Heavy, but wonderful

Text: Sanna Männikkö, photos: Laura Matintupa

Time

Sonya Zouiter and Olli-Pekka Perttu both have their own businesses where they can express themselves and develop them in the direction they prefer. The combination of a business, family life and hobbies is, at the very least, challenging in terms of time management.

– If it’s said that building a detached house tests a relationship, then that was child’s play compared to this, they laugh.

After all, they have also recently finished building a detached house.

Respect

Mutual respect and encouragement ensure that the relationship endures the daily hurly-burly.

– I appreciate that Olli-Pekka has a huge network across the country and keeps in close contact with other consultants, even competitors, and joins forces with them, Sonya says.

– There are many weak moments and stress levels are high, but even then it’s good to know that I get support from Sonya. I recognize that I must also be able to give something to her, Olli-Pekka continues.

Business

Olli-Pekka founded his company Kaukola Consulting after having worked for 15 years in various roles in the food industry. Sonya had earlier founded a company in the fitness and wellness sector, but she became a hostel entrepreneur through a business acquisition on the same day as her youngest child’s due date.

Entrepreneurship had always been a goal for Olli-Pekka. The timing was chosen on the basis that “sometimes you just have to do it.” That “sometimes” happened to coincide with the detached house building project.

Because of her own world travel experiences and background in the wellness sector, Sonya had dreamed of a retreat center. Hostel Bjorkenheim, which also happens to be located in a historic setting, was a perfect find.

– Here I can build holiday packages together with other local entrepreneurs, for example around yoga and herb walks. My biggest vision is that Seinäjoki would be marketed as a tourist destination from a historical perspective. In addition to our offerings, I have begun coordinating tourist guiding in Seinäjoki and maintaining an online store.

Olli-Pekka’s consulting company will likely remain a one-man business.

– The projects are tailored and based on my own expertise. A sellable product is indeed in development: an app-based work and production control tool aimed at SMEs in the processing industry, with which frontline supervisors can lead their team/department’s productive work using real-time and predictive data.

Tip

Sonya and Olli-Pekka have strongly identified with entrepreneurship. Paid employment is not an option for either of them. What advice would you give to someone planning to become an entrepreneur?

– If you have a strong feeling, your own idea and passion, it’s worth trying. You can always stop. And it’s always possible that everything will work out better than you expected, Sonya begins.

– Of course you should take your life situation into account. It probably couldn’t have been a more challenging moment for me, but still I set out to pursue my passion. The risks are small if starting a company does not require large investments, Olli-Pekka continues.

Explore Sonya’s and Olli-Pekka’s companies:
www.kaukolaconsulting.fi
www.hostelbjorkenheim.fi