In a world that often celebrates speed, badges, and “leveling up” as quickly as possible, I’m choosing something different: depth over decoration.
As a twin mom entrepreneur and founder of FINN-X – customer experiences with a Finnish heart – I don’t have endless time or energy. Every course, project, and commitment has to matter. That’s exactly why, right now, I’m not chasing the next new thing. I’m going back to the foundations of Lean and strengthening the base under everything I’ve already built.
My Lean journey so far
In June 2025, I graduated from Turku University of Applied Sciences with a Master of Culture and Arts in Creative Design Management. One of the unexpected gifts of becoming an alum has been access to free Open University studies for a period of time.
My Lean journey hasn’t been a straight line; it’s been a series of layers.
I started with a Lean Basics course. From there, I continued to an Introduction to Lean course, which was built on the ASQ Body of Knowledge and included a Lean-related development project. Completing that work led to my Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certificate from Tampere University of Applied Sciences.
I then took this further in my master’s thesis, Creatively Lean, where I examined how Lean Six Sigma thinking could live inside a creative customer experience company like FINN-X.
Now, I’m beginning a Principles of Lean course—not to collect another badge, but to strengthen the foundation underneath everything I’ve already learned. This course is my way of continuing the journey by returning to the basics with new eyes and asking, “What else can I understand more deeply?”
Going down, not back
So why go “back” to basics?
Because I don’t see it as going back. I see it as going down – deeper into the foundations.
Lean often uses the image of a house: a strong foundation, clear pillars, a roof that holds it all together. For me, that metaphor isn’t just theoretical. As someone building both a business and a life across countries and cultures, I’ve learned that everything good starts with a solid base. Whether it’s raising twins, designing customer journeys, or applying Lean principles, a shaky foundation will make the whole structure wobble.
I’m not in a hurry to collect the next belt color. I want to truly understand what Lean stands on:
- What does value mean from the customer’s perspective in real life, not just in a slide deck?
- How do we see and remove waste without removing the human, creative soul of the work?
- How can Lean thinking support – not suffocate – creativity in a company like FINN-X?
My thesis explored these questions in theory. This Principles of Lean course is my way of returning to the house’s foundations and checking every brick: the principles, the language, the mindset. I want to be able to explain Lean in a way that feels human, practical, and aligned with the kind of customer experiences I believe in.
Building a house that can carry more
Over the coming weeks and months, I’ll be sharing brief reflections on how Lean thinking and creative customer experience work can coexist under the same roof. My hope is to build a foundation strong enough to support both – structure and imagination, discipline and play, data and human feeling.
Whether we’re talking about a Lean house, a family home, or a company like FINN-X, the same truth applies: a good foundation doesn’t just keep things standing. It makes it possible for people inside to feel safe enough to grow, experiment, and create something better.
That’s why I’m going back to the principles. Not to slow down for the sake of it, but to make sure that as I—and FINN-X—move forward, we’re building on ground that can truly carry the weight of everything still to come.