Telecom finance chief leaves office career for stand-up comedy

Maria Sepp left her job as a telecom company’s finance chief to pursue stand-up comedy full time, ERR’s Pealtnägija programme reported. She is now Estonia’s top-selling female comedian, according to ticket sales, despite — or perhaps because of — her provocative and often vulgar material.

Sepp, 34, was born in Tartu and spent most of her life there. After working for years as a tour operator, she made a career change in 2017, enrolling in a university programme in accounting and financial management and later earning a master’s degree.

She made her stand-up debut at an open-mic night at Möku bar in Tartu in the summer of 2021. Sepp recalled feeling so nervous that she remembers little of being on stage. Comedian Sander Õigus later told her she had done well, encouraging her to continue.

While performing at bars and venues, Sepp also built a corporate career, eventually becoming finance chief at an international telecommunications company responsible for a budget tied to revenue of tens of millions. She said the stress of the job began to affect her mental health. At one point, overwhelmed by a spreadsheet and unable to finish it, she shut her laptop, cried and called her mother. Her loved ones urged her to take sick leave.

Sepp left the well-paid office job and what she described as financial freedom to focus on entertainment and creative work. Her shows have sold out. Her friend and fellow comedian Aleksander Eeri Laupmaa said audiences are looking for simple humour as a way to switch off from everyday worries, even briefly.