Women in tech: In conversation with Milla Oinonen
It's the 4th edition of our 'Women in tech' series
We wanted to do this series to highlight some amazing women working in the SaaS industry, speaking to them about what it means to them to be a woman in tech, as well as their experiences in a space that’s long been more male-dominated.
All of these interviews were conducted by Dan Watson, who we welcomed into the team as a researcher over the summer whilst he was on break from university.
A huge thanks to every single woman who was happy to talk to us as part of this series, and to Dan for expertly coordinating the interviews and writing of these pieces.
For this fourth edition, we wanted to reach out to one of our contacts in the SaaS space from the Nordics. We reached out to Milla Oinonen, whose expertise in legal solutions has given her a masterful knowledge of both the tech industry and the law.
Her story to date
From as early as 7, Milla had a strong passion for law and wanted to grow up to become a judge. Once at law school, her priorities shifted towards the pursuit of a more proactive approach to problem-solving. And after graduation and her progression into in-house counsel, she developed a keen interest in the rapid growth of the tech space. Milla views the advancements made in Generative AI as some of the greatest made in human history, and she wanted to be part of the industry, making it happen. Above everything, she places value in being an 'explorer' - someone able to pursue new solutions rather than remain idle in the space.
Regarding her inspirations in the industry, Milla struggled to narrow it down to one single source of inspiration and instead gave acknowledgement to a variety of people and companies that have contributed to her capabilities and interests in the space. She said that women in the tech industry are typically less visible in conversations about inspirations, but that witnessing and the sharing of those whose contributions cannot be undersold is a welcome change.
Milla specifically highlighted a company called Solar Foods, whose efforts have contributed to advancements in ending world hunger. Their ability to synthesise carbon dioxide into protein has particularly caught her eye, and she will continue to follow any further developments to come out of this company.
Equity at work
The conversation swiftly pivoted towards disparity in the workplace. Milla believes that in this rapidly changing world, we must learn to embrace continuous improvement to maintain relevancy. As a person, her pragmatism is clear to see as she's willing to trust her instincts when making decisions, substantial or incremental alike. She praises former employees and leaders throughout her career who helped foster this quality within her.
When posed with the question around the barriers that exist for those who take a career break or extended leave, Milla encourages people to explore a less restrictive approach. In her home country of Finland, job security during leave is backed by the law; work balance and life balance are not mutually exclusive. If you are looking for a work-life balance that suits your needs better, then the key is to find other ways to gain control over your career. And that could even mean relocating if necessary. Critical thinking and staying on top of industry changes are highly sought after in this industry across the world. Consider applying these skills in a new location. When faced with challenges, Milla simply says, "We will find our way."
A final thanks to Milla
Our conversation with Milla gave really great insight into how inspiration can come in sometimes unexpected fashion, as well as different ways to overcome disparity in the workplace and barriers that come when trying to take a career break.
We’d like to thank Milla Oinonen again for her time. We hope her words and story can be a source of inspiration to those looking to build a career in the ever-evolving SaaS space, regardless of gender.
Look out for the next in the series
Our conversation with Milla was the fourth of five conversations we’ve carried out, so keep an eye out for our final story from a woman who has pushed the boundaries in their industry.