ABOUT KATI
Kati Pankka
Hello there, you wonderful human being, and welcome to my site. My name is Kati Pankka, and my company is called Explore with Kati. I am an everyday explorer who believes that you can be content in every moment, regardless of the circumstances. All you need to do is find your own happy path.
Curious explorer & nature addict
My biggest source of inspiration is nature, and I love exploring new places and finding hidden gems. My curiosity has led me to become an entrepreneur and a tour leader, and soon also an authorised Helsinki guide.
My professional background is originally in business, marketing, communications, and e-commerce. A few years back, I quit my office job to go backpacking around the world, and that has definitely been one of the best decisions of my life. That trip was the start of my career change to the travel industry.
From the North to the world
I come from Finland and appreciate the beauty of my home base. I am also beyond grateful that I've been able to live abroad (South Korea, Ireland, and Australia) and travel around the world (40+ countries). Those experiences have made me who I am today.
I'm an ambivert who loves meeting new people and creating connections, but also needs silence and solitude to recharge mental batteries.
I absolutely adore the pristine forests and all our unique four seasons here in Northern Europe. I hope to see you join me one day, exploring this intriguing part of our beautiful world.
This story is always in progress... check back again in a while or maybe head over to my Instagram for more current content @explorewithkati
Stay curious - find your own happy path!
Different roles same Kati Pankka
Entrepreneur
I never planned to become an entrepreneur, but here we are. Following my calling just led me to this point. I established my one-person business in spring 2019 and started as a freelance Tour Leader for Intrepid Travel (the leader in responsible, ethical small group adventures). Even though the COVID-19 situation put a halt to my tourism jobs for a moment, I'm grateful that I took the leap of faith and became an entrepreneur.
I like to call myself a hybrid entrepreneur since I'm often working on multiple projects and side hustles simultaneously.
Watersports and cycling on my radar
Human-powered and environmentally friendly forms of transport are close to my heart. Learning more about sailing and developing my cycling tour guide skills are on the list. I also thoroughly enjoy all sorts of water sports, and maybe my career will one day take a turn in that direction as well.
Let's collaborate?
I'm happy to discuss new projects that help people to enjoy life more. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have a project in mind where you could use my help.
Tour Leader
In a way, I've been training for this profession all my life. I've been a scout since I was 7 years old and always enjoyed organizing trips and events. And yet it took me 30 years to realize I could actually do this for a living. It's been the best job I could have ever hoped for!
Local Nordic Tour Leader
As a Tour Leader, I've specialized in Northern Europe. I have led groups in Finland (my home country), in the Baltics, and around Scandinavia and Sápmi. Real Arctic winter tours in the north are amongst my favourites. The northernmost tour that I've led was in Svalbard.
Virtual Online Tours
As a covid-19 innovation I started hosting Online Experiences and Virtual Tours from Helsinki Finland. I was hosting Sauna Online Experiences with Urban Adventures and Interactive Helsinki Hidden Gem tours with Doerz.
Wanna take a look behind the scenes?
Follow me on Instagram to get a sneak peek behind the scenes and maybe also some goofy stories and travel inspiration.
Marketing Specialist
I studied corporate communications (BBA degree) and worked full-time within the field of online marketing and e-commerce for 6+ years.
Working for big international companies like Microsoft and Visma Services (nowadays Azets) has taught me how to streamline processes, but I also genuinely enjoy helping smaller companies. In pre-corona times, I worked as a freelance digital marketing manager for travel agency Kon-Tiki Tours.
When the travel industry was hibernating during the pandemic, I first worked as a part-time Producer for Helsinki Region Cyclists Association and then for the Guides and Scouts of Finland as a Marketing and Fundraising Coordinator (flexibly for 2 years).
How can I help?
If you need a consultation about SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), website management, newsletters, or online marketing, please do reach out.
Curious about my professional background? Go ahead, check it out on LinkedIn or contact me for more details.
@explorewithkati on Instagram
Career Timeline
Kati Pankka
Combining Travel and Business
How did I get here?
My professional journey isn't the most traditional or straightforward, but it involves many unique twists and turns instead. My path combines career changes, gap years, pandemic curve balls, and additional studies. Below you can see a rough timeline with major milestones that have shaped me into what I am today.
The main characters of this career story are marketing and travel, which have uniquely intertwined with each other along the way.
2025-2026: Helsinki Guide Studies
Studies to become an authorised Helsinki Local Guide.
Further Vocational Qualification in Guide Services at Perho Culinary, Tourism and Business College.
2024-> Parental Leave
Entertainment, education, and creativity management.
Without a doubt, this is the biggest and most meaningful career shift. Staying at home as a mom is shaping me into a new, improved version of Kati the explorer.
2023-> Tour Leading for 50 Degrees North
Tour Leader / Tour Escort.
The small group escorted tours by 50 Degrees North are designed for travellers who want to explore the Nordic region in a more sustainable, personal, and immersive way.
I have been leading tours ranging from 11 to 16 days in all seasons: winter, spring, summer, and autumn.
Destinations: Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Sápmi.
2021-2022 & 2024: Marketing and Fundraising for the Guides and Scouts of Finland
Marketing Designer and Fundraising Coordinator.
Scouting is an educational movement that aims to support the development of children and young people. The primary goal of scouting in Finland is to raise kids who have balanced personalities and lifestyles, are responsible and active, and think independently as members of local, national, and international communities.
2020-2022: Online Experiences and Virtual Tours from Finland
Online Experience Producer and Host + Virtual Helsinki Tour Guide.
When in-person traveling was put to a complete halt, I chose to give it a go for pandemic innovations, like virtual tours.
I hosted Online Experiences for Urban Adventures, Doerz.com, and Skandinavien.live.
My topics were Finnish sauna and ice swimming culture, street art, and alternative Helsinki tours.
2020: Producer for the Helsinki Cyclists Association
Event organising, marketing, and communications (part-time).
HePo ry (Helsingin Seudun Pyöräilijät / Helsingforsregionens Cyklister / Helsinki Region Cyclists) is a non-governmental organisation promoting safer cycling infrastructure and climate-friendly commuting in the capital region of Finland.
We organised virtual, hybrid, and in-person events. I also worked with social media, newsletters, content marketing, and press releases.
A side-project was to become a volunteer instructor for adult cycling courses. These courses were popular, especially amongst immigrants.
2019-2020: Digital Marketing for Kon-Tiki Tours
Digital Marketing Manager (part-time).
Oy Kon-Tiki Tours Ltd is a privately owned tour operator and travel agency in Finland that specialises in tailor-made tours for groups.
I worked as an outsourced marketing manager during the time periods when I wasn't on tour leader assignments.
2019-2024: Tour Leading for Intrepid Travel
Tour Leader.
Intrepid Travel is a global travel company with a focus on responsible, sustainable, and experience-rich traveling, emphasising genuine local interactions.
I was leading 1 to 2-week tours in all seasons: winter, spring, summer, and autumn in the Baltics, Nordics, and beyond.
Destinations: Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Sápmi, Svalbard, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, and Ireland.
Published author.
In 2024, I wrote a piece about sauna and ice swimming in the Nordics, which was published in the Intrepid List Book.
2018: Working Holiday in Australia
Sailboat hostess/deckhand/chef/guide.
Working at the Whitsundays islands as a hostess, chef, deckhand, and tour guide on an old wooden ketch sailboat called Summertime, on 2-day 1-night trips sailing across the Coral Sea from Airlie Beach to Whitehaven Beach.
Tours included kayaking, snorkeling, spotting marine wildlife, and guided excursions.
Breakfast chef.
Port Macquarie Hostel. Baking pancakes and entertaining guests at the hostel.
Children's book sales rep.
Touring around Victoria, Australia, selling educational books for preschools and kindergartens.
2017-2018: Traveling around the world
Backpacker / Independent Traveler.
I quit my corporate job to explore the world with my partner. We had a low budget and big dreams.
We started in July 2017 and finished in January 2019.
Route: Ireland -> Finland -> California, US, -> Hawaii, US -> Samoa -> New Zealand -> Australia -> Indonesia -> The Philippines -> Singapore -> Greece -> Hungary -> Czech Republic -> Germany -> Ireland -> UK -> Finland
2015-2017: e-Commerce for Microsoft
Online Merchandiser.
My role was to manage merchandising and online customer experience for microsoftstore.com in Western Europe. Focusing on the Nordic markets.
This job involved relocating to Dublin, Ireland.
2012-2015: Sales and Marketing for Visma
Sales and Marketing Coordinator.
My work included driving prospects through digital channels towards leads and profitable customers.
Visma Services Oy was Finland's leading provider of financial services, including accounting and payroll services. Nowadays, the company's name is Azets.
"This was a super, well-coordinated trip lead by Kati P. Definitely loved the local dog sled experience & reindeer ride, and of course snowshoeing and sauna which were optional activities. The food we had on this trip was delightful as well. Highly recommend!"
Jennifer, USA, 2022