrong. The important thing is to make our own choice, and the possibilities are endless when we dare to believe in them. In the words of the evening's artist Mikko Harju - the sky is the limit.
NIHAK can attribute much of its success in the Municipal Barometer 2024 conducted by the Finnish Entrepreneurship Association to the NIHAK. The meeting gave a broad presentation of NIHAK's activities. The focus is on low thresholds for expert services - every entrepreneur gets the help they need, and the experts are either within or outside the organisation. In Nivala, no one is left alone, and resources are strongly allocated to support businesses. The guiding principle is to change the world with actions, not words.
In Nivala's companies and in NIHAK's activities, you sense a willingness to look boldly to the future and to take action - even at the risk of failure. Underlying this is a vision of the future built on beliefs, expectations, opinions and expectations.
Once again, KASVA project´s KASVA Karkelot and NIHAK provided an excellent framework and network for businesses and business service providers to come together. The issues, observations and reflections that emerged from the discussions and presentations helped to guide our own and joint activities.
KASVA Karkelot is a series of events bringing together business service providers, entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators from Northern Ostrobothnia, organised by the implementing organisations of the KASVA - Sustainable growth for micro and small enterprises through regional cooperation between RDI providers and business services. The main objective of the project is to promote sustainable growth, renewal and development of enterprises in the region, the capacity for change and the living and holding power of the regions. The project is co-funded by the EU and the coordinator or the project is University of Oulu. Other implementors are Centria University of Applied Sciences, Haapavesi-Siikalatva Region’s federation of municipalities, Northeast Finland development company Naturpolis, City of Liminka, Nivala-Haapajärvi Region NIHAK, North Ostrobothnia Entrepreneurs and ja Utajärvi Business park, each of which is leading its own sub-project.
Author: Mirva Grann, project manager, Naturpolis
Photo: Saraeleni
In Kerttu Saalasti Institute's blog we write about the topics of the Institute's research groups, micro entrepreneurship education and the Institute's general topics. The authors are researchers, experts and members of networks.
Our topics are: micro entrenepreneurship, future manufacturing technologies, regional excellence, micro entrepreneurship education