She began work at the age of 13, as a gofer in the Turun Sanomat newspaper offices,[1] in which role she stayed for three years, while at the same time finishing her education.

[4] Upon her husband's death, and as stipulated in his will,[1] Irja Ketonen assumed management control of the Turun Sanomat operations, at first only temporarily, due to strong resistance by the company's board,[1] and with many doubting her ability to run the business due to her young age and lack of business experience,[2] but nevertheless she returned and remained on permanent full-time basis from 1955.

[1] For a woman to take the helm of a large business was highly unusual at the time,[5] yet Irja Ketonen not only successfully managed the Turun Sanomat operation, she developed the group into a sizeable and successful business, and is remembered as something of a pioneer of the industry.

In 1979, Ketonen was chosen by the Federation of Finnish Enterprises (Suomen Yrittäjät [fi]) as their 'Entrepreneur of the Year'.

[6] In 1980, she was granted by President Urho Kekkonen the honorary Finnish title of Vuorineuvos, as the first woman to receive the honour.