Interview: Emil Aho, Relationship Manager – Finland
Emil Aho

In this interview, we enjoyed speaking with Emil Aho, a Relationship Manager at smeGo Finland. With a solid background in sales and SME banking, Emil brings a wealth of experience and insights into the dynamic world of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Having started his career at a young age and progressing through various roles, Emil has honed his expertise in SME banking, debt funding, and entrepreneurial advisory. His tenure at Nordea provided a strong foundation, which he now leverages to add significant value to his clients at smeGo.

In this interview, Emil will share his professional journey, the intricacies of his role at smeGo, and the unique challenges and opportunities SMEs face in Finland. He will also discuss the broader economic landscape, the competitive edge of smeGo, and his vision for the future of SME finance in Finland. Join us as we delve into Emil’s experiences and insights, offering a comprehensive look at the evolving world of SME banking and customer relationship management. 

Question: Can you give us an overview of the professional journey that led you to join smeGo?

Answer: Yeah, sure, thanks. Before university, I had several jobs, mostly in customer service and sales. During my university studies, I began working in SME banking, starting in customer service for corporate customers. My professional path has been clear and coherent, leading me to my role at smeGo. I would describe my career in banking as ”building from the ground up”, moving from the basics of banking services to more complex products and customers. I worked at Nordea for half a decade before joining smeGo last year. Even though I’m relatively young, I like to think that I’ve gained relevant expertise in SME banking, debt funding, and working with entrepreneurs.

Q: That’s quite the CV. As many people might not know, can you explain what a relationship manager at smeGo does? What’s your average day like? Is there even such a thing as an average day?

A: Every day is different for sure, which I really enjoy. A good way to describe my role is that I manage the needs of our clients. My job is to balance what our customers want with what we can deliver. A big area of the work is done behind the scenes, among analysis and managing deals, but on the customer front, a lot of my job is also to be an overall financial advisor for SME companies, helping them detect problems and achieve their targets. I onboard new customers, manage client relationships daily, and add value for smeGo and for our clients.

Q: Specifically in Finland, what are the key challenges for SMEs?

A: We could talk about the current market situation in Finland, inflation, or interest rates, but it’s clear that we face challenges similar to those in other places in Europe. Our economy has been struggling to grow over the past years. Specifically for SMEs, the past year or two has been about keeping companies profitable by finding new business opportunities, cutting costs, and streamlining operations. This applies across industries. From our perspective, we see that the financing costs have increased, and the availability of financing has decreased, both in equity and debt financing.

Q: Interesting. Yet, Finland is supposed to be one of the healthier economies in the EU.

A: Yes, it is, and it is well developed, but we face similar problems with economic growth to those in the rest of Europe.

Q: How does Finland differ from the rest of Europe regarding the range of financing solutions available to SMEs? I’ve also heard it’s quite difficult for international companies to enter the market. 

A: Sure, it might be that Finns prefer domestic solutions, products, and production in some ways, but I think that we are well connected to the rest of the world. Overall, the financial markets and fintech solutions here are well-developed. For SMEs, a few major banks are available, and alternative debt financiers and neobank financiers are also active in the Finnish market. A good amount of equity funds are focused on early-stage funding with seed and venture capital, which provides a good launchpad for new ideas. Our government organisations, like Business Finland and Finnvera, are doing a great job of helping SMEs launch, develop products, and grow. Programs like state guarantees from Finnvera reduce risk for entrepreneurs and help secure debt financing. 

Q: So, smeGo is entering a crowded and established market. What are you doing to differentiate yourselves? What’s your unique selling point?

A: Our main focus is on the quality and speed of digital and personal service. We strive to understand our customers well and serve them efficiently. By being effective on our end, we enable our customers to be effective in their businesses. We also aim to use the best tools to analyse business opportunities.

Q: You mentioned working as an entrepreneur advisor at Nordea. How did that experience prepare you for what you’re doing now? Do clients see you as more than just a loan provider?

A: Yes, definitely. At Nordea, as an entrepreneur advisor and as a financing manager, I helped companies not just with banking products but by sparring with them on their overall business strategy. It’s natural for me, and for our branch here, to help entrepreneurs with issues outside of being just a financing provider. We must recognise that we do well if our customers are doing well.

Q: How do you see the next two years for SME Finance in Finland? What are the plans and goals?

A: I see a great opportunity for us here in Finland to fill in gaps in financing availability. We are growing fast, and our services are in high demand. The outlook is good, and in the future, we will launch some exciting new products to better serve our clients’ financing and banking needs. I hope that within two years, we will have built a stronger foundation and that our clients continue to grow and succeed.

Q: Lastly, how can interested clients in Finland reach you?

A: If you want to chat with me or our team, please feel free to contact me on LinkedIn. For direct financing solutions, visit our website at smego.com, where you can find funding applications and more.

Q: Thank you for taking the time to chat.

A: No problem, it was a pleasure.

Please note that our finance application process is currently only available in English.

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