The graduation of Taina Kylliäinen Tofthøj drew widespread media attention: newspaper reporters were present, and she even found herself speaking live on the radio. As LUT Business School’s first-ever master’s graduate, she had anticipated the spotlight.
Kylliäinen Tofthøj was already a confident communicator. During her studies, she gave numerous speeches and presentations and worked for a year as the editor of Exel’s staff magazine in Mäntyharju. She could even deliver a speech off the cuff – which she also ended up doing at her graduation ceremony.
“Still, it felt strange to be the centre of attention and be the first one to hand in a master’s thesis. My thesis was even classified for the first ten years because it included Exel’s trade secrets.”
The media also took note of how quickly she had finished: she completed her degree in just two and a half years.
“I graduated on 22 March 1995. I had finalised my thesis and completed all my courses before Christmas 1994, and by January 1995, I had already moved to Denmark. Leaving university life behind so fast was actually bittersweet,” she recalls.
Kylliäinen Tofthøj remembers the first cohort of business students as small but close-knit. The freshman activities in 1992 and 1993 in particular left a lasting impression.
“As a lively tomboy from Ruokolahti with a Karelian spirit, I ended up with some fun – and freezing – tasks during an event called freshman orienteering. I waded neck-deep into the icy water of Sammonlahti, climbed trees to retrieve something or other, and told jokes in English. We had an absolute blast!”
Why LUT?
“My brother studied energy technology at LUT and knew languages and business were totally my thing. He talked me into applying, and that’s how I ended up in LUT’s international marketing programme.”
Source: Private album / Etelä-Saimaa
"Finnish education has been a real advantage"
Kylliäinen Tofthøj speaks highly of the quality of teaching at LUT Business School. She felt the programme was led by genuinely skilled experts. Language instruction – especially in English and German – was strong from the start. Local companies supported the first cohort of business students, and Kylliäinen Tofthøj received a scholarship for her outstanding performance at the early stages of her studies.
“Internationalisation was part of life in Lappeenranta from day one. In the summer of 1993, I took part in international summer courses with students from abroad. Later, I completed my exchange studies in Denmark, where the academic system was – and perhaps still is – less rigorous than in Finland. For me, it felt almost like a holiday, and the friendliness of both staff and students left me with fond memories.”
Kylliäinen Tofthøj says that at LUT, she learned to work effectively in international settings, and that has carried through her entire career.
“My Finnish educational and cultural background has been a real asset. People often comment on how quickly I learn and execute new tasks. I believe this comes down to, at least partly, the no-nonsense nature of Finnish education.”
Source: Private album
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Building an international career in Denmark
Kylliäinen Tofthøj lives in Sønderborg in Southern Denmark, a vibrant, international city of 78,000 residents. The local Southern Denmark University (SDU) is known for its multicultural campus, and the region is home to a number of industrial companies, particularly in electronics.
She works as a purchaser at Damm Cellular Systems, which develops and manufactures devices for critical radio networks such as DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) and TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio). Damm’s devices are used in sectors like transport and mining, often in demanding weather conditions.
Kylliäinen Tofthøj handles all purchasing for production – from aluminium housings and electronic components to screws and packaging – working with a forecast-driven procurement system.
“My daily responsibilities include ensuring optimal delivery schedules, requesting and evaluating quotes, optimising inventory levels, managing supplier communication, and coordinating closely with production, warehouse, and R&D teams.”
Damm’s work environment is highly international, with sales offices around the world in places such as Kuala Lumpur and Broomfield. Colleagues from those offices frequently visit the Sønderborg headquarters.
“Every June, all our sales staff from around the world come together here for five days. We wrap up the week with a lovely summer party, spouses included. It’s a joyful, international event for all of us at Damm.”
“Try your wings – international experience is worth it”
Kylliäinen Tofthøj is still happily married to the man she originally moved to Denmark for. The couple has two adult sons, both of whom love travelling to Finland to visit friends and family.
“Danes are open and friendly, and my Karelian mindset has served me well here. We Finns tend to think a little longer before we speak,” she says with a smile.
Kylliäinen Tofthøj notes that anyone entering the Danish job market should be prepared for a dose of teasing, sarcasm, and bluntness.
“Danes are very direct, and to Finnish ears, it may come across as rude at first. I’ll admit that after all these years, I’ve probably gone a bit Danish myself.”
Her advice to today’s LUT Business School students is simple: spread your wings when the opportunity arises.
“When the chance for international experience comes, take it. For me, these choices led to a fulfilling career in a warm and welcoming country.”
Source: Nordlandblog
