a story about how resilience, adaptability, and persistence can help anyone overcome cultural and personal challenges.
bias is everywhere, but proving the skeptics wrong, is definitely possible!
Achieving a leadership role in IT at Wärtsilä did not come easy for Shefali Arora. After moving to Finland for her husband’s job and initially being a stay-at-home mother, she pushed her boundaries to integrate and grow. Her journey from immigrant mother to a prestigious position at Wärtsilä is one worth sharing!
In 2002, Shefali found herself packing up her life in Delhi and moving with her family to Finland. Her husband, Rajiv, who came to Vaasa in 2001 on an Expat contract as a Project manager at Wärtsilä. They settled in Vaasa, a small city far from the bustling streets of India. They had two young children, and by 2003, the family moved to the capital region to ensure their children could attend an English-speaking school.
The transition from Delhi to Vaasa was a shock for Shefali. The sheer scale of everything seemed to shrink overnight. Vaasa in 2002 wasn’t particularly international—it was mostly Finnish and Swedish speakers, and as a newcomer, Shefali often felt people staring at her. It made her feel like an outsider, as if they were questioning why she was there. Despite being a qualified electronics engineer, Shefali sensed the weight of these judgments. Determined to integrate into Finnish society, she made a pivotal decision early on: to learn the language. She joined the Suomi-Intia-Seura, a.k.a Finnish-Indian Society, and later, when they moved to the capital area, she enrolled in Finnish classes at Vantaan Aikuisopisto. Today she is President of Suomi-Intia-Seura, a.k.a Finnish-Indian Society
For the first year, Shefali chose not to pursue a job. Her priority was ensuring her children felt settled in their new environment. But after some time, she began to explore opportunities for herself. After completing her language classes, she took an internship at the Myyrmäki Library, working in customer service. It was her first real immersion into Finnish work life, helping her improve her language skills and gain a foothold in the workforce.
However, not all experiences were positive. She still remembers vividly the day they were moving from Myyrmäki to Kartanonkoski. A drunken man approached her, shouting, "You foreigners just come here to take our money and live off us." It was a harsh reminder of the challenges immigrants sometimes face. Despite this, Shefali pressed forward.
With her improved Finnish skills, integrating into the culture became more manageable. In 2004, she secured a position at Nokia in product data management, where she worked for three years. By 2007, Shefali shifted to Wärtsilä, where her career began to flourish. She started as a PDM specialist and eventually moved into a leadership role, heading the Product Engineering and Life Cycle Management in Wärtsilä Information Management team.
One of the things Shefali is most proud of is the diverse team she now manages. Her team includes Finns, Indians, and Chinese, and she knows from experience how important it is for everyone to feel like they belong. She’s worked hard to create a sense of inclusivity, knowing that for a team to succeed, every member needs to feel valued and part of something bigger.
Shefali’s journey is a testament to how grit, bravery, and persistence can take anyone far, even in the face of daunting challenges. Moving from the vibrant streets of Delhi to the quieter, colder Finland wasn’t easy, but her determination to integrate, learn the language, and build a career helped her overcome obstacles.
Rather than being held back by cultural differences or harsh experiences, Shefali pushed herself out of her comfort zone, embracing opportunities and building a life for her family. Her story shows that with resilience and a willingness to adapt, anyone can thrive, no matter where they are.