Harri Kammonen, one of the founders of Manifesto, is celebrating 30 years as a communications consultant this August. Read below to find out what Harri has to say about his long career and developments in the communications and PR industry.

Has communications consultancy changed since you started out in the 1990s?

The basics have remained surprisingly similar to when I started my career in the mid-1990s. I still solve clients’ communications problems and challenges, and I plan and implement strategic communications that support business strategy.

Of course, the communications and PR industry and the profession have changed enormously. The role of communications within companies has grown, the various areas of communications have become more diverse, and professionals are required to have an ever-broader range of skills. Technological developments have brought a huge number of new communication channels and, at the same time, new tools for a consultant’s work.

What fascinates you in your profession?

The variety of the work. Over the past 30 years, I have worked with dozens of industries and hundreds of companies. I have been ‘employed’ by several companies across a range of industries. Even now, I work closely with a diverse range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, technology and energy, construction, manufacturing, robotics, electric vehicle charging, the circular economy, management consulting, fibre optics, data centres and social media. Few other jobs offer the opportunity to gain such a broad understanding of different industries and companies.

Long-standing client relationships, many of which have lasted for over 15 years, bring stability to the work. Shared experiences and struggles, with victories and disappointments, build unique partnerships and long-lasting friendships.

What is expected of a consultant?

Clients expect consultants to provide insights and specialist expertise. This means constantly learning new things and challenging oneself. A consultant must be able to quickly familiarise themselves with new industries, clients and phenomena, and form their own views on them.

Is a consultant’s job stressful?

The work is fast-paced and can be demanding at times. Exercise, a healthy lifestyle and friends help me cope. Good colleagues and the sense of humour fostered in the office are also important ways to let off steam.

Is a career as a consultant suitable for everyone?

Is a career as a consultant suitable for everyone?

Consultancy work isn’t for everyone. It requires a certain character: the ability to cope with pressure, self-direction, the ability to tolerate uncertainty and good communications skills. And if you’re a self-employed consultant, you need these traits twice as much.

Thirty years have taught me that one thing never changes in the work of a communications consultant: you must earn your place in front of the client every day through hard work, courage and constant renewal. That’s why I take my hat off to all of us consultants. I could have chosen an easier career path, but it wouldn’t necessarily have been as rewarding.

What is the best thing about the job?

People. I constantly meet interesting and intelligent people: business leaders, top experts and highly skilled communications and PR professionals. For example, this week it’s been fascinating to hear from leading Alzheimer’s researchers and discuss the upcoming parliamentary elections with the head of public affairs at a major social media company. Encounters like these keep the work interesting and challenge me to keep learning more.

As a consultant, I get to work on many of the pressing issues and news stories shaping society, politics and public debate. That makes the work not only intellectually stimulating, but genuinely exciting. And when crisis communications enter the picture, the excitement can rise to a whole new level.

Are you fed up with job after 30 years?

A friend of mine asked me the same thing during the summer holidays, and I replied no, I don’t get bored of it. Quite the opposite, in fact. I’m keen to carry on. Perhaps not for the next thirty years, but for a long time to come, all the same.