After his graduation, he worked the following fourteen years in managerial positions for metal processor Oy Vuoksenniska Ab first as ore mine director and later in the head office.
Stolpe left his position in 1989 – in the same year when the company subsidiary Wärtsilä Marine fell in bankruptcy.
Stolpe was selected board chairman of the Helsinki University Student Union in 1953; he was the first Swedish-speaking Finn in the position after a period of over 40 years.
[1] After completing his studies, Stolpe started as geologist in Oy Vuoksenniska Ab and for the following five years he surveyed ore deposits in Nyhamn, Åland and Jussarö, Ekenäs.
The examinations led to foundation of an ore mine in Jussarö; Stolpe was appointed the local director in 1959.
The initial target for annual production was 300,000 tonnes of iron ore; however, the downward price trend of steel combined with introduction of large intercontinental bulk carriers led to decline of producer prices and eventually running down the mine.
The bathtub production collapsed during the oil crisis of the 1970s when the government prohibited them from new state funded rental houses, in order to save energy.
The company reached to international market; Wärtsilä took over diesel engine production of Swedish NOHAB in 1978 and was enlisted into Stockholm stock exchange in 1983.