Emmi Helanne
Product Owner, NAPA Safety Solutions, NAPA Finland
At NAPA Finland, Emmi Helanne works as a Product Owner for NAPA Safety Solutions, guiding the development of two key products that support maritime safety: NAPA Stability and NAPA Emergency Computer. With a background in industrial design and years of experience in product development, she brings a thoughtful mix of creativity, structure, and empathy to her role.
She joined NAPA three years ago, having heard about the opportunity through a friend on the team. Meeting the team and understanding what they were building made the decision easy. “Once I saw what they were doing, there wasn’t much to think about”, she says. Her previous experience as a consultant had exposed her to various industries, making her well-prepared for the technical challenges of safety products, even if the learning curve was steep.
Emmi’s role is dynamic and multifaceted. She balances short-term development with long-term vision, aligning internal teams, and collaborating closely with customers. “Stakeholder communication is key,” she says. “It’s about making sure everyone is informed and engaged — both inside and outside the company.”
She works across two teams: a close-knit development team and a strategic business design team. Together, they offer both the agility and foresight needed to drive innovation. “Challenges are part of the job,” Emmi notes. “They keep me motivated and make the work meaningful.” Rather than fearing new challenges, she embraces them as opportunities to solve problems and grow.
Challenges are part of the job – they keep me motivated and make the work meaningful.
While she describes herself as somewhat reserved, Emmi is deeply engaged and intentional in how she manages her work and career. She prefers to focus on the essentials, and she values relationships with people. She also appreciates the deep expertise within the company: “Many colleagues have been here a long time, and that experience creates a strong foundation you can rely on.”
Her days are filled with meetings, customer interactions, and operational tasks, all grounded in creating value. “Prioritization is essential,” she says. “There’s always a lot going on, but I focus on what matters most.”
Looking ahead, Emmi is excited about the future: both for NAPA and herself. “We’ve already achieved much in these three years”, she says, “and I can’t wait to see what’s next”.
A recent workshop reminded her of what drives her most: people and collaboration. “Even though I value my personal life deeply, I genuinely enjoy working. If I had to choose one word to describe how I feel, it would be ‘excited’.”