Ponsse chairman Juha Vidgrén presents at Finlandia

Today international business leader Juha Vidgrén of Ponsse presented at the Finnish American Heritage Center. Finlandia’s Live Twitter account was on site, and Tweeted some of Vidgrén’s better points. Below is a recap of the presentation, feel free to add your favorite part of the presenation by tweeting at @FinlandiaLive.

Below is the first Tweet, rolling down until the final one

We’re live at the Finnish American Heritage Center, moments from Juha Vidgrén beginning his presentation. #FinnU pic.twitter.com/wAUtnaG24c

— #FinnU Live (@FinlandiaLive) September 2, 2014

Vidgrén greeted people prior to talking, possibly trying to find some relatives, as some family immigrated here. pic.twitter.com/aIS3oHozJa

— #FinnU Live (@FinlandiaLive) September 2, 2014

Check out these cute kids sporting their new #Ponsse shirts! They don’t look Finnish do they? pic.twitter.com/pcR0aEkp8C

— #FinnU Live (@FinlandiaLive) September 2, 2014

Dean of our biz school Kevin Manninen introduced Vidgrén. Manninen is on the newly formed Finnish Chamber. pic.twitter.com/8jjkT1qvc1

— #FinnU Live (@FinlandiaLive) September 2, 2014

“Since we started in 1970 up until now we have built almost 10,000 machines used in 40 countries.” – Juha Vidgrén, who added their all …

— #FinnU Live (@FinlandiaLive) September 2, 2014

… built in Finland, where they can be sure the quality is there, even if they could save money by shipping some jobs elsewhere in world.

— #FinnU Live (@FinlandiaLive) September 2, 2014

“The most important part is not to sell, but to make sure our customers are happy.” – Vidgrén pic.twitter.com/b3tghwT1Pm

— #FinnU Live (@FinlandiaLive) September 2, 2014

He showed a photo of a beautiful factory in Finland, which he said, “Of course, has a sauna in it.” … he pronounced it correctly.

— #FinnU Live (@FinlandiaLive) September 2, 2014

Vidgrén has gotten a couple laughs, including a joke about the best place to make improvements in design is by following employees to bar ..

— #FinnU Live (@FinlandiaLive) September 2, 2014

Because those employees are the ones who can offer up solutions because they’re so hands-on.

— #FinnU Live (@FinlandiaLive) September 2, 2014

“You must continue to work hard, nothing happens in one year.”

— #FinnU Live (@FinlandiaLive) September 2, 2014

“The best lesson to learn is that he needed to find the best people to work for the company, because he knew he couldn’t always be there.”

— #FinnU Live (@FinlandiaLive) September 2, 2014

“You need to have people you can trust 100 percent.” – Juha Vidgrén, #Ponssepic.twitter.com/8c7OPSx9pL

— #FinnU Live (@FinlandiaLive) September 2, 2014

“The best part is meeting our customers, who have the kind of values we do. They love being out in the forest. Just like we do.”

— #FinnU Live (@FinlandiaLive) September 2, 2014

He just showed a map of the world, with the map yellow on continents they serve. Every continent is yellow. pic.twitter.com/XDymTviC2i

— #FinnU Live (@FinlandiaLive) September 2, 2014

Vidgrén is explaining the challenges of being international as also being an opportunity to learn and adapt. pic.twitter.com/pCbVnk0Ll1

— #FinnU Live (@FinlandiaLive) September 2, 2014

Unique situations in China and Russia helped Ponsse evolve how the company works. Making customers happy continues to be focus.

— #FinnU Live (@FinlandiaLive) September 2, 2014

Vidgrén is just finishing up, “The point is not to die over problems at the company, but make something to fix them.” pic.twitter.com/ebcU7IEjKe

— #FinnU Live (@FinlandiaLive) September 2, 2014

Thank you to everyone who attended today’s presentation, especially to Juha Vidgrén for presenting to our community.