What will happen to our Gustav...

The root for this writing is Nokia's new CEO, Mr. Stephen Elop appointment process, which is the BIG DEAL here in Finland. What will happens to our Nokia, still the leader of the world in mobile technology when the first foreigner (CEO) come in?



(This article based on my network's professionals ideas, comments and discussions, thus, it is not fully my own. I give many thanks to Mary B, Antti, Tarja and Vesa-Pekka.)



Why Mr. S. Elop has been chosen? He does not have very special academic track record, he has been working short time period in several position, no telco experiences, no science (technology) background either, as a mention a few possible obstacles for Finnish traditional recruiters. He was not "secure recruiting" as in Finland has a habit.



As Tarja asked, is the education everything in Finland? It is; the first recruiters' aspect in Finland stress education background when for example communication skills holds the seventh position. Internationally it is basically other way around.
However, we have seen great examples that sometimes problematic school years haven't been catastrophe for the great success later on;



Former President Martti Ahtisaari, Nobel prized world wide peacemaker was not very special in the sense of higher education; he is an elementary school teacher (http://www.tpk.fi/ahtisaari/fin/henkilot/martti_ahtisaari.cv.html).



Present Minister of Education and Science in Finland Henna Virkkunen does not have the high school status. However, she holds the university degree in filosofy nowadays. Her story is quite exceptional supported also by academic Deans' "give a chance" attitude which is not so normal.



Antti Piippo, succesful entrepreneur (Elcoteq SE) liked school time so much that he went through several classed two times in his early days.



Carl Gustav Mannerheim, Stateman and Commander-in-Chief, fired from the school, and later on from the Finnish Military Forces in his early days. He went to Russia and got the appointment to the Tzar's Imperial Chevalier Guard. After Tzar's Chevalier time upcoming Finnish Marshal  lead the Finnish army against the Russia as well as Germany. Later on he hold the President of Finland position.
He died in Switzerland, Glion, Valmont Hospital, where also Coco Channel, Charlier Chaplin, Elizabeth Taylor, as a mention a few, has spent time in theirs old days. The Gustav's career was not bad at all for a boy, whose mother was desperately worried with Gustav's a bit problematic and against the rules attitude.



Marshal Mannerheim's leader skills, as Vesa-Pekka commented, are interesting and worth of reading. The main result of his leadership skills is; Finland is still independent country despite gigantic enemies at that time.  The point is his recruitment style; he always chose the field generals in the basis of how lucky they are. Education, training and a bit of experience was needed, and LUCKY.



Back to Nokia; Mary B commented Mr. Elop's appointment as follows;
Timing has a lot to do with opportunities...timing, and aiming for positions or projects at which we can shine.
A Canadian astronaut, who will lead the space station in 2012, recently said that the best way to succeed is to surround yourself with lucky people and he defined 'lucky people' as those who have had a real trail of significant success in their careers
This meant people who knew what they were good at, so tended not to fail.

In conclusion, timing, aiming, and lucky seems to give excellent support for success in any level.

Nokia may run the most effective logistic system in the world. Speculated Nokia buyers such as Google, or Microsoft, does not have such knowhow to handle this kind of complex offline systems. In addition, Nokia is predicted to dominate low and middle level smartphones; however, there are several candidates for higher level segment. Nokia's concentration seems to be towards to developing countries. In  BRIC, Nokia holds dominate position still in the Telco industry.

Even thought Nokia's background and platform for future success may be built, we are glad to get Mr Elop here.
He has a good track record of success, trail of success.

Timing also seems to be excellent for him. As a North-American business man, there won't be any questions for aiming.

Cross-culturally speaking, there is good affinity between the Finns and Canadians as Mary B, cross-cultural lecturer, conclused.

I personally enjoy Nokia's Chairman of the Board Jorma Ollila's courage to recruit Mr. Elop. I also hope it will change a bit Finnish traditional hiring system. To being succesfull market centric organisation, it will need far more than traditional "all education"- based recruiting style.