Karina Nikonova, our ICT Specialist, joined Stalatube a little over two years ago as a newly graduated professional in the field. Since then, she has been a valuable asset in managing our network and system environments. Karina is responsible for device and access management, server environment monitoring, and the development and supervision of the company’s cybersecurity. Her work is a versatile combination of tasks where every day brings new challenges and moments of success.
Before joining Stalatube, Karina originally pursued her studies and career in the field of medicine. However, she soon discovered her true calling in technology. She completed a vocational qualification in Information and Communications Technology at YSAO and graduated in 2022. During her studies, Karina worked for a year and a half in the IT team at South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (XAMK) before starting at Stalatube.
My days were spent working, afternoons in lectures, and weekends doing homework, says Karina.
This spring, Karina reached a long-awaited milestone: she graduated with a Bachelor Information and Communication Technologies. It marked the culmination of years of hard work and study. Now, the burden feels lighter, but her desire to keep learning is stronger than ever. Stalatube has supported her career growth with great flexibility:
My employer’s encouragement made it possible to combine study days and work duties smoothly, adds Karina.
The warmth and trust within the team have created an atmosphere where curiosity and a passion for learning are truly supported. Karina is especially grateful for her colleagues’ open attitude and team spirit, which help her stay motivated even when lecture notes and network issues pile up at the same time.
This autumn, Karina is heading back to campus once again: she has been accepted into Metropolia University of Applied Sciences’ Cybersecurity Specialist Programme (30 ECTS), which is based on master’s level (EQF 7) studies and delivered through the Open University of Applied Sciences path. According to Metropolia, they can later be accredited toward a formal Master’s programme, leaving only the thesis to complete. The programme begins in August and takes place twice a week, and once again, Stalatube is proudly supporting Karina in this next step of her journey.
Karina is a great example of how a career path can take many turns when the desire to learn meets an employer’s flexibility. Her journey from a future in medicine to the world of cybersecurity is just beginning, and her enthusiasm grows with every step.