Build your career in Finland

Linda is a programmer, storyteller and illustrator from Helsinki, Finland. Her book series Hello Ruby introduces the whimsical world of technology for kids and has been translated to over 25 languages.

Linda is a central figure in the world of programming  and has worked on edutech already before it was called that. She is the founder of Rails Girls, a global phenomenon teaching the basics of programming for young women all over the world. Further, she believes that code is the 21st century literacy and the need for people to speak the ABC of Programming is imminent. She believes our world is increasingly run by software and we need more diversity in the people who are building it.

Linda has studied in business, design and engineering in Aalto University and product engineering in Stanford University.

Ari Kynäslahti has a long career working at Nokia. He joined Nokia in the beginning of 1995. In Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks he has worked in many manager positions, for example as Head of Mobile Networks Product Management, Head of LTE Product Management, Head of Global Radio Sales and Head of WCDMA Product Management as well as multiple positions in R&D and Business Development.

In his current position as Vice President Strategy & Technology, CTO he is responsible for creating business, technology and partnership strategies for MN and contributing to Nokia level strategy. He is also responsible for MN level portfolio and investment management as well as roadmaps and product decisions for MN SoC:s, BTS platform including RF platforms and baseband platforms and to define and maintain the product leadership plans in RF, BB, automation, AI/ML, ORAN/vRAN architecture and Private Wireless Networks. In addition to these, in his current position he is managing the co-operation with key interface partners, i.e. R&D, sales, standardization, research, chipset vendors and device vendors. 

Kynäslahti has M.Sc in Radio Technology with two minors: Corporate Strategy & international business and Economy from Helsinki University of Technology.

Ilkka Paananen is the CEO and co-founder of Supercell, the Finnish mobile games developer behind Clash of Clans, Hay Day, Boom Beach, Clash Royale and Brawl Stars. Founded in 2010, Supercell’s games have been featuring in the global top 10 for years after launch and are played by hundreds of millions of people every month. Supercell is the first European technology start-up to have reached a valuation of $10 billion.

In addition to his role at Supercell, Ilkka helps other entrepreneurs as both an investor and as an active member of the Nordic startup community where he mentors and coaches other founders. Alongside his co-founder Mikko Kodisoja, he has established the We Foundation to fight social inequality and help disadvantaged children in Finland.

Prior to founding Supercell, he was the CEO & co-founder of Finnish games developer Sumea, which was later acquired by Digital Chocolate, where he worked as President until 2010. Ilkka holds a Master of Science degree from the Helsinki University of Technology.

Tuula Haatainen is Finland's Minister of Employment, a long-term parliamentarian and a former municipal director. As a member of the Government, she has served not only the Government of Sanna Marin but also the Governments of Anneli Jäätteenmäki and Matti Vanhanen, serving first as Minister of Education between 2003 and 2005 and later
as Minister of Social Affairs and Health between 2005 and 2007.

Minister Haatainen has a master’s degree in political science and she is a qualified nurse.  

During her career, she has had numerous governmental, international and NGO confidence activities. She is married and has two adult children.