People of Vaisala: Meet Karla Tapia, Senior Marketing Manager

People of Vaisala is a spotlight series that shows what it looks and feels like to work at Vaisala in different roles, teams, and locations. In each story, we meet one colleague and explore how one of our three Behaviors (Pioneering, Curious, Committed) shows up in their everyday work. This time: Committed.

Growing together in Latin America

For more than nine years, Karla Tapia has been part of Vaisala’s journey in Latin America. Based in Mexico City, she works as a Senior Marketing Manager, collaborating closely with sales teams, distributors, customers, and colleagues around the world. She joined Vaisala before the Mexico City office was established, and was there when it opened in November 2017 with a team of four people. Since then, she has seen the region develop considerably, from a small local presence to a growing network of colleagues across Latin America.

Karla was drawn to Vaisala by its people and culture. After a thorough recruitment process involving colleagues from around the world, she was struck by the warmth of the people she met and their commitment to work–life balance. She was also interested in learning more about Finnish culture and appreciated the openness she experienced from the start. Over the years, new challenges, technologies, and learning opportunities have kept her motivated. “There is always something new to learn,” she says. “I have also had the opportunity to see how committed Vaisala is to grow in this region.”

Committed to customers and continuous improvement

There is rarely a typical day in Karla’s role. Her work may begin with an early meeting with colleagues in Finland, followed by discussions with sales managers, customer visits, webinar planning, or preparations for a trade show. She travels regularly across the region and beyond, and she enjoys the variety that comes with working in different markets. “Every country has its own flavor,” Karla says. From event formats and catering to music and networking styles, each market offers new perspectives and ideas.

For Karla, listening to customers is one of the main aspects of being committed. By understanding their pain points and discussing their needs openly, she and her colleagues can identify meaningful ways to support them. These conversations also bring valuable ideas and insights to her work. Commitment also means continuously looking for ways to improve. When a situation is challenging or unclear, Karla takes a moment to reflect, investigates the issue, asks questions, and draws on ideas from colleagues and distributors.

Learning from people and cultures

Working across countries is one of the things Karla values most about her role. While remote collaboration makes it possible to work effectively across time zones, meeting colleagues and customers in person adds another layer of understanding. Seeing how people react, communicate, and share ideas helps build stronger relationships. Karla enjoys observing the cultural differences that make each market unique, from the energetic exchange of ideas in Mexico to different ways of greeting, socializing, and creating a welcoming event experience.

Karla also brings her dedication to learning into her everyday work. She is currently studying for an AI certification and is excited about the possibilities that new technologies can offer. Outside work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their four cats, travelling with friends and family, and exploring small towns in Mexico and abroad. Photography is another passion: she enjoys learning new techniques, experimenting with cameras, and capturing moments with both her phone and three larger cameras, one of which belonged to her grandfather. Whether at work or beyond it, Karla’s commitment is rooted in staying open to new ideas, connecting with people, and finding ways to make things better.

LAM Summit 2026, Boston office, August 5, 2026. Left to right: Alberto Cortés, Karla Tapia, Daniel Jiménez.