Esa Tiusanen joins Columbia Road

Hi Esa, How did you get good at what you do?

Originally, I trained to be a history and civics teacher - but I realised quite quickly after graduation that my interests lie elsewhere. During my studies I had worked at a variety of nonprofits managing their marketing – especially social media – and thoroughly enjoyed it. Driven by a passion to learn more, I’ve kept on building my own expertise. I must say that actual work experience has taught me far more than any school could ever have.

Where have you earned your spurs?

When thinking of the next move after graduation, I noticed that I yearned for positions that would allow me to be more on the operative side and in direct contact with customers. Consulting in marketing seemed like the perfect fit. Kaskas media, as the only science communications agency in the Nordics, was an easy transition from academia to business. Thereafter I wanted to dive deeper into SEO, SEM, SMM and web analytics, and that’s when I went to IUM Helsinki.

Why Columbia Road?

At IUM I realised I wanted to orient even more towards the cooperative aspect of my work and wanted to have day-to-day discourse with clients. Soon enough, I found myself at an interview and instantly felt at home with the Roadies. The business concept and model were the final touches that sold it to me. I’m also very excited about the fact that I’ll be able to do creative copywriting for clients!

Lauri, what will make our clients love Esa?

“Esa is a jack of all trades, but a master in his core skill - digital marketing. He’s got a mind for strategy and the ability to digest and analyse large amounts of data, thanks to his education. One of Esa’s strong points is that he’s great at combining quantitative data with quality content and from that lead strategic actions,” comments Lauri Eloranta, Managing Partner.

What makes your heart beat a little faster?

“I’m a basketball guy from head to toes - it’s a passion I try to carry out at least three times a week. On the other side of the spectrum, I really think US politics are fascinating – it’s almost like reality TV! I’m a member of board at Helsingin Vihreät Society, so maybe the interest in politics applies more generally as well,” Esa says with a smile. He points out that politics have taught him to understand different views and how to put yourself in the shoes of another person – a skill very handy for mapping buyer personas and customer journeys.