The Reflector team has gained a new key member in Krista Pohjola, who has started as Reflector’s Chief People Officer. Her remit extends from the day-to-day of HR work to the development of culture and community, as well as leadership support. Krista will also join Reflector’s management team and participate in shaping the company’s future direction.

— To begin with, I want to get to know the people and hear what matters to them, what they want to hold onto, and what we could develop together.

Krista brings a long and diverse background from expert organizations. A lawyer by training, her career has evolved from legal roles into business, coaching, and HR, and eventually into the world of cybersecurity consulting. In recent years, she worked as a People Lead and served as a supervisor for a team of cybersecurity consultants.

Shared values brought Krista to Reflector

The humane and caring work culture stemming from Reflector’s values made an impression on Krista right from the start. This same value system is strongly reflected in her own leadership philosophy: caring for people and achieving business goals are not in conflict; rather, they go hand in hand.

— I am allergic to festive speeches claiming that people are a company’s most important asset if that isn’t reflected in everyday life. I sincerely believe that everything starts with people. A company cannot serve its customers responsibly, grow, or succeed unless its operations are built with a human-centric approach.

Employee well-being supports business

According to Krista, a human-centric and appreciative way of operating does not mean compromising on goals or being ‘soft and fluffy.’ In her view, well-being and employees who are enthusiastic about their work are prerequisites for high customer satisfaction and business success.

At Reflector, this carries special significance, as the company employs experienced experts who are deeply committed to their clients.

— We have truly experienced experts whom our clients value. They are highly committed to supporting the client’s goals and success, and that is precisely why it is important to remember a good everyday balance.

A Good Workplace Allows You to Be Yourself

While Krista believes work is an important part of life, it isn’t the whole of it. Therefore, for her, one of the most important hallmarks of a good workplace is that a person doesn’t have to leave their true self at the door when they come to work.

— A person always brings more than just their expertise to the workplace. We all have different life situations, strengths, and also our own imperfections.

For Krista, being human-centric means, above all, showing interest in and appreciation for others, and not assuming that everyone needs the same things.

— I believe a good working life includes making room for different kinds of people and life situations. Not everything in work life needs to be smoothed over.

For this very reason, Krista does not believe in a one-size-fits-all model for HR management.

— One person might need sparring to clarify their thoughts, while another needs smoothness in everyday practices.

According to Reflector’s new Chief People Officer, the most essential thing is to identify what each individual needs to do their job well and to develop a functional everyday work life from there.