Networks can give you new ideas and inspiration for work and peer support, and help you land a new job.
Text Joanna Sinclair Photo Jaakko Kahilaniemi Mothers in Business, The Women Entrepreneurs of Finland, Aalto Women in Business—there is no shortage of women’s networks focusing on professional success. Professor MarjoRiitta Diehl from Aalto University’s Department of Management Studies, and the founder of the Driven Woman network, entrepreneur Miisa Mink would like to see networking become even more common. ‘Finnish women are used to getting things done without complaining. Up here in the North you need to be brave and persistently push through—even if you are knee-deep in snow,’ Mink says. ‘Sure, you need persistence, but women also need room for creativity and peer support. Networks that have a strong feminine energy,’ Mink underlines. Women’s organisations have a long history in Finland. The umbrella organisation for women’s networks that promote gender equality—The National Council of Women of Fin-
land—was founded in 1911. It includes 71 organisations and about 400 000 members. Some of its member organisations are traditional women’s networks like the Martha Organisation, but it also has many women’s networks that are focused on work life. ‘Women’s networks concentrating on work life issues are being founded all the time. Women have been particularly good at networking online and during the corona pandemic this trend has strengthened even more,’ Diehl points out.
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MIISA MINK Mink (M.Sc. econ) has built an international career in design and branding. She is the founder of the Driven Woman network. Mink resides in London but still has strong influence in Finland. The people’s movement 'Saimaa without mines' founded by Mink has over 29 000 participants.
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