Multiculturalism forms the foundation of Taiga’s international success

At Taiga Concept Oy, internationality is at the heart of everything the company does. Tuire Anita Karhu, Export Manager for Norway, says that multiculturalism is reflected in recruitment, the company’s working language, and product development alike. It enables the company to serve customers around the world from its base in Kuopio, Finland.

Taiga Concept designs and manufactures modular spaces that improve concentration and privacy in offices and other public environments. The company’s products are exported primarily to the Nordic countries, the United Kingdom, the Benelux region, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

More than 90 percent of the company’s revenue comes from exports, making an understanding of different markets a crucial competitive advantage from the very beginning.

“Multiculturalism has always been a prerequisite for gaining a foothold in international markets and succeeding in international expansion. One of the key factors in entering new markets has been language skills,” Karhu explains.

Diversity is visible and heard in everyday work

At Taiga, diversity encompasses employees of different ages and backgrounds, as well as multiple native languages and nationalities. English serves as the company’s common working language.

Diversity is not treated as a separate theme within the company. Instead, it is an integral part of everyday operations and workplace culture. Karhu emphasizes that making the most of diversity requires an inclusive company culture. Simply hiring people from different backgrounds is not enough; their perspectives must genuinely be included in decision-making.

“Diversity is at its best when everyone feels confident contributing and participating in decision-making. It is not enough to talk about diversity. Every perspective must also be heard.”

According to Karhu, a diverse work environment creates opportunities for insights that might not otherwise emerge. People from different backgrounds approach the same issues from different angles, challenging established ways of working and supporting continuous learning.

International talent strengthens product development

Taiga develops its products with the needs of global markets in mind from the outset. Employees from different countries help the company understand customer expectations and market-specific characteristics in ways that would be difficult to achieve without direct local expertise.

For example, customer quality requirements in the Swiss market are exceptionally high. This has influenced the company’s overall product development and helped build a strong reputation for quality across all markets.

For Taiga, recruiting international talent has never been solely about addressing workforce needs. In many cases, a new employee has also opened doors to entirely new markets or strengthened the company’s position in existing ones.

“We see internationality as enhancing our credibility in the eyes of customers and partners. Knowledge of the local language and culture helps build trust and identify the right contacts more quickly,” Karhu says.

Taking the first step is worth it

Karhu encourages companies considering the recruitment of international talent to start with small steps.

“The first step might be a single recruitment or bringing an international trainee into the workplace community. Mentoring is also a low-threshold way to get to know international professionals. As experience accumulates, working practices and language policies naturally evolve. At the same time, Finnish companies can offer strengths that international talent highly values, such as a healthy work-life balance, flexibility, and trust between employer and employee.”

Text: Creative marketing agency Ida Fram

Photo: Taiga Concept Oy