Profile

Name : Evita Wishnuwardani Haapavaara

Origin : Indonesia
Address : Sammalkallionkuja 3 D 26. 02210 – Espoo, Finland
Phone no(s) : + 358 40 6755288
E-mail : evitahaapavaara@gmail.com
LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/evita-haapavaara-319a1131/
Degrees : BSc in Economics, University of Indonesia, majoring in
International Marketing & Organizational Behavior
Languages : Indonesian, English, Finnish

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Summary
An Indonesian entrepreneur, an Economist graduated from Indonesia and who has been
living in Finland for more than 20 years. Trainer / consultant on Diversity Management &
Doing Business in South East Asia. Business to Business consulting for Nordic companies to
enter South East Asia. I am consulting Finnish SMEs to enter the Indonesian market, eg:
Finnish Education Technology companies with Indonesian schools.
I enjoy being in an organization, having established an NGO and part of 2 other NGOs as
board members. I am involved in planning the business, executing projects, fund raising,
and motivating the team.
I love cooking and put my talent and energy into my restaurant business for 8 years from
2006 - 2014. Through my association, Nusantara ry, I continue this culinary passion by
providing catering services, giving cooking courses, making my own spices for sale and
working as Home Chef.
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Core Competences
Entrepreneurship Public presentation
Project Management Leadership & coaching
Creativity Setting up business models in different cultural
Cross Cultural Communication environment
Expertise in starting operations Business planning
Business implementation Risk & Crisis management
International Events Management Sales & marketing
Customer Service Market penetration strategy
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Skills
Working in team and independently Adaptable
Creative and proactive Ability in looking at opportunities
Problem solving Decisive
Networking & Negotiation Microsoft Office

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Professional experience
2014-present Independent consultant, CoFounder of NORDIC – ASEAN
Business Forum ry.
Business matching and Development
- Education Technology, selling Finnish education
knowhow to Asia
- Eco Tourism
- Reference: Mr. Minh Lam (Business Finland)

Translator / Interpreter
- Independent translator (Indonesian & Malay
language)

1995-2014 Owner & Managing Director, CULTURE LINK Oy.

- Training and Consultant, Diversity Management
- Reference:
- Ms. Reeta Sinkkonen (Sinkkonen Consulting)
- Mr. Jukka Lahtinen (Avaintulos OY)
- Match making business in Asia
- Restaurant and Hospitality
- Established Namaskaar Kamppi Mall & Coconut
Kitchen Kamppi Mall
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Organization Experience
2001 - present CoFounder & Chairman, NUSANTARA ry.
2016 - present CoFounder & Chairman, NORDIC – ASEAN BUSINESS
FORUM ry.

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Experience in Finland as an entrepreneur and in NGO:
● FINLAND (1994 till 1998, then 2000 till present)
● I moved to Finland with my Finnish husband on September 1994
● November 1994 I worked for Imatran Voima Oy. as a special Trainer on
Southeast Asian Business Culture. This is part of International Traineeship
Exchange Program by AIESEC
● May 1995, be an entrepreneur, established own Cross-Culture Consultancy
firm and have been serving Finnish market until now
● Moved to Australia with family from 1998 - 2000 (worked in Cross Cultural
 Communication Firm: Global Interface)
● Continued working as consultant & trainer in Finland from 2001
● Established an NGO and as a Chairman for Nusantara yhdistys (Indonesian
Youth Association) from May 2003.
● Established a few restaurants ( and in the industry for 8 years) from 2002 -
2010. Namaskaar Indian Express in Kamppi Mall, Coconut Kitchen in Kamppi
Mall, Namaskaar in Sello Rex Leppävaara, Sweet Serpentiini Boutique in
Kamppi Mall 5th fl.
● Selected as Vice Chairman of ENAR –Finland (European Network Against
Racism) in 2009-2014.
● Vice Chairman of NABF (Nordic ASEAN Business FOrum ry.), since 2016.
● Asian consultant (freelance) for Finnish Export Promoters ry., since 2016.
● Put my company to rest in 2014.
● Independent training and consulting work starting from 2014

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Additional information from NGO NUSANTARA ry. (Indonesian – Finnish Family and
Youth Association) :
➢ Founder and Chairman from November 2002 – May 2005
Activities: Maailma Kylässä – May 2003, Helsinki Day – June 2003, Art
Night – August 2003, South East Asian Night – August 2003
➢ Achievements: close cooperation with CAISA International Cultural Center,
Espoon KulttuuriKeskus, KEPA, Kassandra ry, Etno House, ENAR (European
Network Anti Racism) and other ethnic group friendship Association.
➢ As a member of ENAR; Nusantara has been involved as a participant in
many Multicultural Conferences at EU level which are mostly in Brussels –
Belgium. The conferences have given Nusantara NGO ideas as well as tools
for training the Public Sector.

Restaurant & Hospitality Business:

➢ Started Namaskaar Indian Express Takeaway Restaurant in Kamppi Center
(2002-2005), I transferred the business to a Pakistani Businessman.
➢ Started Coconut Kitchen Asian Takeaway Restaurant in Kamppi Center
(2007-2010)
➢ My work at the restaurant: made Asian food, sales, customer service,
bookkeeping, training new workers, supervising and motivating workers,
meaning work schedule, VAT tax monthly reporting, cleaning & safety,
purchasing.
➢ Asian catering
➢ Event Organizing
➢ Founder of social platform Home Chef Living Room (2018)

Work Experience before Entrepreneurship

● SYDNEY – AUSTRALIA (1998-2000) :
● Global Interface Cross-Culture as Marketing Coordinator (part time work)
● Developing programs, marketing & negotiation

● HUNGARY (1992), part of International Traineeship Exchange Program by AIESEC

(right after I graduated from University):
 ● St. Laurent Golf as Marketing Coordinator
● Working with people from nine different nationalities intensively

● SINGAPORE (1988), part of International Traineeship Exchange Program by

AIESEC (during University time):
● Sembawang Holdings as Business Development Officer

● INDONESIA :
● Various International companies:
1. Australian Business College as Students’ Advisor (CEBC),
2. Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank as Customer Service,
3. Chiyoda Corp. as Corporate Planner
● AIESEC (International Association for Students of Economics and Commerce)
from 1986 – present as ALUMNI

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Supplemental information

Training & Consultancy Business:

❑ Cross-Cultural Trainings and Consultation for groups and individuals
❑ Personal Development Training (Presentation Skills, Project Management,
Training for trainers, International Etiquette, Hosting Guests)
❑ International event Management for companies
❑ E-learning Cross Cultural Country Program (Asia)
❑ International seminars
❑ International business guests welcoming services (program & speakers
management, company and factory visit, interpretation / translation, airport
pick up, accommodation arrangement, social program arrangement, tour,
catering)
❑ Asian Hospitality and Customer Service
❑ Integration Program to Finland
❑ Importing Indonesian Coffee & Food products to Finland

Methods & tools of training:

● Hofstede theory as background
● Workshops in working groups
● Cultural games, role play, negotiation simulation
● Distance learning (e-learning)
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