Tiina Helenius, Vaasan yliopiston vuoden alumni 2022
Careers
 01.09.2022

Tiina Helenius alumni of the year – “Face every opportunity with an open mind”

Tiina Helenius, the chief economist of the Mutual Pension Insurance Company Elo is our alumni of the year 2022. Helenius graduated in 1992 with a master’s degree in economics.

– I am astonished, happy and grateful for this honour. I am very proud of our university, how it has grown and developed and how it takes on the challenges of our time. The university is extremely important to the whole Vaasa and Kvarken region. When you look at the gross domestic product in Finland, you see how successful Ostrobothnia is with its largest energy and environment business cluster in Northern Europe. There is a wonderful symbiosis in this area with our university producing talented workers and conducting valuable research together with   companies and the public sector, says Tiina.  

Economics found me 

Tiina’s path to study in Vaasa was a series of happy coincidences. She applied to the international business programme at the University of Vaasa  but did not get accepted; instead, she got accepted to the economics programme.  

– The University of Vaasa taught me discipline and focus. I learned how to look for   the big picture and try to understand it. Most of all, I value all the lifelong friendships I made in Vaasa. I do remember Vaasa as a charming small town, the bilingualism of the town charmed me especially.  

– The University of Vaasa taught me discipline and focus. I learned how to look for   the big picture and try to understand it. Most of all, I value all the lifelong friendships I made in Vaasa. I do remember Vaasa as a charming small town, the bilingualism of the town charmed me especially. 

Tiina encourages students of today to seize every opportunity and face them with an open mind.  

– I would emphasise effort and discipline. Enjoy the intellectual effort university studies provide you, enjoy learning and enjoy the moments when you realize how much you actually know. But also, remember to take time for social life and life in general. Combining these aspects will give you a solid foundation for your future working life.   

Marja-Riitta Vest ja Mika Palosaari jakamassa vuoden alumnipalkintoa
Vaasa university society chair Marja-Riitta Vest and Vaasa university society alumni committee chair Mika Palosaari at the award ceremony.
Vuoden alumni Tiina Helenius
Alumni of the Year Tiina Helenius.
Lue lisää
Watch a short video of the event
Rector Jari Kuusisto's speech at the Opening ceremony of the academic year

Exciting and wonderful work  

Tiina graduated at the end of 1992. Getting a job during Finland's deep recession was not easy,   it was more or less impossible.   

– I ended up applying for a Fulbright scholarship. I was granted the scholarship and went to America for two years of postgraduate studies.  

 After returning to Finland, Tiina worked as a researcher for a few years before she was hired by Handelsbanken as a junior economist.  

– This was the real bank economist school. With the help of wonderful mentors and colleagues. I learned in practice how to make financial forecasts and macroeconomic analyses and how to create the big picture from pieces of information.  

In 2003, Tiina was appointed the chief economist of Handelsbanken. For the last three years, she has been working as the chief economist of mutual pension insurance company Elo.  

– Co-operating with my brilliant colleagues is the best part of being the chief economist. I still learn a lot from them. The core and most interesting part of my work is the macroeconomic analysis. Of course, it is nice to talk about the analyses and share information. I have given many presentations on the subject, for example for the Finnish Foundation for Share Promotion.  I take part in in Yle's Jälkipörssi (tv programme), every now and then as an expert commentator.  

– The work as a macroanalyst is  so exciting and wonderful, says Tiina. 

Recover from work  

Tiina recognises a certain overload of information. The work is sometimes hectic and with the never-ending flow ow information, you simply have no time to turn every stone, even if you would like to. You need to understand the themes of the past but keep your focus on the future.  

– You need a counterweight to work, to calm down and recover. Music has always been an important means of relaxation for me. On my vacation, I still read the headlines, but then I concentrate on reading fiction to relax. I also love cooking, and that i's why I am also into various weight loss programmes, she laughs.  

In Finland, students traditionally wear overalls that tell what they are studying. The back of my red, student overall says VKK, because I began my studies in Vaasan korkeakoulu, but graduated from the University of Vaasa. I still have my overalls in the attic.
Tiina Helenius

Alumni of the year 

The Alumni of the Year honorary title is given to alumni who have used the capabilities they have acquired at the university in a positive way and who have increased the interaction between the university, the society, and the economy and inspired other alumni. 

The University of Vaasa Alumni of the Year honorary title has previously been given to Team Jakamo, Eeva Kalli, Samuli Manninen, Anne Korkiakoski, Sari Essayah ja Kari Leppilahti.

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