Kirsi works as senior advisor at the University of Turku with responsibility for the international talent development that is part of the societal interaction mission of the University of Turku. The position is connected with the Strategy of the University of Turku 2021-2030 and the International Programme of the University of Turku 2021-2030. Kirsi is also responsible for coordinating the Lifelong Career and Innovation Hub activities of the international EC2U European Campus of City-Universities Alliance (https://ec2u.eu/) at the University of Turku.

Kirsi's area of ​​expertise is the promotion of academic entrepreneurship, where she has been able to successfully combine practice and research. She has more than 20 years of experience in managing national and international development projects related to the promotion of entrepreneurship. Kirsi acquired a doctor’s degree in Entrepreneurship from the Turku School of Economics in 2017, and has been responsible for scientific events, presented her research work at several international conferences, acted as a peer reviewer and published in academic publications.

Kirsi has a strong background in evaluating entrepreneurship and, more broadly, the social interaction of the university. The University of Turku was granted ACEEU (Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities) accreditation in 2022 as the first Finnish university. Kirsi was responsible for the accreditation process at the University of Turku and the related development of the entrepreneurial university model. Kirsi was also responsible for evaluating the societal interaction and impact of the University in the international FINEEC (Finnish Education Evaluation Centre) audit, which was successfully passed in 2023.

Kirsi has received public recognition for her work. In 2021, Kirsi was nominated as the Entrepreneurship Agent in Southwest Finland. The recognition was given by the YES National Entrepreneurship Education Network in Finland together with the YES Southwest Finland. A author team led by Kirsi was awarded the Best paper award at the YKTT National Entrepreneurship Conference in Helsinki in 2019 for their research paper. Kirsi is the chairperson of the Scientific Association for Entrepreneurship Education and has been also elected the chairperson of the board term 2024-2025. The Association promotes multidisciplinary research and practice of entrepreneurship and enterprise education.