Susanna Kurkinen
Espoo
Summary
Accomplished leader with over 20 years of experience in driving innovation and business development within the renewable and circular products and renewable energy industries. Proven ability to lead and manage high-performing teams, develop and implement strategic initiatives, and deliver significant business growth. Expertise in strategy, business, and technology development, technology management, and investment analysis. Passionate about fostering collaboration and driving sustainable solutions. I strive to create and foster teams where every member's needs are honored, prioritizing the well-being of each member, and creating psychological safe working environment.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Manager, Technology Management
Neste
04.2024 - Current
- Lead Technology Management office and team of experienced Innovation and R&D program managers in Neste COO Function.
- Technology management competence development in complex matrix organization.
- Developing and mastering a corporate wide technology master plan including all technology roadmaps and aligning those with the company's strategy, business objectives, investment and other strategic timelines, and finding gaps and synergies between technology development initiatives and programs.
Manager & Head of Strategy and Business Advisory
Neste
01.2021 - 03.2024
- Lead, develop and grow Strategy and business advisory unit and its competences and take care of stakeholder and portfolio management.
- Various team leading tasks e.g recruiting new talents, onboarding, talent development, talent retaining and team member wellbeing.
- Annual performance plans, KPI & STI setting, long term strategic planning of Neste Engineering Solutions.
- Team focus on early phases of investment projects and strategy & business development to accelerate renewable and circular solutions, in areas including PtX, renewable hydrogen, renewable aviation fuels, renewable polymers & chemicals, algae, lignocellulosics, circular solutions and Porvoo transformation.
- Complete strategies for new initiatives, market analysis, techno-economic analysis, competitor and competitive landscape analysis, building cost competitiveness tools, regulation analysis, IP strategies, licensing and business models and strategies, sustainability analysis, and value chain analysis, and due diligence studies on technology developers.
Manager, Process Concepts & Senior Consultant
Neste
09.2017 - 12.2021
- Led team and managed projects for process concepts.
- Contributed to the development of Neste's investment management process and governance framework.
- Strategic, business and technology development projects within Neste and with its strategic customers.
Team Leader, Senior Consultant, Consultant, Analyst
Pöyry Management Consulting
01.2004 - 09.2017
- Executed strategy projects including development, due diligence studies, market analysis, competitor analysis, alongside technical evaluations.
- Worked primarily with companies' executive boards and top management, but also with R&D management of medium- and large-sized international companies, large EU (BioChem, BioConSept), and national research projects (e.g. Fubio Cellulose).
- Sales and business development work.
- Leading two teams of analysts and consultants (Packaging and Operational Excellence).
R&D Engineer, Process Research
Metso Paper
03.2001 - 01.2004
- Paper finishing technologies process development.
- Customer projects and troubleshooting assignments in international paper and board mills.
- Leading internal R&D and process development projects.
- Master’s thesis instructor (awarded the best thesis of the year)
- Several inventions and a patent related to cartonboard calendering.
Education
M. Sc. (Tech.) - Forest Products Chemistry, Industrial Management
Helsinki University of Technology
01.2002
High School -
High School of Olari
Espoo01.1996
Skills
- Leadership
- Change management
- Strategy development
- Analytical thinking
- Business development
- Technology management
- Stakeholder management
- Complex Problem-solving
Other training & courses
- Effective remote meetings, 2020
- Leading virtual teams, 2020
- Coaching for managers: Leading in new uncertain situations, 2020
- Employment matters and law, 2020
- NES Leadership trainings, 2019-2020
- Pöyry’s leadership program, 2016-2017
- Winning complex sales, 2016
- Workshop moderation, Grape people, 2015
- Leadership in a nutshell, Part 1, Pekka Järvinen, 2015
- Leadership in a nutshell, Part 2, Pöyry, 2015
- Story line and writing, Dr. Martin Stellmacher, 2015
- Foundations of Leadership, Global integration, 2014
Articles and patents
- Analysis of market demand, bio-Fibre Magazine, 11/2014
- New products: The market potential for cationic cellulose chemicals, 06/2012
- Bio-based chemicals are changing the world, Kemia Kemi, 03/2012
- Competition gets tougher, Kemia Kemi, 06/2005
- Patent, DE102005031688 A1
Recent training
- Leading change, Aalto EE, 2023
- Financial management, Aalto EE, 2023
- Strategic decision making, Aalto EE, 2022
Languages
Finnish
First Language
English
Proficient (C2)
C2
French
Intermediate (B1)
B1
Swedish
Elementary (A2)
A2
Affiliations
- Voluntary work in Finnish Figure Skating associations, like board member and leading competition arrangements.
Timeline
Manager, Technology Management
Neste
04.2024 - Current
Manager & Head of Strategy and Business Advisory
Neste
01.2021 - 03.2024
Manager, Process Concepts & Senior Consultant
Neste
09.2017 - 12.2021
Team Leader, Senior Consultant, Consultant, Analyst
Pöyry Management Consulting
01.2004 - 09.2017
R&D Engineer, Process Research
Metso Paper
03.2001 - 01.2004
M. Sc. (Tech.) - Forest Products Chemistry, Industrial Management
Helsinki University of Technology
High School -
High School of Olari
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