Leader in spotlight Atte Palomäki: “Coaching brought a new dimension to my work”

Thanks to his coaching studies, Executive Advisor Atte Palomäki now confidently asks powerful questions that drive deeper insights.

A commitment to continuous self-development and a strong desire to keep learning drew Atte Palomäki to coaching studies. In December 2025, he completed the highly appreciated Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching programme at Henley Business School Nordic. His career path is diverse, ranging from journalist work in print and broadcast news in television to serving as EVP in communications, brand and marketing at a global corporation. He has now turned a new page and entered the third chapter of his professional life.

I’ve reached a stage in my career where I want to give back and share the knowledge I’ve accumulated in working life with others. I feel that this marks the beginning of the third chapter of my career.

Through his coaching studies, Atte feels he has built a new professional identity, one in which he can decide for himself what he does, with whom and how much. The decision to pursue these studies was a considered next step, and Henley Business School Nordic was chosen for its high-quality teaching, academic approach, certifications, and strong recommendations. The programme is the only university-level and triple accredited (ICF, EMCC, AC) coaching programme in the Nordics

Thanks to his diverse professional background, Atte works extensively in executive consulting, both through his own company and as a senior advisor at an international Public Affairs agency. The studies supported his goal of reframing issues in new ways and enriching his ability to act in an advisory role.

I work with executives and boards when decisions are complex and stakes are high. Using these new techniques in our interaction strengthens decision-making where speed, pressure and responsibility intersect. Coaching has brought a completely new dimension to my work, and I truly enjoy applying what I’ve learned when working with teams and leaders.

Coaching is not just about learning a new skill; during the studies, participants practise various methods and techniques with their peer group that can be applied in any interaction. Throughout the programme, coaching techniques are practised in small groups, allowing participants to experience firsthand what it feels like both to be coached and to coach others.

During the programme, I learned to listen to myself and to become aware of my own emotions in a different way than before. Through that, I learned to ask and talk about emotions.

In the exercises, people very quickly begin to talk about personal matters, which creates a strong atmosphere of trust and psychological safety within the group. During the intensive nine-month programme, the cohort stayed in close contact both through a WhatsApp group and in face-to-face and online sessions. The group consisted of seven nationalities, and a wide range of ages and professional experiences. This diversity of backgrounds clearly enriched the discussions.

Coaching challenges in a positive way

Having himself worked in senior leadership positions, Atte knows that everyday work often runs on autopilot and that one’s perspective can become quite narrow. Coaching brings significant added value to his own work precisely here: with a powerful and well-considered question, he can introduce an entirely new—and often much-needed—perspective into the conversation.

In a positive way, I can challenge and question existing ways of working and seek deeper answers that may lead to better solutions—or at least to better justifications for the solutions we are choosing,

Atte says as we discuss how he has applied his coaching skills.

He uses the metaphor of peeling an onion: each layer reveals new perspectives, and with deeper exploration comes greater clarity that may require reflection and integration.

Interactions have become richer

After completing the programme, he finds himself paying more attention to small nuances in interactions that he previously would not have noticed at all, for example in meetings.

The ability to encounter different kinds of people and to ask powerful questions can be extremely useful in such situations. A well-posed question can easily strengthen a relationship and make the interaction richer. My ability to raise difficult issues without embarrassing either party has also improved, Atte explains.

How you frame a question truly matters.

Self-insight also brings greater effectiveness at work

In working life more broadly, we could make much better use of coaching to help people to find the solutions themselves instead of giving them ready-made answers. When someone reaches an insight on their own, the results tend to be more powerful—and that, in turn, contributes to more effective outcomes, Atte concludes.

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Currently, Atte Palomäki combines executive advisory, board work and investment activity in a portfolio career centred on sustainable value creation. He advises leaders in navigating thorny and high-stakes issues, particularly where business decisions carry broader societal and ethical implications.

He is the founder of AP Advisory Oy and serves as Senior Advisor at Rud Pedersen Public Affairs. He is also a Fellow of the Page Society, a global community of chief communication officers representing leading brands worldwide.

In addition to his advisory practice, he serves on the boards of Selko Insights, the Riikka Herlin Foundation and ProCom – the Finnish Association of Communication Professionals – and acts as Vice Chair of Finland’s Council for Ethics in Communication.

Interested in the Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching?

 Read more about the only university-level and triple accredited (ICF, EMCC, AC) coaching programme in the Nordics. »

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