From Doubt to Drive – A Journey Towards Strength and Leadership

I know from personal experience that where you start does not determine how far you can go. What truly makes the difference is your drive, ambition, and willingness to work hard while staying true to your values. My journey has not been a straight path and thankfully so. After all, it's often the detours that teach us the most.

My name is Eva Lillmangs, and I work in marketing at Närpes Grönsaker, one of the sponsors of VoimaNaiset.mAs a person, I have grown from being shy and insecure into a confident and resilient individual. That transformation did not happen overnight, nor was it something I could simply learn from a book. By daring to believe in myself and in what I do, I have gradually built confidence both in my professional role and as a person.

A significant part of my journey has been my constant desire to learn something new. This is especially true in marketing, where it is almost impossible to ever be "fully qualified." New trends, new tools, and new ways of reaching people emerge all the time and that is exactly what makes the field so exciting and inspiring.

For the past 13 years, I have had the privilege of working at Närpes Grönsaker, where I have been involved in developing and strengthening the NG brand. It has been an incredible journey. From building our visibility from the ground up to creating a strong and recognizable market presence, the work has required both long-term commitment and the courage to think differently. Being part of that journey has not only strengthened the company, it has also strengthened me as a leader and a strategist.

Alongside my professional career, I have also become involved in politics. Today, I am one of the leading politicians in Kristinestad. Politics is an arena where confidence, knowledge, and commitment are essential. Making decisions and standing by your convictions requires being well-informed and constantly willing to learn. Even there, I discover something new every day.

I thrive in environments where decisions need to be made, often quickly and where leadership is about having the courage to move forward and drive development. Throughout my journey, I have realized that strength is not about never having doubts; it is about continuing despite them. Personal growth is about daring to challenge yourself, taking responsibility, and constantly striving to become better.

Närpes Grönsaker has supported the VoimaNaiset concept from the very beginning, and I have had the privilege of seeing strong women come together, inspire one another, and grow together. These seminars are filled with energy, determination, and courage, they serve as a powerful reminder of how important it is to lift each other up. We are stronger together—and we can do it!

For Närpes Grönsaker, it is both an honor and a source of pride to be part of the VoimaNaiset initiative. We want not only to develop our business but also to contribute to a more equal society. Every woman has probably, at some point, experienced what it feels like to face challenges and wonder whether the opportunities available to women are truly the same as those available to men.

I sincerely hope that society continues to work toward greater equality. An equal society is not only fairer, it is also stronger and more sustainable.

Supporting VoimaNaiset is our way of helping create more opportunities for women to grow, lead, and believe in their own superpower.

You Go Girl!

"It is not those who hesitate who succeed—it is those who take action."
– Eva

Eva Lillmangs
Brand Developer
Närpes Grönsaker Cooperative