My Kiitorata period got off to a flying start in March. Right during the first weeks I got to be involved in the daily work of OP’s Data Protection Centre of Excellence and learned how versatile OP Financial Group is. In practice, I had the same duties as everyone else at OP’s Data Protection Centre of Excellence: I participated in developing new products and further developing existing products, and guiding this development in terms of data protection issues. I was also involved in software robotics’ data protection and I conducted digital analytics and marketing investigation in the data protection project. I was also involved in the preparation for the ePrivacy Regulation. In conjunction with this, I was given a comprehensive picture of OP’s website and mobile services and the development work related to them.

I think that the most interesting and memorable moments during my traineeship period were the week before and after the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation. I feel like I was privileged because I could experience, for better or for worse, the final moments of several years of preparation and the fruits borne by it.

In general, I can honestly say my matrix organisation – the Data Protection Centre of Excellence – is dedicated, self-managed and a place where co-workers are paid attention to. These characteristics, I think, are widely present at OP in general, too. All the people I have met are very dedicated to their work, independent and always willing to help a co-worker.

As a whole, I think my Kiitorata experience was very positive. I got to know new people and I was very involved in everyday data protection at OP. I especially liked how I have been treated as an equal with people who have worked longer with data protection at OP – I also got to be involved in conducting more demanding data protection duties. During my traineeship period, I also learned huge amounts of new things about the financial industry, related regulation and the impact of regulation on data protection. 

Heikki, Data Protection Trainee