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Retta Management’s investment in leadership development yielded concrete results when six employees graduated in June 2025 with the Specialist Vocational Qualification in Leadership and Business Management (JYET). The training program was tailored in collaboration with the Rastor Institute to meet Retta Management’s specific needs – and this was clearly reflected in the participants’ experiences.
At Retta Management, we believe that high-quality leadership is critical to ensuring organizational success; satisfied employees correlate with satisfied customers. Our supervisors play a key role in implementing strategy and values, building the right company culture, ensuring financial results, and supporting employee wellbeing and productivity.
The JYET program was launched in spring 2024 in cooperation with the Rastor Institute. It was designed to support the growth of our supervisors and our strategic goals. The approximately one-year-long training was conducted as an apprenticeship, combining practical learning with day-to-day work.
“Our goal was to offer participants an individual path to leadership, helping to strengthen their leadership abilities from various angles in everyday supervisory work,” explains Jenni Still, HR Partner at Retta Management.
The program was successfully completed by Service Managers Jaana Halonen, Juha Mäkipää, and Niko Teerisalo; Customer Service Manager Riikka Koskimäki; Team Manager Ari Loippo; and Maintenance Manager Henri Tunturi.
The training focused especially on the practical challenges of supervisory work: giving feedback, leading change, and developing the team.
“I gained tools I could immediately apply within my own team. Even small changes in daily interactions had a positive effect on team morale. It was also valuable to share experiences with colleagues,” says Jaana Halonen.
Niko Teerisalo also felt the training provided practical insights that had a direct impact on his leadership work.
“The studies were engaging because the assessments were hands-on and could be applied to everyday team situations. The classroom instructors were top experts in their fields, and the group tasks and discussions offered numerous small insights on how to influence team atmosphere and practices in real-time,” Niko Teerisalo explains.
One of the key goals of the training was to deepen supervisors’ self-awareness and interaction skills.
“The program helped me recognize both my strengths and areas for development. As my self-awareness increased, my interactions with the team became more intentional and constructive. I also realized how important it is to truly listen and create space for others’ perspectives,” shares Juha Mäkipää.
The training brought together supervisors from various units of Retta Management, fostering peer support and new perspectives.
“It was incredibly valuable to learn alongside other supervisors. I noticed that even though we work in different units, we face similar leadership challenges. The shared discussions and peer support gave me new perspectives on my work and reinforced the sense that I don’t have to manage everything alone,” says Henri Tunturi.
The program was designed to be completed alongside regular work, and Retta Management provided comprehensive support: the in-person training days were paid, and assignments could be completed during working hours.
“Employer support was crucial. Without it, completing such an extensive program alongside work wouldn’t have been possible in this way. It added flexibility to my daily schedule and reinforced the feeling that my professional development matters to my employer,” notes Ari Loippo.
Given the highly positive experiences and feedback from the first JYET program tailored for the real estate sector in cooperation with Retta, the company has decided to launch a second program in October 2025. The training will focus on areas such as self-leadership, implementing strategy in daily work, developing the work community, and coaching-based leadership.
“During the training, I got to apply what I learned in practice, test my own skills, and share my experiences. I also received invaluable insights from my colleagues. I can absolutely recommend the JYET program to anyone considering it,” says Riikka Koskimäki.
“We saw significant growth in leadership skills and supervisory capabilities among all our participants. In addition, feedback from external evaluators was excellent – they specifically praised our supervisors’ commitment and dedication to their studies,” concludes Jenni Still.
