“Coaching can and should be fun!” – Liisa Korkiakoski transforms people and organisations at Sofigate Academy
Liisa Korkiakoski says she has the brain of a computer scientist and the heart of a people person – and she loves working for a company that supports both sides of her.
Liisa joined Sofigate more than 13 years ago after earning a Master’s Degree in Computer Science and working on e-commerce projects for several Finnish companies. At the time, e-commerce was still relatively new in Finland, and there were few experienced experts in the field. As a Project Manager at Sofigate, many of Liisa’s projects also centred on e-commerce solutions.
“Sofigate was in many ways a completely different company back then. The whole company had fewer than 100 employees, and the Tampere office, where I have always worked, had barely ten,” Liisa recalls.
At the same time, however, Sofigate was already built on the same values it holds today. For example, as a new employee, Liisa was soon invited to attend courses on various subjects at IT Academy for Business, Sofigate’s coaching organisation. This would later evolve into Business Technology Academy, now known as Sofigate Academy.
“I found coaching fascinating, but I couldn’t imagine myself as a coach. I saw myself primarily as a tough IT person. I guess others saw me differently, as I was eventually encouraged to become a full-time facilitator and coach,” Liisa says, laughing.
Coaching people to lead transformation
Since 2022, Liisa has worked as Chief Technology Officer of Sofigate Academy, and in September 2024, she took charge of the entire Academy business unit.
Sofigate Academy provides coaching for both Sofigators and external clients. While some courses and programmes are open to anyone, most are tailor-made to suit client companies’ specific needs. These range from two-hour interactive facilitation sessions to two-year change programmes, and everything in between. The courses offered to Sofigators reflect the same variety.
One thing remains consistent: everything the Academy does aims to prepare companies and their employees to lead transformation.
“What we do is at the very core of Sofigate’s strategy. Transformation is not only about technology; it’s about people as well”, Liisa explains.
“New technology always requires changes in organisation and leadership. Sofigate, with the Academy as an integral part, aims to help our clients build their organic transformation capability. And not only that: we want them to feel as enthusiastic about change as we do. I encourage leaders to see skill management as a crucial strategic tool.”
Engaging and inspiring
Liisa Korkiakoski is herself a living example of transformation capability. Her work as a coach made her interested in psychology – so much so that a few years ago, she took a leave of absence to study Positive Psychology full-time for almost a year.
“I like to think that I have the brain of a computer scientist and the heart of a people person. I love working for a company that supports both”, Liisa says.
“The way I have been encouraged to grow, both personally and professionally, is a concrete example of Sofigate’s values: Dare, Care & Grow – particularly the ‘care’ aspect. In return, I aim to show the same level of care to the people I work with.”
Being both tech-savvy and a people person is also clearly reflected in Liisa’s passionate approach to coaching.
“We don’t just train people; we coach them. We combine different methods – simulations, team projects, guest speakers, and so on – to ensure people remain engaged and inspired. Coaching can and should be fun!”
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