Our alum Ida Rimpiläinen: From active tech student life to business consultancy

Which problems are worth solving?

Ida works as a consultant for data-driven business at the IT, data and design company Solita. She is a designer and consultant in projects that help companies leverage data to build and grow their business.   

“A key element of my work is to consider which problems are worth solving in the first place and what role data could play in solving them. We have both a right and a responsibility to challenge our customers and create sustainable solutions. While modern technology opens up a wide range of possibilities, a new AI tool is not always the right answer,” Ida says.

Data design is about service design, customer insight and engineering

What makes Ida’s work challenging is the fact that consultants are not usually hired to solve easy cases. Complex problems require a broad set of skills, and Ida’s work involves service design, customer insight and engineering. Her colleagues are a multidisciplinary bunch and an important source of professional support.

“We usually work at least in pairs and rarely alone. This allows us to learn from each other, keeps our work meaningful and broadens our perspectives. Collaboration also improves the end result,” Ida notes.

We usually work at least in pairs and rarely alone. This allows us to learn from each other, keeps our work meaningful and broadens our perspectives. Collaboration also improves the end result.

Ida Rimpiläinen, Senior Data Business Designer, Solita Oy

Ida enjoys her work very much and says that her great employer and colleagues play a major role in this.

“When it comes to data, there is always something new and interesting going on. As there are no ready-made templates for my work, it is valuable to have colleagues who can help me along,” Ida says.

At the forefront of environmental and energy technologies

Before joining Solita, Ida worked with data platforms and AI solutions at Microsoft, as a cloud services specialist at IBM and in marketing at ABB. Her educational background is in environmental and energy engineering.

“I ended up applying to study environmental and energy engineering on my school friend’s sister’s recommendation. She said the degree programme would provide a broad education that opens doors to a variety of career paths. On the other hand, she also mentioned that the students have green overalls and that they also have girls as students, so that may have contributed to my decision,” Ida says laughing.

When Ida started her studies in 2006, the programme in environmental and energy engineering was still relatively new. As her minor, Ida studied communication at the then University of Tampere – a subject she greatly enjoyed and that has proven useful in her later career.

Charmed by the tech student culture

During her studies, Ida relished the hustle and bustle of tech student life in Tampere. She had an active role in student organisations as a tutor and a leader of freshman activities in YKI, the Subject Association of Environmental and Energy Engineering. She also served on the Board of the Student Union and led the activities of different sections within the Student Union.

In 2010, Ida was awarded the ‘Kelpo Teekkari’ honorary title in recognition of her contributions to student activities, and she now has an imposing Kelpo Teekkari metal key at home as tangible evidence of her achievement. The title is awarded by the Board of the Teekkari Union of Tampere to a person who has worked selflessly to promote the aims of the union or tech student organisations.

“Tech student life and the people really swept me along. I moved to Tampere from the capital region, and many of my fellow students were also non-locals. I really enjoyed my freshman year, the fact that we were given nearly ready-made class schedules, and everything felt nice and easy. At that time, having a job still seemed far away. In retrospect, however, my activities in student organisations taught me important skills and enabled me to build a network of contacts,” Ida says.

I really enjoyed my freshman year, the fact that we were given nearly ready-made class schedules, and everything felt nice and easy. At that time, having a job still seemed far away. In retrospect, however, my activities in student organisations taught me important skills and enabled me to build a network of contacts.

Ida Rimpiläinen, Senior Data Business Designer, Solita Oy

Ida’s pride in her tech student identity and Tampere has remained strong even after graduation.

“We were a tight pack, and I had to really wake myself up to the outside world after graduation. Even today, when I meet other former tech students, we always have something in common and plenty to talk about,” Ida concludes.

 

INFO BOX

Name: Ida Rimpiläinen

Degree and major: Master of Science (Tech.), Environmental and Energy Engineering

Graduation year: 2013

Current work: Senior Data Business Designer at Solita

Student organisations: YKI ry (Subject Association of Environmental and Energy Engineering), The student union of Tampere University of Technology TTYY