Elizaveta Pirojenko: From sustainability courses and baby onboard into a Group Best Practice
Elizaveta Pirojenko studied in Master's degree programme in Procurement. She tells about her studies:
"My studies coincided with a very eventful period of my life: I studied during pregnancy, partly during maternity leave, and continued after returning to work. The fully online format made this possible. It was not always easy, but the flexibility allowed me to keep learning through every stage, and it was definitely worth it.
Having worked in procurement and supply chain for several years, I wanted to strengthen my theoretical knowledge and see procurement from a more strategic perspective. I started through the Metropolia Open UAS Path, which was a great way to try the studies before committing to the full degree.
What I valued most was how practical the program was. The assignments were closely connected to real business challenges, so I could apply new ideas at work almost immediately. For example, what I learned in sustainability courses helped me develop my company's ESG reporting, which was later recognized as a Best Practice Example across the international Group. My thesis on EU ETS2 carbon pricing deepened my understanding of how regulation is changing procurement and costs.
My advice to future students: don't let a busy life stop you from starting. Begin with the Open Path if you are unsure and bring ideas from the courses into your workplace right away, even in small steps. You might be surprised at how big a difference they can make."