Sami Piittisjärvi, Electrical Engineering Team Leader

I work as an Electrical Engineering Team Leader at Konecranes’ Port Service Business Unit, meaning I lead a group whose main task is to supply a variety of expertise services for internal and external port equipment clients. Tasks such as these can include electrical engineering, crane inspections, site supervision, commissioning into service or product development. On top of the daily work with the team, my job is also to lead the team, i.e. I distribute tasks, projects, develop the team and its working practices, and I supervise project schedules and budgets.

A team leader role such as this particularly requires a combination of technical knowledge and social skills. Technical knowledge is needed for resolving various problems in projects or when deciding whether or not to provide entire projects or not. Social skills and determination are also required, so that people from different cultures and backgrounds can come and work together.

I am most motivated by three things at work: challenges, different people and good teamwork. Challenges make me enthusiastic, making me capable of doing things I didn’t know I was capable of. Different people are important, as technical knowledge can be learnt from a book or online, but if it’s real personal development you’re after, the best way is to work with people who view and consider the world in different ways. Lastly comes teamwork. Challenges are good, but if teamwork is missing nobody is really doing their best for the company.

In my opinion, the best thing about Konecranes is that it is global, meaning that in practice the possibilities are limitless. The subjects you have studied, or your first position on the company will definitely not determine the rest of your life. Instead, all doors are open.