Think: Women can!

In addition to being surrounded by many strong women whom I admire, I also admire men – those who believe in and support us. My father’s encouragement, which I have heard since I was young and still hear today, “Tänk: Kvinnor kan!”, is something I carry with me in everything I do.

Believing in yourself does not come easily. However, it is something each of us can develop through practice. Putting yourself in situations where you are not necessarily comfortable is often very rewarding. Beyond gaining new experiences, you also learn a lot about yourself – how your body and mind react, and what you might do differently next time.

My grandmother, Riitta Gustafsson, one of the founders of Riitan Herkku, has always reminded everyone of the importance of believing in yourself and in what you do. Without her belief, Finland’s most popular pizza, the Metripizza, would never have been created.

“You have to trust yourself and be honest – that will take you far.”
– Riitta Gustafsson

Already during my first year of studies, I saw another woman in the school hallway with a baby in a stroller. My friends and I laughed and said, “That will be me in the future!” And that’s exactly what happened. A few years later, my first daughter attended lectures with me. I knew I wanted to be a young mother, and I didn’t let my studies stand in the way of that.

My studies did take longer, and I had three children before graduating, but I wouldn’t change a thing.

My participation in the VoimaNaiset seminar panel is exactly the kind of situation where I step outside my comfort zone. I don’t feel comfortable at all, but I believe that through this experience, I will once again learn a lot about myself.

I still carry my father’s words with me. Whether it was a school exam, a football game, or anything else, he always used the same words to encourage me and my sisters. It was often the last thing he would call out from the doorway in the morning.

Thank you, Dad, for helping me believe in myself from such a young age. I hope that each and every one of us gets to feel the same.

Madeleine Sabel

Personnel Manager

Riitan Herkku