Riikka joined Ember at a critical inflection point after we’d just closed a funding round. We were hiring fast, our people operations (or lack-thereof) were under pressure, and we needed someone with both strategic vision and the ability to execute at pace. Riikka delivered on both fronts - and then some.
She completely overhauled our end-to-end people processes, introduced the systems and structure we needed to grow, and did it all with clarity, speed and precision. She laid the foundations that enabled us to scale effectively, and her impact was felt across every corner of the business.
What sets Riikka apart is her ability to take on complex, often ambiguous challenges and break them down into clear, manageable actions - and then executes on these. She’s a systems thinker, but also incredibly grounded in the day-to-day realities of how teams and people work. Whether it was building out our performance pointers approach, handling sensitive people issues, or leading a redefinition of our company values and what it meant to be part of Ember - she was instrumental.
She’s not your average “people person.” She’s sharp, pragmatic, unflappable - and deeply trusted. There were few decisions I made during her time with us where I didn’t lean on her input. She’s seen and handled it all, and never shies away from making the hard calls when needed.
If I had my time again, she’d be the first person I’d hire. Any business (startup, scale up or otherwise) would be lucky to have her on board.
- Daniel Hogan, Co-Founder and Co-CEO at Ember
Riikka set the bar for what great leadership looks like. She was the most thoughtful, knowledgeable, and effective manager I’ve ever had. Working with her fundamentally shifted how I approach my work - she encouraged me to think critically, be more proactive, and always consider the “why” behind every decision.
What makes Riikka stand out is her rare ability to bridge the gap between strategic thinking and operational detail. She’s a true generalist in the best sense of the word. Whether she was navigating complex compliance topics, working with data, finding the best matches for the People team, or coaching on all things people-related, she always knew how to zoom in and out to get to the heart of the issue.
Riikka has a calm, confident way of making even the messiest problems feel solvable. She doesn’t just create processes, she builds systems that actually stick and support people at every level. If you have the chance to work with Riikka - just take it! I can’t think of a better partner for any company looking to improve how their people, systems, and processes work together. She’ll challenge you, support you, and make sure things not only get done, but get done right.
- Izabela Gałecka, People Experience Partner at Volt.io
Riikka is exactly the person you want tackling your biggest challenges. She's thoughtful, relentlessly focused on solving root causes - not just symptoms - and combines strategic insight with real pace and action orientation.
Her breadth of knowledge is impressive, and she brings curiosity and passion to almost any topic. She's a trusted sounding board and an excellent sparring partner for senior leaders, able to quickly zoom in on what matters most.
Riikka is commercially minded, always focused on the ROI of initiatives and how they drive measurable impact - from automation and AI adoption to influencing behaviour and driving change. If you're looking for a partner who can think deeply about complex problems or opportunities and then lead the charge in delivering real, lasting outcomes, I can’t recommend Riikka highly enough.
- Emma Collingwood, Chief People Officer at Volt.io
I worked with Riikka for over 2 years at a Series B start up called Volt. She is extremely dedicated, professional and an excellent all round HR professional.
As a Finance person, I really appreciated Riikka's excellent understanding of numbers, data and systems. Riikka will always go the extra mile and see every job through from start to finish. 5 stars!
- Graham Baxter, SVP Finance at Volt.io
I worked with Riikka for two years while she was Head of People Programmes. It was a great experience. She worked fast and got things done efficiently. We quickly found common ground and solved real problems together. We shared a clear view on how to improve and automate processes, so things could run on their own.
I really enjoyed working with her and I highly recommend her to anyone.
- Filip Pokój, Head of Engineering at Volt.io