Guiding Diagnostic Products Across Borders

Ewelina Kortesmäki works as a senior global product manager at Aidian, previously known as Orion Diagnostica. Aidian is a Finnish in vitro diagnostics (IVD) company that develops, manufactures, and distributes diagnostic tests, primarily for pointofcare (POC) use in primary healthcare. 

“My responsibilities cover both products developed by Aidian and products distributed by Aidian across several European markets. The role focuses on defining product strategy and roadmaps, managing products throughout their lifecycle, and ensuring that products meet customer needs and are successful in the market,” she explains.

Connecting People and Products

“The main goal of my work as a product manager in IVD is to ensure that Aidian’s diagnostic portfolio delivers strong customer value while remaining commercially viable in regulated markets. I identify and prioritise product opportunities on the basis of customer needs and market potential, define positioning and requirements, and guide products through their lifecycle.”

Ewelina works cross-functionally with commercial teams, R&D, regulatory and quality teams to ensure successful products on the market, while aligning product decisions with company strategy and healthcare needs. 

“A big part of my work is also connecting different functions and countries so that things move forward smoothly.”

A typical day includes meetings with different functions, including R&D, marketing and commercial teams to align the product offering, customer needs, development, requirements, and product strategies. 

“I spend time reviewing customer needs and feedback, looking at market trends and competitors, and identifying improvements for our products as well as opportunities for new products. I also work with suppliers and external partners. Overall, I switch between planning product strategy and handling more hands-on tasks like defining product requirements, supporting marketing activities, and solving day-to-day issues.”

Making Finland Home

Ewelina originally moved to Finland for personal reasons because of her then boyfriend, now husband, and not because of work. 

“Over time, Finland became home, and my professional career also developed here. I’ve now been living and working in Finland for over ten years,” she says.

She feels she has adapted well, both in everyday life and in the workplace. 

“Finnish work culture places a strong emphasis on trust and independence, which fits my way of working. It took some time to adjust to the more reserved communication style, but over time I’ve come to appreciate it.”

However, there are some aspects about her current job she feels are different in Finland compared to what she was used to before.

“One of the biggest differences is how much influence takes place without formal authority. As a product manager, I rarely ‘own’ resources, but I’m expected to guide decisions across teams and countries. That requires clarity, patience, and strong communication. The Finnish working style can feel reserved at first, but once trust is built, collaboration is very genuine and effective. Decision-making can sometimes be slower, but, on the other hand, it’s more inclusive,” Ewelina reflects.

Life Beyond Work: Seasons, Family, and Hobbies

Outside of work, life in Finland has a very different rhythm than what Ewelina was used to. The biggest adjustments were the climate, the long winter season, and the white summer nights. 

“The long winters are still manageable, especially when there is snow, as I enjoy downhill skiing a lot. The white summer nights, on the other hand, were more of a surprise and are still less enjoyable for me. Over time, however, I have come to appreciate how strongly everyday life is shaped by the seasons. Life outside work is active and varied. I love to spend my time with my children and friends, and also visiting new places around Finland. During the summer, we often go hiking and camping with friends on weekends, which has become an important and meaningful way for us to spend time together,” she describes. “Additionally, Finland offers a wide range of hobbies, making it easy for everyone to find something suitable, for example I regularly play volleyball and go swimming, among other activities.”

Striving for Balance and Meaning

But nothing’s perfect. In Ewelina’s experience, processes tend to be careful and consensusdriven, which can occasionally slow decisions and require extra effort to maintain momentum.

“I value stability and the sense that I’m continuously learning and developing, both professionally and personally. I like being busy, but in my personal life it often feels like there is too much to do and too little time. I would like to have more days I can spend fully with my family, without feeling rushed or pulled in different directions.”

“I hope the future brings continued professional growth, new challenges, and opportunities to make an impact through my work. On a personal level, I hope for health, balance, and the ability to keep building a life that feels both purposeful and meaningful. An important part of the future for me is also seeing my children grow and develop, supporting them as they find their own paths, and enjoying the everyday moments that bring joy and perspective to life.”

Education and career

• Master’s degree, chemistry (2013), the University of Gdańsk
• Two years at the University of Carl von Ossietzky in Oldenburg, Germany
• PhD studies in Organic Chemistry at Åbo Akademi University, Finland
• Several courses on an MBA programme at Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences during 2023–2025

Professional experience

• Senior R&D chemist at Labsystems Diagnostics, developing newborn screening products based on LC MS/MS technology 
• R&D Scientist at Thermo Fisher scientific in one LC MS/MS analyser for therapeutic drug monitoring and served as a verification and validation lead for one of the assays in development
• Product manager at Aidian, 2024–