Heini Hanhisalo works as HR Manager at Yara Suomi Oy’s Kokkola site. Originally from Kokkola, Heini studied Business Administration at Centria University of Applied Sciences and later earned a Master of Science in Economics from the University of Vaasa, majoring in Human Resource Management. She has been working in HR roles at Yara since January 2016. For Heini, the most important things about her work are meaningful tasks and the people she gets to work with.
Where are you from?
I’m from Kokkola.
What is your educational background?
I studied Business Administration at Centria University of Applied Sciences, focusing on management, marketing and entrepreneurship. I later continued my studies at the University of Vaasa, where I graduated with a Master of Science in Economics, majoring in Human Resource Management.
What did you do before your current role?
I have worked at OP Kokkola (Kokkolan Osuuspankki) across several different locations, as well as at Best-Hall Oy. I also spent the summer of 2008 working in the KIP area at OMG Kokkola Chemicals.
Where do you work and what is your role?
I work as HR Manager at Yara Suomi Oy’s Kokkola site. I have been working in HR roles at Yara since January 2016.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
The people, the variety of tasks, and the challenging yet meaningful nature of the work.
Do you face particular challenges in your role – and how do you address them?
In my role, I sometimes encounter demanding situations, particularly when dealing with matters related to people’s personal circumstances, the work community, or wellbeing. I see these as an essential part of my work, though. Open dialogue and collaboration help us find solutions and move things forward. I also have a wonderful team and great colleagues both in Kokkola and at Yara’s other sites in Finland. Support is always available.
What motivates you at work?
Every working day is different, and I’m constantly learning something new. Connecting with people matters a lot to me. It’s especially rewarding to see that people enjoy being at work and that they’re well taken care of. In those moments, you get the feeling that we’ve succeeded in many ways.
How do you see the KIP area’s significance for your career?
The KIP area is important to my career and offers diverse opportunities to develop in my own field. Its clear strength is the power of networking and collaboration, of which the KIP working groups are a great example.
Tell us something about your free time and hobbies.
My family includes a 6-year-old daughter, my partner, and two bonus children. Life is quite busy, as all the kids play football and two of them also do dancing. We have a cottage in Kaustinen where we love to spend time and relax in nature. In the midst of these hectic years, I try to keep up my own hobbies too, such as going to the gym and running. I’ve also recently gotten into knitting – thanks to my colleagues!
Is there a passion or interest of yours that few people know about?
Harry Potter is an absolute favourite of mine. I’ve read the books and watched the films more times than I can count. I’ve had the chance to visit both the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando and the studio tour in London. When I need to unwind on a run or at the gym, I often listen to the Harry Potter audiobooks. As an open person, though, this particular interest has probably not stayed a secret to many. 😃
“This might surprise you about me…”
I have an identical twin sister, who also works in the KIP area. 😉
Yara is a global producer of fertilizers, industrial chemicals, and environmental solutions. In Finland, in addition to the plant in Kokkola, Yara has production facilities in Siilinjärvi and Uusikaupunki, as well as a recycling-based fertilizer plant in Nokia. As part of the Finnish food production chain, we have been producing fertilizers for over 100 years.
