Riding the Crest of Change by Renewing Skills
The world is constantly changing at an accelerating pace. Uncertainty and unpredictability have become part of the current normalcy, making adaptability a new essential skill. All this requires a different attitude towards developing one’s own expertise.
At the core of adaptability is continuous learning, involving curiosity about the world, self-development, enthusiasm, and the ongoing updating of skills and knowledge. Adaptability is the willingness to connect with different networks, identify trends, and discover potential opportunities: ideas, shifts in consumer behaviour, partners, as well as gaps and needs for creative competence.
“The majority of entrepreneurs in the creative industries operate as solo entrepreneurs,” says specialist in business and entrepreneurship Leena Janhila from Humak University of Applied Sciences. “Collaboration will become increasingly crucial for solo entrepreneurs in the future: co-learning, co-creating, and responding to customer needs collectively. Collaboration also requires new skills; it doesn’t happen on its own.”
“Collaboration will become increasingly crucial for solo entrepreneurs in the future: co-learning, co-creating, and responding to customer needs collectively. Collaboration also requires new skills; it doesn’t happen on its own.”
Laura Janhila
Finland is an international environment
When it comes to businesses and internationalization, it’s no longer just about going beyond Finland’s borders. The international environment is already part of everyday life in Finland, with fewer companies competing solely locally, given that international competition extends to the home turf. Being globally prepared isn’t just about understanding changes in the business landscape or the competition. It involves having strong language skills, a genuine respect for diverse cultures, and the capacity to facilitate effective communication across different backgrounds.
“Entrepreneurial skills are expanding with global readiness, sustainability and responsibility skills, and new technology,” Janhila explains. “It’s clear that staying abreast of changes requires the constant updating of skills. Those who possess these skills hold the true prize,” describes Janhila the transformation.
“Renewing expertise also strengthens the business of solo entrepreneurs in the creative industries, fostering balanced and sustainable entrepreneurship,” Janhila emphasizes.
What do creative entrepreneurs think about skill development?
Humak’s creative industry business service, Creve, is currently running the extensive Volume! programme for solo entrepreneurs in 2023–2024, specifically targeting the textile, fashion, and visual design sectors, both in Finnish and English. A total of 120 solo entrepreneurs have already joined, and the programme shares monthly stories of the individuals behind the creative work. You can find them here.
Bianca Byggmästar, Interior Architect and Textile Designer
“Language skills are one of the most important prerequisites for internationalization. It’s a completely different matter to be able to speak even a little of the client’s language. It enables also better consuming of other countries’ media and markets when you understand what’s going on.” Read Bianca’s entrepreneur story here.
Volume! provides new skills for global readiness
The Volume! – Empowering Solo Entrepreneurs through Global Readiness -program provides free of charge online higher education on entrepreneurship and business skills, group coaching, workshops, and networking for solo entrepreneurs in the creative industries.
You can sign up any time, create your own learning path and choose the education and services you need. Registration is open until the end of Oct 2024. Read more and enroll here.
The Volume! -programme is financed by the Continuous Learning and Employment Service Center, SECLE.
