Courage grows through action – reflections on leadership, womanhood, and the courage to dare

Courage, to me is not loud performance or fearlessness – although sometimes it can be, especially if you’ve been gifted with a strong voice. More often, courage is quiet decision-making, acting in line with your values, and having the courage to be unfinished. Courage shows in stepping outside your comfort zone, taking responsibility, and moving forward even when the answers are not yet clear.

I work as a Sales Director for personal customers at Säästöpankki Optia Oy. In my leadership, people, interaction, and trust are the foundation of everything. I strongly believe that performance and humanity are not opposites – quite the contrary. The best results are achieved when people can be themselves, feel valued as individuals, and experience their work as meaningful.

Why VoimaNaiset?

I chose to take part in the VoimaNaiset event because I believe it is important to support women’s courage, visibility, and networking. Each of us carries stories, experiences, and lessons that can give someone else exactly the push they need at the right moment. When courage is shared, it multiplies.

What I look forward to most in the event are genuine encounters. At its best, an event like this leaves a lasting impact that continues to shape everyday life and working life long after it ends.

Networks Don’t Build Themselves – They Are Built

Networking has been an important part of my own career path. It has not just meant exchanging business cards, but engaging in meaningful conversations, peer support, and learning from others. Networks have opened new perspectives, encouraged me, and at times challenged me to think differently.

My advice to other women is simple: be genuinely interested in people. Networking is not a performance, it is interaction. Dare to share your knowledge and experiences, and remember that you have a lot to offer.

Womanhood – A Limitation or a Strength?

From time to time, I encounter expectations and assumptions related to being a woman. However, I have never felt that womanhood has limited me, quite the opposite. Empathy, the ability to listen, and strong communication skills are qualities that have been incredibly valuable in my leadership. They help build trust, understanding, and effective teams.

There is no single mold for leadership. We need different kinds of leaders, different voices, and different perspectives. That is where diversity becomes a strength.

Courage Grows Through Doing

Courage has not come to me all at once. It has been built through experience, both successes and failures. I have learned that mistakes do not define us, but how we respond to them does. The support from managers, colleagues, and my network has been invaluable.

If I could give one piece of advice to my younger self and to all women it would be this: trust yourself more. You do not need to be ready before you dare. Often, courage is born in the very moment you take the first step.

Preparation, receiving feedback, and taking care of yourself are important sources of strength.

I want to encourage every woman to believe in her own competence and her voice. We do not need to fit into predefined roles, we can create our own. Courage is not about perfection, but about daring to be yourself.

See you at VoimaNaiset!

Kaija Pitkänen
Sales Director
Säästöpankki Optia