The selection criteria highlighted her enthusiastic, human-centred way of working, as well as her ability to develop her business systematically while keeping pace with the times.
The recognition came as a surprise to Kärkkäinen.
– The award came as a complete surprise to me, but I see it as a positive sign that I’ve been doing the right things, she reflects.
Over the past few years, Beautyharkonen has grown from offering home visits to operating its own clinic and employing staff. This growth has been driven by conscious choices, the most important of which relates to personal well-being at work.
– Right from the start, I made a deal with myself that I would only work four days a week. Running a business involves a lot of behind-the-scenes work, and managing customer relationships also takes time. All of this easily leads to work spilling over into personal life. Having an extra day off helps me avoid burning out and leaves time for hobbies and family.
Another crucial step was hiring an employee.
– Once I learnt to delegate tasks and trust that I didn’t have to do everything myself, my business was finally able to start growing properly.
Customer feedback guides development
Kärkkäinen’s work is guided by continuous dialogue with customers. She systematically collects feedback and uses it to improve everyday practices and services.
– Every day, I gather important insights from conversations with customers, for example, about marketing and booking appointments. Based on this information, I take the necessary follow-up actions, she says.
Concrete improvements can be seen, for example, in the clinic’s accessibility.
– I revised the online booking system and advertising guidelines several times until customers started telling me how clear and easy it was to find us.
Kärkkäinen describes herself as full of ideas but also emphasizes the importance of critical evaluation.
– After narrowing ideas down to a few key ideas, I carefully consider the suitability of the ideas for my business and my resources to implement them.
Solutions often emerge step by step, from ideation to evaluation and finally to implementation.
– Everything is based on a strong business idea. I frequently review my own business idea and its viability. I keep our promise to customers clear in my mind and ensure we deliver on it.
Support from networks and learning new things
Kärkkäinen actively follows developments in her field and makes use of networks.
– I network a lot with other entrepreneurs in the field and exchange ideas with them, she says.
Developing one’s own competence is an ongoing process. Kärkkäinen regularly attends events and trade fairs of the field, for example.
– I allocate a specific amount in the annual budget each year for training, because I believe that my professional competence is the most valuable asset in my business.
Looking ahead, Kärkkäinen sees her business continuing to grow in the coming years. She also hopes to develop as an entrepreneur in such a way that she can expand the business and take it in new directions. And realize new dreams.
Her message to aspiring entrepreneurs is clear.
– Network – this cannot be emphasized enough. At first, it was hard to understand its importance, but it is precisely these networks that have opened doors for me and my business that I could never have opened on my own. Trust in your own vision, too. I was told at the start that you can’t succeed this way, but I did.
