Stepping outside her comfort zone has helped Sara advance her career

Sara Paananen thrives in fast-paced, international environments where there is little room to become siloed or bored.

“I have always had a strong drive to develop professionally. I deliberately seek out situations where the work is both challenging and enjoyable. That mindset has taken me from business school to a Danish listed company and, later, to several different roles at KPMG,” Sara says.

In KPMG’s Business Transformation team, Sara leads technology-enabled transformation projects, including system implementations and the development of technology strategies. Much of her work focuses on SAP.

“Companies and decision-makers often need support in situations where they do not have all the expertise or resources they need in-house. That means I have to be able to distinguish the technology developments that genuinely matter from the hype. Doing that requires constant curiosity and a commitment to developing my own expertise.”

"We Finns can sometimes have a tendency to avoid conflict. When I worked in an in-house role at a listed company in Denmark, my team included people from eight different nationalities. In my first meetings, I was horrified by how openly and loudly people disagreed with one another.

That was when I learned a phrase from my manager: ‘Always happy to pick up a good fight.’ The important word is good. Critical or difficult conversations are not something to fear. Sometimes you simply have to put an issue on the table and talk about it openly.

That may sound dramatic, but in practice it means paying close attention to how a project is progressing and asking what could be done better. When potential issues are raised early, they can often be resolved before they grow into bigger problems or escalate. It is a lesson that has stayed relevant throughout my career."

“When I was younger, I was afraid of failing at work. I felt a huge need to prove that I was capable and knew what I was doing. But failure is part of professional development, and learning to tolerate it is important. That is why it is worth deliberately taking on things that feel difficult, where you cannot be completely certain of the outcome.

When I joined KPMG, I wondered whether I was good enough. I knew I was capable in my field, but moving from an in-house role into consulting was a significant change. I soon realized that you learn by doing – and that the expertise you have already built over your career does not suddenly disappear.

Today, new challenges energize me. When the work starts to feel too familiar, I know it is time to look for something new. There should always be some room left to grow.”

“Rather than aiming for a particular title or employer, I have tried to work with managers who are right for me. A good manager helps you move forward professionally and stands behind you when situations become difficult. That kind of trust and support creates a safe environment in which you can also learn from failure.

Mentors have also played a very practical role in my career for the past ten years. When you are one small part of a large organization, it is valuable to have someone in your corner who has a broader perspective, more experience, or a wider network. At the moment, my mentor is a more senior colleague at KPMG.

One thing I particularly value about KPMG is the opportunity to shape your career around what interests you. You can explore a new role or take an international secondment. I started here in the ESG Advisory team and later moved into Business Transformation. I still do not know exactly where my path will ultimately lead. My plan is to stay curious and keep going until I find the edge of what I know.”