Meet the experts at Reputation and Trust: Marjo Seppä

Research Manager, Research Team Leader

Hey there, who are you?

I’m Marjo Seppä, a regular mom from Helsinki who keeps the household running and openly admits that I’m originally from Vantaa. I work as a research manager and lead the research team at Reputation and Trust Analytics, where we find out what people really think.

In my free time, my family of five and my parents, who are in their late 70s, make sure I never get bored. I enjoy the fact that my children are already grown up and that we can do all sorts of activities together.

Exercise is my passion. I’ve tried just about every sport out there, but a career as an athlete has so far remained a pipe dream. I’m generally the kind of person who gets excited easily. If someone suggests something new, I’m probably already on board before I even have a chance to think about whether it makes sense.

How did you end up working at Reputation and Trust Analytics?

I originally ended up in the research field by chance: I was studying marketing at what was then Evtek University of Applied Sciences, and through the school I landed an internship at a sister company of the Suomen Gallup Group, which was conducting surveys on the values and attitudes of Finns. And that’s how I ended up on the Gallup path.

I was incredibly lucky to land this internship, because I found the field really interesting right away. Gathering people’s opinions is fascinating, and it’s really motivating to know that this research has an impact on society. I feel that our work truly makes a difference.

After spending several years at Gallup, I began to crave a change and applied for a job at what was then T-Media, whose reputation surveys seemed incredibly interesting. Another key factor was that I knew I would be happier in a close-knit, smaller work community than in a large organization.

Even though I was looking for a change, I didn’t want to leave the world of research, because it had already become my profession and I had built up my expertise. It feels pretty good when you realize you’ve mastered your field and can advise others. Especially when I remember how lost I was at the beginning: the terms were unfamiliar, and things like “data weighting” meant absolutely nothing to me.

What do you do and what have you done at Reputation and Trust Analytics?

I started as a research manager in 2019. The core of the job was the same as at my previous workplace, which was nice because I was able to get right to work.

I also loved the fact that I knew I’d be able to take on a wide variety of tasks as part of the research team. In our team, people aren’t pigeonholed; instead, everyone gets to do a bit of everything and can shape their own job description.

We research managers are, in a sense, the project managers for our research studies. We participate in kickoff meetings with the client and are responsible for ensuring that the project proceeds as agreed. We take care of all the details in close collaboration with the data team and consultants.

I really enjoy working “behind the scenes” here. I like interacting with clients, but I also appreciate that our roles are based on people’s skills and interests. Researchers handle the research, and consultants manage client relationships.

In addition to working as a research manager, I have served as the head of the research team since 2024, which adds a little extra spice to my job.

What is the best and most inspiring part of your job?

It’s exciting to always be at the cutting edge of information, to be the first to hear people’s thoughts and opinions—and increasingly on an international level. Even in the early stages of a study, I often find myself wondering what kind of findings it might yield and what it will reveal about the direction of trends. I never get tired of that feeling.

I enjoy helping to ensure that projects run smoothly and stay on schedule. I feel I’ve succeeded when our consultants are able to present high-quality research to satisfied clients.

One of the best things about my job is definitely the diversity of our clients: public administration, organizations, large companies, small businesses… Each research project offers a chance to dive into a whole new world.

And then, of course, there are my amazing coworkers and a work culture where everyone helps each other and shares information. We work together toward a common goal. For many years, I couldn’t believe it: could it really be true that I get to work in a workplace where everyone is such a great person, both professionally and personally?

Marjoa was interviewed by Anu Räsänen, a communications specialist at Reputation and Trust.