Having more than 20 years of experience in digitalisation, international business, and strategic IT leadership, Outi Kettunen’s path into interim management is a story of continuity.
With a focused and determined career trajectory, interim work has become a valuable way for her clients to access deep expertise in a flexible way.
The BBTP Team was happy to interview Outi for our ongoing #Way2InterimManagement series. Her story, captured below, is one of many interim journeys highlighted in the BBTP News Hub.
A clear career path rooted in international business and IT
Outi Kettunen studied business and leadership extensively, completing multiple degrees in both fields with a strong orientation toward IT and international trade. From the beginning, she was clear about working in international environments.
“Nearly all my roles have been international, and several of them have been fully global.”
Her early career included work in an automation engineering office and later in a large international process-manufacturing enterprise. There, she held multiple positions that later proved essential in large-scale IT transformations.
“I worked close to production, quality improvement and product launches. That gave me a real understanding of how business, manufacturing and IT are all connected.”
During these years, Outi qualified herself in project management and gradually moved into broader leadership responsibilities — from project portfolio management and steering group work to executive-level change management and, more recently, board-related roles.
For the past 14 years, Outi has worked mainly with IT service providers, while remaining able to represent either an IT vendor or an industry enterprise, depending on the assignment.
“Nowadays, I can work on either side and adapt quickly to different environments. At this stage of my career, I have experience in many industries and know how to adapt my work to their particularities."
IT means more than technology
Outi is keen to clarify what “IT” means in her work.
“When I talk about IT, I mean everything related to information technology. Systems, devices, data centers, networks, information security, infrastructure, end-user support...all of it.”
Outi emphasises that IT investments and transformation projects go far beyond the technology itself.
“Every significant change in an IT environment also changes existing processes and people’s ways of working.”
That’s why Outi places great importance on people leadership — making realistic plans that are tailored to the context and implementable.
“IT management is not just technology management. It’s holistic."
This understanding has been the key to Outi’s success in different roles. She promotes focused and sustainable change among complex and interconnected elements.
First touchpoints with interim work
Outi’s first exposure to interim work came naturally. While working as an employee in one company, she collaborated with managers who performed essentially the same roles, but through B2B contracts. This gave her the idea of starting her own business.
“For me, interim management hasn’t been a career shift. It is an additional, flexible contracting model that responds to different client needs and market structures.”
In Outi’s experience, interim offerings are especially useful in international environments. There, B2B contracting opens up options for senior management resourcing.
“I am very open to both employment and B2B contract roles. What matters more is the task at hand and whether or not it is a good fit.”
While there are career interim managers who only take on independent roles, many professionals, like Outi, are successful in both employment and interim roles. Outi is based in Europe, but open to interesting assignments in any location.
Why B2B contracting works
B2B contracting allows clients to choose the most suitable engagement model for their situation. It lowers the threshold to bring in senior expertise: contracts can be fixed-term, part-time, scaled up or down or used at very early stages of an initiative.
For example, a company exploring an investment idea or facing a specific organisational challenge can engage Outi for a short period. In a short time frame, Outi can clarify direction, structure plans, or assess risks — all before committing to larger steps for implementation.
“This flexibility lowers the barrier for decision-makers. You can start small, see the impact, and then decide what comes next.”
Outi has offered both B2B contracts and employment-based options for six years, depending on what best serves the client.
What Outi offers her clients
Outi’s distinctive strength lies in her ability to combine strategic business thinking, technology capabilities and cross-cultural leadership — and to do this simultaneously across multiple markets. She often works as a key member of management teams during periods of growth, stabilisation or transformation.
Senior experience plays a crucial role here. Having handled many large-scale and complex situations, Outi knows how to scale plans realistically and sustainably.
“As a senior-level expert, I adapt outputs to what the organisation can actually absorb. I have often acted in several roles at once, which is a significant advantage for companies. ”
Outi has worked in companies lacking clear structures, roles, and ways of working — often alongside constant organisational change and challenges in meeting their client delivery commitments. In these situations, creating stability means fostering transparency with leadership across the organisation and enabling teams to execute change effectively.
"As an interim manager and IT business leader, I have to operate with agility. This means taking many factors into account, including cybersecurity and both regional and local regulations."
Outi elaborates on her leadership approach further:
“My leadership style is based on coaching rather than pushing. I empower people to think critically, take ownership and become self-leaders. This ensures the work will carry on after my contract has ended.”
Outi believes that success in IT transformation is not only about leading technology, but rather about supporting people in continuous learning.
Encouraging companies to use interim managers
Outi strongly encourages companies to make use of interim managers, even through small engagements.
“A small, short-term interim contract can already make a real difference. ”
In Outi’s line of work, interims can help bridge the gap between what technology can enable and how organisations actually utilise it.
“Interims are catalysts for transformation in the business and IT landscape. For example, international growth and cybersecurity improvements are very needed subjects for interim deliveries now.”
Ultimately, interim management allows companies to access deep expertise without committing to employment. Interim solutions are adaptable to different situations and budgets.
"B2B contracting is on-demand leadership. The most successful companies are making use of interim managers and incorporating them into their workforce.”
Can your company benefit from Outi's expertise?
Best Best Talent Platform is a digital tool, but it is also a supportive community of senior experts, including Outi Kettunen. Outi is a BBTP Member and independent talent who can help with the following:
Leading strategic IT and digital transformation initiatives
Upselling and enabling growth targets
Restructuring organisational capabilities
Standardising and improving delivery performance
Strengthening organisational competitiveness
To begin working with Outi, get in touch with her directly:
Outi Kettunen
contact@ibob.pro
https://www.linkedin.com/in/outikettunen/
Do you have an assignment you would like to advertise to a wider audience of independent experts?
Outi's #Way2InterimManagement showcases the uses of an interim manager for IT and other transformations. Interim managers can also be used for financial management, human resources, marketing, and more!
If you would like to advertise an assignment to a larger talent pool (1500 experts and growing!), get in touch with our team. We are always happy to help the best companies find the best talent.
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