These ten books, which I read in 2021, capture something essential from a year of a global pandemic, climate crisis and social distancing. This year has been strange to say the least. …

Yesterday was my last meeting on the board of the University of Helsinki. In January I will start my fellowship at Johns Hopkins. Here´s where I am in understanding a university. I have always had an emotional relationship with the idea of a university and University of Helsinki specifically. Starting my political science studies in 1999 in Helsinki was a life changing moment. I would be a completely different person without this institution — its impact reaching way beyond the acquired…

Today is my 44th birthday. These 44 things I have learned this year. / Tänään on 44. syntymäpäiväni. Nämä 44 asiaa olen oppinut kuluneena vuonna. — 1. It takes 2–10 times more money and time to build something up versus tearing something down. I learned this when renovating a country house but I’d say it applies to other matters too./ (In Finnish:) Vie 2–10 kertaa enemmän aikaa ja rahaa rakentaa jotakin kuin repiä jotakin kappaleiksi. …

Recruiting a director is one of the main responsibilities of a nonprofit board. You can add a lot of quality into your process by being slightly tech savvy. Here´s one way to do it. The Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland is one of Finland´s cultural institutes abroad. I have been fortunate to serve on its board now for nearly six years, the last couple of years as Chair. Our Director, Emilie Gardberg, was appointed as Dean of Sibelius Academy, one of the…

The arts help us in dealing with uncertainty. A question I learned from an actor has guided me in crisis management during the COVID-19 pandemic. I currently run a department of 1 800 colleagues. Most of our staff are front-line workers, i.e. working in sports halls, swimming halls, youth clubs, libraries, cultural centres, orchestras and museums. When the pandemic hit Finland, we noticed rather quickly that managers, staff members and customers reacted in differently to…

Engaging people as users or citizens creates different results. Cities need to be strategic in the roles they give to citizens in engagement. Last week I was invited to do a workshop on participation and engagement with an enthusiastic team of people from Helsinki Regional Transport Authority HSL. In my introduction I talked about the reasons why engagement should not be narrowed down to asking people what they want.

The COVID-19 pandemic will cause long-lasting harm on youth. The good news: we can do something about it. Family matters too much. In many cities and countries schools have moved totally or partially to remote teaching. Schooling in this ways demands a lot more support from parents. It is easier to focus in education if you have your own room, your own computer, when your parents can help you with…

Online meetings cause many of us to check out as the threshold to open your mouth is higher than in other meetings. Here´s one simple and straight-forward way to run a meeting where everyone´s contribution is needed. Our work has changed dramatically. But as there are many positive aspects in…