Korhonen began her career as a software programmer for IBM. From 1993 to 1999, she was a technical consultant at AT&T. She also worked in sales for the Zed Group, Telia Company, and Infosys. Korhonen joined the United States Foreign Service in 2004 and served in Dhahran, Colombo, and Washington, D.C. Korhonen also served in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs and Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. She was also an advisor to the under secretary of state for management.
