A terrific, refreshing memoir – a compelling story well told. The story of Jorma Ollila is the story of Nokia, among the most improbable and astonishing technology success stories at the turn of the 21st century. Nokia and Ollila also had their share of failures, which are candidly acknowledged, including the most recent past. But Ollila reminds us not to count Nokia out, echoing Muhammed Ali’s assertion that “impossible is just an opinion.”
— John Thornton, Chairman of the Board, Brookings Institution, Professor and Director of Global Leadership, Tsinghua University in Beijing, and former President of Goldman Sachs
Jorma Ollila has written more than a memoir and more than a boardroom saga. He captures the spirit of his fellow Finns – a rugged, talented, independent-minded, and venturesome people who have put their small country in the vanguard of globalization. He brings candor, wry wit, sharp insights, and narrative verve to the crucial role in making Nokia, founded as a pulp mill in the mid-nineteenth century, an innovative leader of twenty-first century commerce and the digital revolution. A great read by an true citizen of the world.
— Strobe Talbott, President, Brookings Institution, and former director of the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization, U.S. Ambassador-at-large, and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State
Nokia: Where it all went wrong, by the man who made it the world’s biggest mobile company. The biography of Jorma Ollila, CEO of Nokia during its stratospheric rise, offers glimpses from inside the company as it underwent massive change. The book, co-written with Harri Saukkomaa, focuses on Ollila’s achievements, his ambitions, and overcoming adversity.
— Olli Sulopuisto, ZDNet
Interesting inside story from the CEO. Ollila’s career as the leader of Nokia was exceptionally long and triumphant. It was interesting to read the background of strategic decisions and changes we’ve seen during the years. Ollila also said that besides decisions, luck and turbulence of markets made Nokia succesful – and that same turbulence also plummeted Nokia’s mobile phone business.
— Jari Pirhonen, Security Director, Samlink, Goodreads
The book is very well written, which makes it very readable. And the work is surprisingly open. It shows the mistakes made by the company, which no one could have avoided. The book is definitely worth reading.
— Paavo Vasala, Media Week
Like reading a detective story.
— Seija Telaranta, Talking About Leadership
[Against All Odds] will undoubtedly become one of Finland’s economic history classics. That’s why it is worth reading even now.
— Eeva-Leena Vaahtio, Ph.D., author of Recruiting Success and More Out of Life
Nokia’s former CEO, Jorma Ollila’s biography offers an excellent overview of how Finland’s first international brand was born and how it crashed. The book should be read in parallel with the Jobs biography.
— Seppo Mölsä, Managing Editor, Rakennuslehti (Building Journal)
One of the most fascinating stories in Finland’s recent history is the rapid rise of Nokia, thanks to the establishment of its mobile phones as a global brand in the 1990s, the decline in the company’s success in the 2000s, and its eventual abandonment of mobile phones. The boom was personified by the company’s talented CEO Jorma Ollila. His interesting memoirs are readily accessible to a non-specialist readership.
— Juha Honkala, Books from Finland: A Literary Journal
The book is actually quite exciting to read.
— Matti Mattila, Wizzit Magazine
The book is very good and recommended. It has a lot to offer all those interested in management.
— Pauli Forma, Director of Working Life Services, Keva
US edition published by Maven House Press, 4 Snead Ct., Palmyra, VA 22963; 610.883.7988; www.mavenhousepress.com.
US edition copyright ©2016 by Jorma Ollila and Harri Saukkomaa. All rights reserved.
US edition published by agreement with Jorma Ollila, Tekir Oy/Harri Saukkomaa and Elina Ahlback Literary Agency, Helsinki, Finland.
Mahdoton menestys: Kasvun paikkana Nokia
Copyright ©2013 Jorma Ollila, Tekir Oy/Harri Saukkomaa ja
Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava
Original edition published by Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava, 2013
While this publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered, it is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. — From the Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016932950
ePUB ISBN: 978-1-938548-73-4
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CONTENTS
Foreword by Jorma Ollila
Foreword by Harri Saukkomaa
Preface to the U.S. Edition
Prologue: One Day in January 1992
PART I: LIFE BEFORE NOKIA
1. A Small Town in Finland
2. Where Does Self-Confidence Come From?
3. The Birds and the Beatles
4. The Day that Changed My Life
5. International School
6. Back to Finland
7. Engineering Student
8. Liisa Changes My Life
9. Student Leader
10. East and West
11. Home and Family
12. Escape from a Troubled Land
13. The Hardest Choice of My Life
14. International Banker
15. Military service
16. A License to Finance
17. I Move to Nokia
PART II: A CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S EDUCATION
18. Fresh and Eager
19. The Last Days of Drowsiness
20. Black Monday
21. The Finance Director Gets Down to Work
22. Spend, Spend, Spend
23. Annus horribilis
24. The Leader Departs
25. Preparing to Lead
26. The Finance Director Hits the Shop Floor
27. Taking Production Seriously
28. The Miracle of the Mobile
29. The