An enthusiast and a natural, Jari Pitkälä has succeeded in the business world by asking direct questions.

In this series of articles, we introduce the founders of Rogi. Jari is, among other things, one of the first employees of the Bravedo Group, who left operational operations four years ago. What is Jari doing now?

Jari Pitkälä is a well-known investor who spent 20 years working for the Bravedo community as one of the first employees. He is currently finishing his theology studies and carefully selecting the companies he will promote.

Everyone who has met Jari Pitkälä remembers the energy that emanates from the man. He himself calls it the gift of inspiration.

“I am a natural who sets things in motion. I get excited about the possibilities when I get to offer a customer a new way of doing things. I believe childishly in the power of enthusiasm and inspiration: energy is my superpower.”

Jari, or more familiarly Jortte, describes himself as an un-Finnish supporter of a culture of direct speech, who does not shy away from topics for discussion. He calls for openness and the use of networks. “Many companies have turned inward, which starts from the management team. People should be more open, build trust and use networks extensively, and not think narrowly, for example by staying out of social media.”

Jari was involved in Bravedo, originally Barona, from the beginning and actively led the community to become a half-billion-dollar company. His theological studies were left unfinished when the logistics industry at Barona took him along. He later graduated with a master's degree in 2007.

The different sectors grew and Jari's task was to ensure sales. Among other things, he developed a joint super booking day for the group's companies, which ensured sales for the following months. Customer activity became a sacred thing and the business was innovatively taken into new areas. He was the promoter, for example, in the airport project, where Barona established a new service operation from flights to develop the airport's ground handling operations. However, the time was not ripe for such outsourcing and after a couple of years Barona sold the business on.

The secret to Bravedo's success

Pitkälä believes that Bravedo's recipe for success is a huge desire for profitable growth and trust. When the entire management shared the same goals, it was easy to operate in the field. The work was about helping, continuous learning and teaching.

"A primitive person like me needs a strong person to partner with, who will take responsibility for the other side of the business; managing the business with numbers. This way, many superpowers can be put to good use."

In 2009, Barona became the market leader in the personnel services industry, which had been a determined goal from the beginning.

About four years ago, Jari left Bravedo's operational activities, after a 20-year career. He is currently completing his studies to become a priest. As he moves towards his calling, Jari reflects that he will never be able to completely leave his passion, business development.

How the different job descriptions combine will likely require balancing. He is involved in, among other things, building an attractive hotel from the Röykä mental hospital and turning the Meilahti manor into a spectacular event venue. In the projects, Jari's primary goal is to work in the background, supporting through government work.

The projects of working life are balanced by a peaceful and happy family life with his wife and two daughters, as well as his passions for golf and running.

Rog Partners – Those who ask will not lose their way

Jari fell in love with the Rog Partners story when he met his former Bravedo colleagues, Essi Järvinen and Ilkka Suhonen. The pair explained how qualitative interview methods can generate new information about a company's stakeholders and help develop operations. Interview-based analyses help to delve deeper into customer experience, shedding more light than traditional surveys on what is behind NPS readings. It is also possible to find out the reasons for customer churn by contacting lost business, map the need for a new service or develop reseller cooperation. Jari was excited about a straightforward service that would generate immediate savings regardless of the industry.

“Anyone who knows how to think strategically about their customer and sales processes must use a service like Rogi. When you get excited about new projects, it's clear that in the midst of a rush, the basic work won't be done well enough. However, the brave and smart dare to ask – even better if it's done by an external party.”

For Jari, the most important thing is the team he works with. “Ilkka and Essi are good guys, old colleagues. Our paths have now crossed again, which is a significant thing and I believe that success will come quickly. Our connection has arisen from different angles, but it concretizes the golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here.”