You first qualified as an automotive engineer in Ghana and worked as a mechanic for more than ten years. How was it like to work in a male-dominated occupation?
When I was a young girl, I watched medical TV shows and became fascinated with the surgeon’s profession. But people have to pay for education in Ghana, so going to school was very expensive. My stepmom didn’t understand the value of a girl being educated, so she was against my continuing to high school. However, I kept insisting, and ultimately I was allowed to go to high school.
It was magnificent to work in a male-dominated occupation, and I felt like a queen. Surely some people sneered at me and wondered why I chose that occupation. But I enjoyed the work nevertheless. I have small hands that can squeeze into narrow spaces, and I love to ponder how to fix a gearbox or an engine.
But I found out that a male subordinate of mine with a shorter work history was paid more than me. I complained about this to my boss, and it soured our relationship. I decided then to earn a new master’s degree to be my own boss.
You moved to Helsinki in 2005 to study. How did you adjust to life here?
A friend of mine recommended to me a yearlong, English-language real estate course in Finland. I didn’t even know where Finland was, and I had never considered leaving my own country. But I was building a new home for myself at the time and thought that real estate training could be useful.
I was supposed to stay in Helsinki for only a year, that is, for the duration of the visa validity. Three weeks after I arrived here, I met my future husband – talking about the African magic!
But it was not easy for me to find a job, because I spoke no Finnish. I didn’t find any work in the automobile field but started cleaning and ended up founding my own real estate maintenance business.
Later I started a new business named Inkuto Organics specialising in skin care, hair products and African massage. All together was too much work. After I had my second child, I closed the real estate maintenance business.
Founding Inkuto Organics happened by accident, when my daughter developed a bad skin problem. For a solution, my mother introduced me to African black soap and shea butter. People at my maternity and child health clinic were surprised to see that they worked so well on my daughter’s skin. I gave some soap to my clinic nurse to try. She loved it and asked me where she could buy it.
What was it like to start a business in Finland?
Online sales were only taking their first steps in those days, so my husband drove me to festivals, trade fairs and Sunday markets in cities near Helsinki to sell my skin care and hair products. When we found out that people liked the products, we started marketing them to shops as well.
Finland is a magnificent place to start a business, as entrepreneurship is encouraged here. Everything is ready for entrepreneurs, the necessary information can be found online, and there is a whole system in place that serves businesses. Admittedly, I didn’t myself receive financing and support for expanding my business, but this doesn’t mean that others would not.
Luckily I’ve received a tremendous amount of support from single people and from my customers – they keep me going.
Many people have said that I’ve inspired them to start a business of their own, which makes me proud.
All immigrants should have an opportunity to work in the field of their choice, because they are here to give to society and not to take from it. I believe that lack of Finnish language skills is used too often as a reason for not hiring an immigrant. Also, many immigrants are directed, for example, to practical nursing studies even if their interests lie elsewhere. But it’s definitely not a bad thing to be a cleaner or a practical nurse as long as you enjoy that work – it helps you to give back to society.
How do you find Finnish society?
I highly appreciate Finnish society. My parents had to work hard to pay for my school, my school uniform and school supplies, everything. I haven’t had to worry in Helsinki about how to pay school fees or to worry at work if my child is hungry at school.
My children loved day care. Early childhood education is well planned and organised in Helsinki. It’s also a relief to know that I can go to hospital and will receive care if I should fall ill. As a result, I’m happy to pay taxes in this beautiful country for receiving so much for my tax money.
Edem Agbekey-Taylor’s recommendations for working life in Finland
- If you want to start a business, do it! It’s advisable to network, to meet a lot of people and to approach people. I’m a member of the Women Entrepreneurs in Finland association. You should understand that an entrepreneur’s role is to serve others, and an entrepreneur should be active at all times.
- You can enjoy being both a parent and an entrepreneur in Finland. You don’t need to worry about your children at school. That gives you room to focus on growing your business. Being an entrepreneur is a bit lonely, crazy and even frustrating, but all that makes you stronger.
- Be yourself and make sure you have good products. When meeting Finnish customers, say, at trade fairs, I’m always friendly, meet them with a smile and ask them how they are. I’ve learned to talk about my products in Finnish, and I never push my products. The most important aspects of customer service are to be yourself and to learn to read other people.