I value this life!

The interest in climate change and sustainability began early. Karin Juslin grew up in Mariehamn, and as a child she often went with her family to swim when her parents came home from work. 

- It worked well at the beginning of summer, but when we got to August, my mum would often say we couldn't swim because there were algae in the water. Since then, I've been asking why it's like this, what causes the sea to be in the state it's in – and I haven't stopped yet. Indirectly, it's also what I work with today. Being sustainable is a complex issue that no one can avoid, neither businesses nor individuals.

Focus on sustainability

With the sea and the Baltic in mind, the plan was therefore to study marine biology in Gothenburg after secondary school. Instead, she first took a detour through the environmental science programme with a focus on natural sciences before Karin finally ended up at the Gothenburg School of Business, Economics and Law.
- I realised that my opportunities to make an impact were greater as an environmental scientist than as a marine biologist, but when I was standing there in the lab among experiments that just kept exploding, it also became clear that natural sciences aren't for me. So I moved on to the business school instead, to have the opportunity to work with sustainability issues in the business world and get closer to where decisions are made. 

With a double degree as a Master of Science in Business and Economics and an environmental scientist, Karin got a job at the audit and advisory firm PwC Sweden in Stockholm after her studies. 
- From the very beginning, I was clear that I enjoy working with accounting and reporting, but that I also have a strong drive for sustainability issues – and asked my managers whether it was possible to combine the two. 

It was. At first, Karin worked with financial auditing and PwC's own sustainability matters, but fairly quickly it became more and more focused on clients' sustainability challenges in terms of reporting, governance and processes.
- And that's what I'm still doing today! 

Everyday life in Stockholm

In Stockholm, Karin met her partner Christian and together they built a life in the city. Children, careers and the everyday juggling act were balanced with trips to Åland and their summer place in Eckerö.
- We bought the cottage before I lost my right of domicile. When Christian was on parental leave, we even lived there so that he could experience what it's like to live on Åland and because we wanted to find a place outside the city to spend the parental leave.

However, there were no serious plans for a move.
- As much as I love Åland, the downside is that I can't do the work I do at PwC with a local employer. Specialist roles like mine don't exist in the same way, at least not yet – which is a shame because the sustainability issue isn't going away.

New opportunities

Then came the pandemic and with it new insights and conditions. Life in an apartment became less and less appealing, while attitudes towards remote working became more positive in society. Åland suddenly became a possibility.

- During a visit to Åland, we happened to drive past a new residential area in southern Mariehamn, where the city was just about to start allocating the plots by lottery among all those interested. We spontaneously decided to take part and it ended up with our number being drawn first. We got our plot before anyone else – so now here we are, says Karin at the kitchen table, where the view of the sea is stunning.

Since the plot is in a planned area, Karin and Christian didn't need a right of domicile to purchase it either.

Many advantages

Before the move, Karin and Christian made a pros and cons list. On the plus side were, for example, lower house prices, no big-city rush and proximity to the sea.
- There are also better schools and a safer community, the children can get to their friends without me having to accompany them. Nursery is absolutely magical with a large yard and they come up with loads of fun activities for the children.

Christian now works at Ytternäs school and the after-school centre Tärnan, son Philip has started first grade and daughter Olivia attends nursery. Karin, in turn, has changed employer from Swedish PwC to PwC Finland and now works with the Helsinki office.

- I'm very grateful to my employer and glad that the job situation could be resolved so that I can continue to support companies on their journey towards becoming more sustainable. I continue to work with clients across the Nordic region. Much of it is digital, but I also have the opportunity to work from PwC's office in Mariehamn when needed.

A quieter life

Otherwise, everyday life is really the same as in Stockholm.
- I work a lot and the children have their activities with gymnastics, dance, swimming and football – but the logistics are simpler. In terms of distance, we have almost as far to go to football practice as in Stockholm, but with the traffic on Åland it takes 10 minutes compared to 30 in Stockholm.

Both Karin and the family are happy about the move.
- Here we have freedom, closeness to the sea and it's easy for family and friends to drop by – while at the same time I can have a working life that challenges and stimulates me.