Sebastian Nummelin

How do you go from selling premium vodka to selling probiotics? That was the question I had when I decided to interview Sebastian. 

His fascinating story began with a student exchange program in Shanghai in 2007. After falling in love with China, Sebastian, a Helsinki native, decided to seek employment in the country after completing his Bachelor’s Degree in International Logistics and Marketing.

Facing difficulties finding a job, Sebastian took a bold step and purchased a one-way ticket to Beijing, where he immersed himself in a year of Chinese language studies. 

To connect with potential employers, he posted his profile on a Finnish online forum, catching the attention of someone from Nokia Siemens, who offered him a position in the logistics department after a factory tour. Following two more years in logistics, he transitioned to the role of Key Account Manager for North Atlantic Group, importing ultra-premium vodka, made from Greenland’s glacier ice. 

A turning point occurred when, after a year at North Atlantic, Sebastian took a break to travel in the U.S. During his travels, he received a job offer from a headhunter to work for BioGaia, a Swedish probiotics company. Despite having another offer in the logistics industry, he chose BioGaia due to the chance to travel in the Asia Pacific region and the positive impression he had of the company's founder.

Sebastian's initial lack of career direction after university led him to take on various opportunities in China. His experience at North Atlantic played a crucial role in securing a position at BioGaia, even though he lacked direct experience in probiotics.

Admitting his dissatisfaction with the logistics industry, Sebastian embraced the challenge of transitioning to business development at BioGaia. He dedicated extensive hours to learning about probiotics, driven by motivation and a genuine interest in the subject. His dedication paid off as he proved his ability to expand the company's business in Asia. He has also learned Japanese and Korean over the years. 

After nearly seven years with BioGaia, Sebastian was headhunted to join another Swedish probiotics company, Probi AB. Continuing his role in developing business in the Asia Pacific, he expressed interest in exploring the food ingredients business.

He also harbors ambitions of starting his own business advising companies on entering the Asian market. Sebastian's journey is a testament to seizing opportunities and adapting to unexpected career shifts.