For Tiina, growth has never meant leaving something behind. Rather it has meant building on what came before. Over her 26-year career at Mylab, she has embraced change, taken bravely on new challenges, and continuously expanded her perspective. Her story is a real example of what’s possible when an organization encourages learning and offers room to evolve. Read the whole article to find out what has kept Tiina inspired through these years!
Tiina Mäkinen, Product Manager, Mylab
From software development to product management
Tiina began her story at Mylab as a software developer. In those early years, she enjoyed the creativity of building solutions and working hands-on with technology. But soon, as Mylab grew and changed, new opportunities emerged. She moved into product management, team leadership, and later into key account management role. Each transition offered her a fresh lens on the business and domain.
Every role has taught me something valuable. You carry those lessons with you, nothing goes to waste.
One of the most formative experiences was her seven years as a Key Account Manager for HUS, Finland’s largest healthcare provider. The role gave her deep insight into customer needs, contract structures, and the realities of large-scale healthcare operations. That experience continues to fuel and shape her work today.
Embracing complexity and strategic thinking
Currently, Tiina works as a Product Manager in Mylab’s product function. Her responsibilities cover services related to our entire My+® system, including for example customer support, and application and capacity services. In addition to that, Tiina is also responsible for My+ care® product, which enables physicians, nurses and other staff in treatment units to access laboratory information in patient care directly.
The role of a Product Manager has evolved significantly in recent years. Under the leadership of our Chief Product Officer Juha Högmander, product management has become more strategic and commercially oriented. Tiina has been able to shift more towards strategic thinking, lifecycle management, and commercial responsibility.
Motivation doesn’t last without challenge. You need just the right amount to keep things interesting.
She credits Juha for providing the tools and support to navigate complexity and workload – helping her prioritize, stay focused, and ultimately, grow as a professional. That guidance has been essential in an environment that keeps evolving.
Learning together
Collaboration is a key part of Tiina’s work. She works closely with colleagues across product development, business analysis, and product marketing. Weekly meetings, joint planning sessions, and shared presentations help ensure that knowledge flows across teams.
We work tightly together: sparring ideas, sharing updates, and building things such as Product Monthly sessions as a team. That’s something I really appreciate.
Tiina especially enjoys working with Hannele in product marketing, refining customer presentations and messaging.
Having someone to exchange ideas with has elevated the work and made it even more rewarding.
Staying inspired by purpose
Beyond the roles and responsibilities, Tiina finds deep meaning in the industry itself. Healthcare has always felt purposeful, and that sense of impact continues to fuel her motivation.
I believe in Mylab and in what we do. We’re moving in the right direction, and I still find this work genuinely exciting.
Tiina remains committed to learning, improving, and contributing. You can hear it in her speech! She’s now very focused on mastering the evolving role of a Product Manager and preparing for future developments, including international expansion.
A culture that encourages growth
Tiina’s story reflects the kind of culture we thrive to build at Mylab: one where people are encouraged to grow, supported through change, and trusted to take on new challenges. Her journey shows that long careers don’t mean standing still. They mean evolving, learning, and finding new ways to contribute.
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