In a family of two entrepreneurs, everyday life is solving puzzles
How did you become an entrepreneur?
People, different expressions and ways of speaking have fascinated me since I was a little girl. In high school I became interested in psychology. I married Pekka Perho right after high school, and we moved to Thunder Bay, Canada, because he got a job there as a pastor. One in ten residents of the city has Finnish roots. We lived there for ten years and were constantly involved in helping people, so I was also able to advance my own dream.
My husband wanted me to be able to build my own career in Finland, so we moved to Seinäjoki ten years ago. I did gig work as a counselor in child protection, family rehabilitation and later as a permanent youth worker. Over the years I became exhausted and I resigned.
I began studying psychology at the University of Jyväskylä while still living in Canada. I founded a company because I had also qualified as a pastoral care therapist, an integrative brief therapist and a mental coach. I had never planned to become an entrepreneur, but this way I get to do work I love.
What does your work involve?
I am a therapist, mental coach and speaker. My passion is to help people feel well. I offer individual therapy, which I hope brings people clarity and hope in life. Integrative brief therapy is a form of mental health support treatment that combines, among other things, methods from cognitive and solution-focused therapy.
I lecture on wellbeing and supporting resilience to both Finnish and international companies. Some time ago I gave a remote lecture to a large global pharmaceutical company from the heat storage in our yard, when I didn’t yet have a studio. Now I serve my clients across Europe from a separate garden cottage in our backyard.
I reach my clients by creating content for social media.
What excites you?
I have a huge desire to understand how people function. I have always had my own way of thinking and seeing things, and it took time to understand that. As an adult I was diagnosed with ADHD, and now I better understand who I am and recognize my own worth.
I get excited when my client feels good and I help them gain insights and experience vitality. I have very quick psychological ‘math’ — I can quickly grasp a person’s mind and make diagrams in my head.
What kind of city is Seinäjoki for an entrepreneur?
Seinäjoki was our only option when we returned to Finland, because my parents live here. Seinäjoki is also a good place to run a business, because there is room to think. The entrepreneurial spirit is very strong and the atmosphere is open, permissive and encouraging. When I started the company I received a lot of support and advice.
Even our children of primary and lower-secondary school age already think that entrepreneurship is a good career option. It is cheaper to live here than elsewhere in Finland. School life is not as unsafe as in Canada. Transport connections are really good: my husband’s office is in Tallinn, and you can get to Helsinki from here in 2.5 hours and from there to Tallinn in a couple of hours.
How does Seinäjoki differ from Thunder Bay, Canada?
The cultural difference is large. During the first weeks our then four-year-old daughter waved and smiled at everyone and wondered a lot why no one spoke back. This stiffness was the biggest shock. Ten years in Canada shook off my stiffness and I might well chat with strangers, for example in a shop. From Canada I miss the joy and the feeling of freedom!
What is life like in a family of two entrepreneurs?
We have always done everything together. We push each other to succeed, and it is important to me that Pekka is well. However, I am not my husband’s therapist — we are a good team.
Pekka works as a consultant in growth and financing matters. He is building, among other things, an investment company called Venture Bonsai and is involved in the Unicorn Machine business incubator in Tallinn. Pekka’s work requires shuttling between Seinäjoki and Tallinn at least a couple of times a month and traveling elsewhere as well.
Our everyday life is a real puzzle. When Pekka goes on a work trip, I take care of the children and daily life. I love the freedom of being an entrepreneur and not being dependent on an eight-to-four workday. It’s wonderful that I can take the children to school and be present when they return.
What tips would you give to other solo entrepreneurs?
Listen to yourself and dare to build your work in your own image. There is no single right formula for entrepreneurship; the most important thing is to find a way that supports your own wellbeing and endurance. Boldly invest in what you are good at and learn to say no to things that take you further from your direction. Also remember that you don’t have to do everything alone. Networks and the right people around you can take you forward a great deal.
Instagram has served me as an excellent window for marketing. People can stop by my social media content in the middle of everyday life with a low threshold. Through it I have been able to showcase my own work without having to advertise.
What does the future look like for Neea Perho & Co Ltd?
I want to expand and scale my operations so that I can reach an increasingly larger audience. In the future I would like to focus on lectures, speaking engagements and content that support people’s wellbeing on a broader scale. My dream is to act as a thought leader and perhaps spark discussion. I want to bring new perspectives and help people understand themselves more deeply beyond individual meetings.
Text: Mervi Rantakari, Era Content, photos: Krista Luoma
The article is part of Into Seinäjoki’s “Good business news from Seinäjoki” publication series. You can explore other articles in the series here https://intoseinajoki.fi/uutiset/