“Treat others like you would want them to treat you”

Who are you?

I’m Laura, the communications coordinator of Kone Foundation. A sister, daughter, friend, future wife and, hopefully, a good person.

How did you end up working for the Kone Foundation? 

Kone Foundation’s Head of Administration, Hilkka Salonen, asked me in the autumn of 2009 if I could help with processing grant applications. Back then, I was still a student, but I was doing other jobs on the side all the time. The foundation only had two employees then: Hilkka and Executive Director Anna, who at the time was the research secretary. Little by little, I discovered that I was doing more and more work for the foundation. When I graduated in 2011, I started as a permanent employee.

What do you do at the Foundation? 

I can easily say that I have done almost everything at the foundation! I have acted as the office secretary, the administrative secretary and, since the beginning of 2015, as the communications secretary. My current job description includes managing our website, social media accounts, notifications, the At the Well publication, the annual report, etc. As a member of the foundation’s communications team, I am also involved in drafting our communications strategy and plan. I am also heavily involved in event planning and organisation.

What’s the best part of your work? 

Versatility and motivated colleagues. Being able to contribute to a great cause, to promote science and the arts.

And what’s the most challenging thing? 

Interesting topics, fantastic grant recipients and so much work that sometimes it’s difficult to make choices and concentrate on the essentials.

If you could be given one super power, what would it be and why? 

Invisibility. I love people-watching, and I often wish that I could be a fly on the wall.

 

BIO:

Laura Sahamies, 30, is the communication coordinator of Kone Foundation.

Laura graduated as a Master of Theology from the University of Helsinki in 2011, majoring in Comparative Religion. Her secondary subjects included political history and communications.

In her free time, Laura likes to exercise, travel, and enjoy good food and wine, preferably in the company of her fiancé, friends, and sisters.

Soon, Laura will be leaving Kone Foundation as she is going to settle in Switzerland with her future husband

Motto: We are all human beings. So treat others like you would want them to treat you.