Jaana, mother of small children, sold her home – “I got rid of the palaver pipes” –

At one entrepreneur event Jaana Komscha-Härkönen42, was introduced as an experienced entrepreneur.

– That’s what you think, that I don’t really know anything yet. But of course, since it’s already been eight years, some kind of lesson has been learned. You don’t always notice it yourself when you focus on doing it, Komscha-Härkönen reflects.

Even then, he has noticed that he has learned something about entrepreneurship when he has talked with entrepreneurs who are in the very beginning stages.

Working at the airport

Jaana Komscha-Härkönen knows that becoming a full-time entrepreneur is always a risky decision.

His path towards entrepreneurship began when he started singing as a hobby fifteen years ago.

At the time, Jaana was working at Helsinki-Vantaa airport, and people joked that Jaana would go there again for singing lessons.

– It just made me feel extremely good after those hours, says Komscha-Härkönen.

Singing ignites

– That was probably the trigger. This was the moment when I detached myself from doing the work and meeting pipes. This was brain rest. I wondered how this kind of thing could be brought to the corporate world for others.

Komscha-Härköse also had an HR background as a personnel consultant, and she says that helping and developing people comes naturally to her.

Initially, Komscha-Härkönen’s idea was to make cultural services available to companies.

– What drove Kimmoke to become an entrepreneur was not the glitter of money in his eyes, but rather helping. When images of threats and states of fear come, I thought that there would be a place for joy and light.

A sure bread job

Jaana Komscha-Härkönen decided to promote her cause.

– After all, it was a hard decision to leave a stable bread-and-butter job to become an entrepreneur, and that’s why you had to think about it. The little twins had been born, and a decision had to be made whether to return or skip out completely. I decided to skip it altogether.

At the airport, he had worked as a management assistant and customer service manager. His unit was responsible for bidding for business premises and developing the commercial offer.

Life had to be rearranged. The family sold the apartment in Helsinki and moved into a rented apartment.

– We had to prepare for the fact that the first years will be difficult. Fortunately, there was an understanding man who wanted to support me in my own dream, says Jaana.

The teachings of the grandparents

Jaana Komscha-Härkönen now thinks that she has always had an entrepreneurial streak in her.

When he was studying to become a tradenomist, there were almost a hundred students in one lecture. They were asked how many would like to become entrepreneurs.

Two hands rose up, and one of them was Jaan’s. He looked confused to see if the others really weren’t interested.

Jaana Komscha-Härkönen knows that many people have bad memories of the recession years.

– I myself drew on the teachings of my grandparents. They had a village shop in Nurme. In my youth, I was bagging apples with my grandmother. I could participate if I wanted to, and it was quite nice for a little one like that. I was able to help with shop work and in the shop car, says Komscha-Härkönen.

– The tenacity I have already comes from there. Both my grandmothers were iron ladies in a good way, he continues.

“There is an order for joy”

Now Jaana Komscha-Härkönen is the founder and CEO of Breaks.

– We are building a marketplace. We offer companies small-scale corporate events, such as team days, parties, training and coaching, says Komscha-Härkönen.

– At the other end are the service providers. We match their offerings to the companies’ needs, he continues.

There are two funding rounds behind.

– This world needs a touch of positivity, and it fits our happiness as a service concept. We want people to be happier at work, says Komscha-Härkönen.

– I feel that it is meaningful when you get to do work that has a good value base and a good goal. There is a subscription to joy and laughter.

Pay moderately

The construction of the startup continues.

Komscha-Härkönen says that the turnover has clearly increased in the financial period that ended in the summer. According to him, the loss made by the company has also decreased.

– I would be very happy if we could get closer to a winning result already this fiscal year. There have already been individual profitable months, says Komscha-Härkönen.

– New customers come every week, and of course that’s a really positive message, because I’ve been waiting for this moment, because now it’s nice to apply for further financing, Jaana Komscha-Härkönen says.

Jaana Komscha-Härkönen says that she raises her salary very moderately.

– It’s nice to raise it when we are victorious, he says.

– I don’t pay the salary that I used to get in some previous jobs. I’ve had to give up certain things, but I’ve gotten so much good stuff instead.

Dancing and singing

Jaana takes care of her own stamina by going dancing several times a week, and she also still sings.

– And of course friends and family help a lot.

Jaana Komscha-Härkösen has MS.

– I’ve been feeling well, even though it includes certain worsening phases. It has reminded me of the important things in life, says Jaana Komscha-Härkönen.