Our alum Maria Kultanen: Master of Science (Tech.) in Bioengineering pursues a diverse and meaningful international career
Now she works in developing business and partnerships in a Danish-based pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. Her goal is to have a diverse and international career in meaningful matters.
After graduation, Kultanen worked for a few years in a health technology start-up in product development and the establishment of international laboratories. She ended up at that start-up when her LinkedIn profile attracted the attention of a company representative.
In 2021, she decided to jump from a start-up with less than 100 employees to a global pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk with over 60.000 employees to make obesity treatment more accessible. Again, the job was contacted based on her interesting LinkedIn profile.
“Although I have changed jobs and industries, the goal of my work has remained largely the same. The mission continues to enable better prevention and treatment of chronic diseases,” Kultanen says.
Although I have changed jobs and industries, the goal of my work has remained largely the same. The mission continues to enable better prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.
Maria Kultanen, Business Development Manager, Novo Nordisk Farma
She is one of the few employees with a Master of Science degree in Technology at Novo Nordisk Finland. However, a different background from the mainstream, combined with enthusiasm for working on chronic diseases, has proven to be an excellent combination. There is joy in a different way of thinking, especially when the goal is to develop partnerships and treatment structures in new therapeutic areas.
Minor subjects provide several career possibilities
Kultanen applied to study at the University of Technology because of her interest in environmental issues and biology. Both were realised in bioengineering, and it provided not only theoretical understanding of phenomena but also practical application opportunities.
At the end of her studies, Kultanen focused on industrial bioengineering, and chose industrial economics and safety engineering as her minor subjects after a long period of reflection and even a short period of a little crisis.
“My goal was to get a comprehensive capacity from the minors to facilitate career chances in both technology and business, and with these minors it turned out well. But my choices at the time were undeniably also influenced by practical reasons. During the final years of my studies, I was the Chair of the Student Union Board, and it was time-wise to exclude e.g. subjects that required intensive laboratory work,” Kultanen mentions.
Technology studies provide tools for both generalists and specialists
When the studies began in 2012, the economic recession was just beginning, which contributed to the gloomy mood of the freshers at the time. For many, it seemed difficult to see how to make a profession out of a major that was interesting in itself. Many people who ended up working in their own field now work in research groups, for example, or at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.
I would recommend everyone to consider whether they feel more like a generalist or a specialist. Whether you want to delve deeply into individual issues or whether you are interested in entities and wider connections. Studies in the technical field provide good preparation for either.
Maria Kultanen, Business Development Manager, Novo Nordisk Farma
“In the field of bioengineering, however, it is not quite clear what is ultimately one’s job in the field. After all, almost all work is applied anyway. I would recommend everyone to consider whether they feel more like a generalist or a specialist. Whether you want to delve deeply into individual issues or whether you are interested in entities and wider connections. Studies in the technical field provide good preparation for either,” Kultanen notes.
There is more to life than study and work
Kultanen remembers her student days with great warmth. Although some interesting things were left undone due to lack of time, the work done in the student union, guild, and associations taught, among other things, taking responsibility, cooperation skills, and strategic thinking. However, she does not support opportunistic networking.
“Rather, I believe that new opportunities will open up for people who will be remembered as helpful, approachable, and fair. For me, student days were a unique opportunity to get to know a huge number of people, some of whom may be future colleagues or even bosses,” Kultanen says.
Rather, I believe that new opportunities will open up for people who will be remembered as helpful, approachable, and fair. For me, student days were a unique opportunity to get to know a huge number of people, some of whom may be future colleagues or even bosses.
Maria Kultanen, Business Development Manager, Novo Nordisk Farma
On the question of whether she would choose something different in her studies with hindsight, she answers in the negative. If one had chosen something different in the past, something else would be missing from the present.
“I do not think there is a perfect career path for anyone. Life is unpredictable and involves much more than just work or study. One career coach aptly said that in a crisis situation, it is worthwhile for a young employee to draw a line segment spanning their entire career and place themselves at the point where they currently feel they are. It then becomes clear how much remains to be done and how much can still be changed. The current situation is only true for the time being,” she summarises.
Who: Maria Kultanen
Degree and major: Master of Science (Tech.), Bioengineering
Graduation year: 2018
Current position: Business Development Manager, Novo Nordisk Farma
Student associations she participated in: The student union of Tampere University of Technology, the trade union for academic engineers and architects in Finland TEK, the bioengineering guild Bioner ry, and the career women’s student association Uranaisten Opiskelijaseura UrOs