My summer at UPM: Freedom to challenge myself and grow

Last summer I worked as an intern in UPM Pulp's Supply Chain Tools and Processes organisation at the company's head office in Helsinki. From the moment I got to know the company and the team, I felt it would be a perfect fit. Education, knowledge and experience were important, but so were personality and values - a combination that made me feel welcome from the start.

I am currently in my 5th (and final) year at Hanken, majoring in Finance, and in my 3rd year at Aalto University, majoring in Digital Systems and Design.

One of the best things about working at UPM is the focus on people. It is fascinating to see how people from different backgrounds and educational levels come together and thrive. Having people with different skills means that there is always someone to ask for help and guidance. This environment has also encouraged me to develop my own skills and confidence in an industry that I was initially unfamiliar with.

A highlight of the summer was our visit to the Kymi pulp and paper mill and the Verla Mill Museum, where I gained a deeper appreciation and understanding of the history of pulp production in Finland.

Throughout the summer I had the opportunity to learn a lot about the pulp and paper industry and to network with colleagues from different departments. During the summer I worked on two main projects: the first was the implementation of the new EU Deforestation Regulation, which gave me an insight into the regulatory side of production and the measures taken to prevent deforestation. This project was particularly challenging as the regulation was new and there were few established guidelines to follow. My second major project was managing the development of reporting for a new customer portal. Managing different requirements and ideas from different stakeholders and creating a successful end product has been both rewarding and challenging.

For me, ‘Feel good about your work’ means having the freedom to challenge myself and grow, with each day bringing new opportunities and challenges. This summer experience has been invaluable to my personal and professional development.

My summer at UPM: Freedom to challenge myself and grow

Mathias Backman

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