Mikaela Joensuu, Business Development Analyst

“I have a degree in Economics, and I started my career through internships at the Ministry of Finance, the Secretariat of the Security Committee under the Ministry of Defence, and by contributing to strategy work at Business Finland. My interest in emerging economies began during a year spent in Lebanon as a peacekeeper in 2022, where I worked on civil–military cooperation and managed projects with local communities funded by Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The experience was far more rewarding than I expected, and it made me realise how much I wanted to continue working with these themes. Much earlier than I ever imagined, I found myself at Finnfund in 2025, building my career around exactly the kinds of questions that inspired me in Lebanon.

My journey at Finnfund began as a Team Coordinator in the Investment function, where I supported the team throughout the entire investment process. In addition to coordinating day‑to‑day activities, I reported on our investment pipeline and new investment decisions, providing the Finnfund Management Team and the Board with insights on how these aligned with our strategic targets. The role enabled me to work closely with nearly every team at Finnfund, giving me a broad understanding of our processes. I’ve also helped strengthen our workflows by creating clearer structures across key processes, including setting up the operating framework for the new Digital Access Impact Fund I (DAIF I) Investment Committee.

Advancing Finnfund’s collaboration with Finnish companies

In my new role as a Business Development Analyst, I will focus on strengthening Finnfund’s collaboration with Finnish companies and the wider Team Finland network. Our aim is to make our collaboration with Finnish companies more systematic, proactive and overall easier to approach. Ultimately, the objective is to better connect Finnish expertise with opportunities in emerging markets, enabling promising companies to understand how and when Finnfund can be a relevant partner.

I’m excited to deepen my understanding of the diverse landscape of Finnish companies and to learn how different businesses approach opportunities in emerging markets. Strengthening this work is a key aim for the coming year and a central reason I joined the team.

Additionally, I will help strengthen internal awareness and use of EU guarantee instruments by supporting teams in navigating their practical requirements. I’m excited about the combination of strategic thinking and hands‑on problem‑solving the role offers, especially the opportunity to shape how we identify opportunities and build partnerships that broaden our impact.

I have really enjoyed my time at Finnfund, particularly the collaborative atmosphere. What surprised me most early on was how strong the small‑firm feel remained despite the organisation’s rapid growth. On my first days, colleagues would stop by just to say hello, and I felt welcome right away. That atmosphere has lasted: people naturally connect over lunch and coffee, and collaboration feels easy. Even in a hybrid setup, I still choose the office most days, which says a lot about our culture.”