IPMA-B Certification to strengthen project management leadership

Stora Enso – leading responsible innovation

Stora Enso is the leading provider of renewable products in packaging, biomaterials and wooden construction - and one of the largest private forest owners in the world. The goal is to create better choices for society by accelerating the transition to a circular bioeconomy. The purpose “Do good for people and the planet. Replace non-renewable materials with renewable products” underpins our belief that everything that can be made with fossil-based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow and highlights Stora Enso’s opportunity to contribute to a greener economy.

Riku Kiili is Senior Project Manager at Stora Enso with over 20 years of experienIPMA Certification as career boosterce leading various projects—ranging from research, development and design projects to shipbuilding, marine technology as well as implementation of complex industrial investment programs. He has also invested in certifications and completed IPMA-C certification in 2022 and IPMA-B certification in 2024.

"I previously worked at Neste, where applying for the C-certification was taken for granted. It went smoothly as the key aspects had become familiar through practical experience. The B-level certification became relevant at Stora Enso due to the growing size, requirements and complexity of our projects—so I wanted to validate my project management skills at the next level with the internationally recognized and prestigious certification," says Riku Kiili.

To support the certification process and ensure it’s success, Stora Enso chose Jori Kosonen (CEO of Talent Network) as responsible trainer and coach.

"Even IPMA-C level certification is a valuable proof of project management expertise," says Jori, adding that, "Certification is increasingly becoming an essential criterion when hiring project managers, and IPMA-B certification opens up new opportunities for leading more challenging projects.

For Riku Kiili, the coaching process was a crucial support in successfully navigating the certification journey. "The application process itself was highly educational. Sharing experiences and reflecting on different aspects of project leadership with the peer group provided valuable additional insights. It's important to highlight also soft values and engage in self-reflection, actively considering one's strengths and areas for development."

Benefits from coaching

Riku Kiili sums up the overall benefit of the coaching process: "The timeline for the certification process provided clear structure to ensure the outcome, and coach Jori Kosonen made sure that the certification application met all requirements and was completed on time. Jori's extensive experience and the diverse external peer knowledge offered valuable new perspectives and point of views”.

Coach Jori Kosonen

CEO, Talent Network

Certified Executive Consultant and Coach

#PRY #projectleadership #projectexcellence #leadership #transformation #Interim

Photo by Olli-Pekka Latvala