When an exercise physiologist becomes a project manager, new perspectives and bold solutions emerge. Ella Kaikumaa is part of a project in Turku that brings exercise closer to all young people.
Text by Ella Kaikumaa
Photos Opa Latvala
Ella Kaikumaa was awarded the Young Project Manager of the Year award at the autumn Project Days.
My journey in the project field started in 2022, when I ended up in Turku City Sports Services during my university studies, working on a project to promote recreational activities for children and young people. I have a Master’s degree in Exercise Science with a specialisation in exercise physiology, and my expertise has been built around supporting health-promoting physical activity and well-being. Project work has felt like a very natural way of working to me from the start and I like the fact that projects often have a clear goal and a concrete sense of purpose. I could say that the project world has taken me along for the ride, and its diversity has been one of the reasons why I find the field particularly interesting.
Boldly leading the way for systemic change
I am currently working as a project manager for the City of Turku’s sports services in a project that is the first city in Finland to promote physical activity for children and young people in a completely new way.
In January 2025, the City of Turku introduced an electronic hobby card, the Boostii benefit, which is given annually to all Turku residents aged 7-19 years old to cover the cost of guided exercise in Turku’s sports clubs. The Boostii is currently worth between €160 and €260, depending on the age group.
The background is a systemic change and a strongly knowledge-led model that has the potential to become a very important means of promoting well-being and equality, also at international level, through the increase in physical activity and its life cycle extension.
I lead a series of innovations aimed at supporting systemic change by increasing participation and reducing regional disparities. The first year has brought many great successes and new enthusiasts, but there is still a long way to go.
As a young project manager, I’ve had the opportunity to jump in at the deep end in many ways, but so far there has been more enthusiasm and success than hesitation. I feel that my approach brings open-mindedness, courage and the ability to look at things from new perspectives to the project world. At the same time, of course, the support of more experienced colleagues and shared learning have also been important. In my role as a project manager, I have found that the most important thing is not to do everything myself, but to act as a guide and enabler for the successes of others.
On the journey of learning, collaboration and change
Project work has taught me that uncertainty and incompleteness are part of projects, especially when you are making big changes, systemic development and building something completely new. It has been rewarding to discover how much great things can be achieved when you dare to experiment and challenge existing dysfunctional structures.
I believe that the project skills of the future will be very much based on technology and AI, but still very much people-oriented. Communication, stakeholder collaboration, people and change management skills are, in my opinion, the most important skills for a project manager and project specialist. These skills are particularly needed now, when the world is changing faster than ever. It also means having the courage to make decisions in the face of uncertainty.
My advice to other young project professionals is to seize the opportunity, even if you don’t feel fully ready. No one will ever be ready in project work, as I believe it is a never-ending learning journey. Enthusiasm, open interaction and a willingness to work together to improve things go a long way.
It has been great to see that my background as an exercise physiologist has also been of great benefit in the project world. Understanding the whole person, motivating them and supporting their well-being are valuable skills also when building new services, structures and different operating models. The best projects and results are achieved when there is a genuine sense of working together and everyone feels that their contribution is relevant as part of a bigger picture, both internally and with external stakeholders.
