WCS People Profile & EY’s Eva Tuominen: Dedication and Passion in People Consulting
Meet Eva Tuominen, the dedicated and inspiring Partner at EY. Her path to leading the People Consulting area at EY Finland showcases determination and the significant impact of maintaining an open mind and embracing opportunities. Her success story is an example of the importance of resilience, adaptability, and seizing every opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.
Early beginnings
Eva's journey began in the small town of Turku in Southwest Finland, where she spent her formative years. After completing high school, she enrolled at the Turku School of Economics, exploring various subjects that interested her at the time. Her academic pursuits included economic geography, marketing and European commercial law.
During her university years, Eva made a pivotal decision to join the student organization AIESEC, a global platform for young people to explore and develop their leadership potential. She fondly recalls this choice as one of the most significant of her university experience, and even her career as it played a crucial role in shaping her professional path.
"During my time at AIESEC, I had the opportunity to travel and network with a diverse group of people. It was incredibly enjoyable, and I gained invaluable experiences. In hindsight, I believe that my involvement with AIESEC had a far greater impact on shaping my career than the courses I happened to choose at university," she reflected.
Through a friend and various projects at AIESEC, Eva was introduced to the owner of a small consulting company called BPS. As she approached graduation, the owner offered her a position as a junior consultant. Reflecting on this period, Eva recalls that while she had not initially planned a career in SAP consulting, her connections and open-minded approach ultimately shaped the first decade of her professional journey.
“I was never someone who knew exactly what they wanted to do in the future, and perhaps that was a good thing. I embraced various opportunities and was always open to trying new things. Most of the projects I took on were entirely new to me, so I had to figure everything out from scratch.”
Shaping Career Paths
After beginning her career at BPS, Eva transitioned to NorthgateArinso, a global HR services and software company, where she became the company’s first employee in Finland. During her first year, she frequently travelled to London to collaborate with her team on various projects. Her supervisor at the time, Marjukka Mäki-Hokkonen, had a profound impact on Eva’s career and development.
"Marjukka took a significant risk by hiring me as the first employee in Finland, and together with a small team we started building NGA Finland. She entrusted me with considerable responsibility and demonstrated that it is possible to be a successful career woman while having a family," Eva explained.
After over 10 years of SAP consulting, significant development occurred: SAP acquired SuccessFactors and announced plans to phase out the on-premise SAP HR system. Realizing the implications of this change, Eva knew it was time to make a strategic move in her career.
"At that point, I had been serving as a Nordic consulting lead and program manager for some time. It became evident that I needed to pivot my career, as my SAP HR skills were likely to become obsolete. This realization pushed me to leap into the unknown," she recalled.
Reflecting on her career pivot, Eva acknowledges that her decision was driven more by passion than pragmatism.
“In hindsight, it might have been wiser to pivot to another area within the technology industry rather than people consulting. However, my passion clearly lay in organizational and HR development rather than system implementations.”
Stepping into Corporate Leadership
In her free time, Eva enjoys staying active, with a special passion for horse riding.
In the spring of 2019, Eva got the opportunity to join the cybersecurity company F-Secure as the Executive Vice President of People Operations and Culture. Transitioning from HR consulting to becoming the HR director of a publicly listed company was initially a bit daunting, but it proved to be incredibly valuable.
“I was initially nervous, having only worked on the consulting side before transitioning to the corporate environment. However, my attitude was that if an opportunity like this opened up, I had to seize it. The learning curve was extremely steep, but I had an amazing team beside me that helped me develop and flourish in the role, as well as a very supportive CEO, Samu Konttinen, who patiently helped me grow in the role,” Eva explained.
Three years ago, EY sought a new Partner to help grow their people consulting practice, previously known as workforce advisory. They approached Eva, and with the timing being just right, she ultimately accepted the position. She is now a Partner at EY Finland, responsible for leading the people consulting area.
"At EY, our strategy is built around people, technology and innovation. The cornerstones of our strategy are technology at speed, innovation at scale, and putting humans at the center. Human-centricity is crucial for us in consulting projects,” Eva stated.
“We work with our clients in many different types of transformations, and our team is typically responsible for human centric change management, designing and implementing new organizational models, measuring and shaping leadership and culture or developing employee experience," she continued.
Guiding Principles and Mentorship
Eva’s enthusiasm for her job and her team shines through in conversation. As a former girl scout, she leads her team with principles that have been ingrained since those early days.
"I was an active girl scout throughout my childhood, and I believe that experience laid the foundation for my leadership style. I wouldn’t ask my team to do anything I wouldn’t do myself, and I strive to lead by example,” she shared.
“The key, however, is that I have an amazing team, filled with individuals who are, in many ways, more qualified than I am. They are truly remarkable people," Eva continued.
As a leader, Eva acknowledges that work can often be challenging, sometimes due to factors beyond one's control. However, she believes it is vital to have fun at work and strives to create an environment that enables this for her team.
“There are always difficult projects, but I believe that times of economic downturns are the hardest because they impact the entire team. During tough times, I strive to create an atmosphere where we can still have fun. We might have to skip fancy team events for a while, but we should still do smaller things to take care of each other.”
Having had amazing mentors throughout her career, Eva has found great joy in mentoring young people.
"You never forget what it feels like to be young. However, you can become unaware of new trends and different dynamics within the organization as you get older and progress in your career," Eva explained.
"That's why mentoring and engaging with younger people is so valuable. It helps me understand what the younger generation expects from a leader and how they view the organization," she continued.
Reflections and Guidance
When asked what advice she would give her younger self, considering her career journey, Eva reflects on the importance of maintaining an open mind.
"I used to be a big worrier, and I would tell my younger self to remember that things tend to work out. It's crucial to keep an open mind and to bravely step outside your comfort zone when given a chance. Doing so made a significant difference in my career."
Finally, Eva has a last piece of advice to offer to young professionals aspiring to similar roles as her.
“This is the time for women and different minorities to advance into leadership positions, as pretty much all organizations are looking for more diverse leaders. So, don't worry too much about choosing between a career and a family or other interests. You can balance a successful career with a family. I have two kids, and I never gave up my hobbies like horse riding and other sports, despite my career focus. Have perseverance, and even when setbacks occur, remain resilient, curious, and positive. Take care of your physical and mental wellbeing, and keep reaching for your goals, even if they sometimes change!”
