Work From The Inside Out 152: Find Role Models Who Take You Forward with Susanna Harkonen
Susanna Harkonen grew up in Finland and close to the Russian border. It was a time when there was limited exposure to the outside world unless you knew someone who was traveling. Susanna’s father traveled for work and he would come home sharing stories, wonderful gifts, and an openness to the world. At a time when people did not hop on planes so easily, she found herself eager to travel and explore new places.
Susanna was fascinated by history, loved poetry, and aspired to study Egyptology until one of her university professors told her to “get real” and think about what she could study to create a profession. She went to business school and ended up following in her father’s footsteps, making sure she chose a career that would enable her to travel and live around the world. Susanna, like her father, went into the supply chain field and she has absolutely no regrets. That work enabled her to work in a number of industries during the fifteen years she spent in the corporate world.
On the less glamorous side of being an international business person, Susanna spent a great deal of time in Asia where people worked very long days, maintaining a “work hard, play hard” routine. This was not her scene and it limited her options for keeping herself in balance as she has once before experienced a serious episode of burnout. Susanna found a volunteer opportunity with a counseling helpline that offered comprehensive training and she loved it. From there she decided to get a counseling degree and pivot her career towards the mental health field.
Today, Susanna is a Registered Counselor, who specializes in mental health & wellness at work in Geneva, Switzerland. Her Inner Work training programs help organizations improve mental wellness, management, and care.
In this week’s Work From The Inside Out podcast, learn more about Susannah’s journey:
- Early in her college days, Susanna was in an accident and had a near-death experience in which she saw her entire life up to the point reviewed in front of her. As a result, she determined that everything happens for a reason and when having a less than a great day, she reminds herself that life is not perfect.
Learn more and connect with Susanna here:
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