“I knew how, but not why”—Erik Telkki sought new insights into project management

When Erik Telkki, who had led numerous projects, realized he needed a deeper understanding of portfolio management, he enrolled in the Master’s programme in Project Management at Turku UAS. The degree programme, conducted only in Finnish, expanded his expertise in the project lifecycle.

Erik Telkki, who began his career in the engineering industry, has always been driven to optimize production. His development-oriented approach first led him to become a project manager in charge of a major development and investment project. The success spawned new, multi-million-euro development projects at the Meyer Turku shipyard. As his responsibilities grew, Telkki realized that both his own expertise and the organization’s project practices would benefit from a more systematic approach.

I certainly knew how a particular phase of the project was supposed to be done, but why did it have to be done exactly that way? This was the kind of thing I constantly questioned and tried to figure out.

Portfolio management, in particular, proved to be an area where the organization needed new expertise. The practical focus of the program and the flexibility sealed the decision to begin studies at Turku UAS.

Export and Healthcare Experts Unite

Regarding project management program, Telkki highlights a semester-long course that covers the entire project lifecycle. The earlier question “why” began to take shape as concepts and insights.

Completed Bathroom and Other Key Practical Lessons

For employers, a Master’s student is a strategic asset and a development partner. Through their Master’s studies, students can conduct extensive studies and prepare reports tailored directly to the company’s needs. Even a 30-credit thesis represents over 800 hours of goal-oriented project work, which translates to months of development resources for the employer.

Meyer’s Turku project office clearly benefited from Erik Telki’s thesis and his proven project expertise.

The understanding of program structures he gained during his studies was immediately put to use. Another significant lesson relates to the use of a work breakdown structure (WBS). A carefully crafted WBS ensures that progress can be tracked even if the project manager changes during the project.

New skills can also be put to use in one’s free time. The bathroom renovation of an apartment in Turku might have been delayed if the apartment’s new owner hadn’t been a student of project management. The contractor might have been surprised to see a process diagram with critical paths sketched in marker on the sliding mirror door in the entryway, but thanks to that, the renovation was completed on time.

MBA degree helps advance your career

The program came at the perfect time for Telki’s career development. During his studies, he was promoted to portfolio manager and later to head of the Meyer Turku Project Management Office (PMO).

– A degree in project management is truly useful in almost any role. The degree also opens doors and creates opportunities for the future across a wide range of fields, Telkki says, based on his own experience.

Erik Telkki doesn’t hesitate to recommend the Master’s Degree Program in Project Management—and especially one of its lead instructors, Senior Lecturer Teppo Neuvonen. Neuvonen, who has built up an extensive and influential network, is happy to share his experiences and contacts with new project professionals.

Telkki also sees the outlook for demand for project expertise as positive at the moment.

Cost-effective scaling is the next big thing that will play a key role in the export industry. This will create a demand for project professionals and experts at project management firms.