Tampere Talent Ambassadors 2023

Tampere Talent Ambassador Bolarinwa Akindaini, works as an Economic and Statistical Researcher at Nasdaq Stockholm

I am Paloma Catalá Parga, flutist, composer and music teacher. I’m Spanish, and I have been living in Tampere since December 2019. I moved here with my husband and daughter, who was four years old at that time.

Our family in Spain had a fairly comfortable situation: our own house, I had a permanent position in an official Conservatory, and my husband had a job in a social project of the Galician Symphony Orchestra. In addition, we founded an association in 2010 to play music at events, and we were doing very well.

The fact is that as an artist, I had felt caged for a long time. I could not pour all the creativity that I felt I had into my profession. In addition, I felt that the environment I was living in did not really allow me to develop as a professional. All this, combined with the prompt obligation to send our daughter to school in a system that we had seen from the inside and did not like, meant that although life was comfortable, it was not exactly what we needed.

In 2017 I had to undergo a fairly serious surgery. I had a chronic infection in the inner ear; as a musician, you can imagine my concern, but also this was a head operation, with the risks that this entails. Before that, we had already fantasised about going to live in Finland. In fact, I travelled to Joensuu in 2012 to try to get a place in its Orchestra. We came when orchestra positions were opened, just 2-3 days, and back home.

Risto Vuolanne, a famous Finnish double bass player who was living in our city, had been clear: “What you have to do is go there, to study, work or whatever, but go there”. I had never had the courage to make such a decision. But coming out of the operation, and knowing everything had gone well, gave me the boost I needed. When I got to the hospital room, I said to my husband: “Let’s go to Finland”.

The process was long. We had to save money, find out how to do it, draw strategies and decide on the city. From the first moment, shortly after doing some research, we knew that Tampere is going to be our city! Cosmopolitan, modern but not too big (raising a child in a big city is totally different), nature, culture… and with that bohemian touch that we appreciate as artists.

The path has not been easy. Informing the family of our risky decision, knowing that for a while we would not be able to apply for jobs in our profession, and COVID. But today, I feel very grateful for where I am right now. I am currently a teacher at the Tampere Conservatory, UULU Musiikkikoulu and Helsingin Lastenliito. I give workshops in institutions such as the MLL in Tampere or the RULLA Museum. I’m in charge of children’s programming for the Tampere Flute Fest, and I’ve recently recorded a 10-episode series for YLE Areena, which will take place next spring on Pikku Kakkonen.

My path would not have been the same without the wonderful people I have met along the way who have undoubtedly made a difference in my future. This is one of the reasons why I am very grateful to be part of the Tampere Talent Ambassador programme. I want to be able to offer other internationals the help and support in our beautiful city that can make a difference in their future. I would also like to encourage foreigners to learn Finnish, something that has undoubtedly been decisive in my luck.

LIFE IS ABOUT THE JOURNEY

My Life Did Not Start Here...

Originally from Brazil, I come from a big family with a lot of uncles and cousins. My father was a self-taught, succesful, city worker. His hobbies were: composing songs for piano, writing poetry, and repairing watches. The puzzle of it was fascinating to him! My mother loves challenges, she is very much involved with social issues, and she is also talented with handicrafts. Now, at the age of 90+, she is a member of a motorcycle club in Brazil. What a lady! 

Life is about the journey. I don’t see limitation as something that can stop me. For me it’s just a flag that shows me that I need to find another way to do what I want to do. My main interest in life is people and social causes. When I was young, I learned how to listen myself. This gave me a strong personality and values, but it also gave me the total freedom to enjoy of being a part of the diversity – without the need to agree and just accept the differences in people’s choices.

My Work Diary

I breathe changes and eat challenges in all shapes and forms. This has given me the opportunities to work in different jobs and fields. You name it, I have done it or I will take it as an idea for next! 🙂

Recently, in collaboration with Ramona Bilmez, Business Coordinator at the City of Tampere, we started a Cultural Business Training. A series of gatherings, meetings, and workshops bringing together a multitude of cultures in our city while promoting entrepreneurship.

Currently, I’m writing a new exciting chapter in my life – I am a business partner with my lovely husband in the food industry. What a journey! We run a small food trailer at Tammelantori – Tapioca Soul where we offer our own interpretation of Brazilian food and catering service with the option of live music entertainment by me and my fellow musicians. This year we became sponsors of Rafael Giorgio, a Brazilian Futsal player at Ilves FS. One of my personal goal is to inspire other small companies to engage with society and invest in talents. People are not only our customers, they are an important part of the chain.

I am a Citizen of the World, but I Found My “Sweet Home” in Tampere

I believe in creating solutions and opportunities. I came from a country where we don’t have a social system as in Finland, one has to be creative and most of the time, literally build from scratch or even from nothing and get it done in a big way. That could be one of my contributions. What potential do you see for Tampere in the future? Just the desire to try and make changes is already a great reason to believe that Tampere has the potential. I see Tampere as a canvas with a lot of magic blank spaces, we have the opportunity to fill it with new colors that come from our amazing diversity of talents and paint the future we want to create for the next generations. It is never too soon or too late, now we are here, that makes it perfect timing to do that.

Connection with nature

Catherine Ghersi, a publicist and wilderness guide from Chile, came to Tampere to start her career as a wilderness guide. She has been living all around the world  but in Tampere, she really feels the closeness and connection with nature.

Tampere Talent Ambassador Catherine Ghersi



 

SENSE OF BELONGING IN TAMPERE

"One can call a place home when he or she finds a connection, a belongingness with the place. I have found that belongingness with Tampere."

Hello all, I am Dixit from Nepal and Tampere is my home.

My journey in Tampere began in 2013 as a student and now I work as a Distribution Business Manager at Robit Finland. During my 7 years, I have completed my Masters degree, worked in 2 casual jobs and found 2 other professional jobs, participated in 4 Demola projects, 1 mentoring programme, and 1 Growthbuilders project.

For International Talents, like me, Tampere has a lot to offer as long as the talents have the hunger to prove themselves, willingness to integrate with the rich network and find a bit of luck.

As a Tampere Talent Ambassador, I welcome all new international talents to my home, my Tampere.

MULTICULTURAL LAYERS OF THE CITY OF TAMPERE

I am a multi-disciplinary artist working with tools such as photography, drawing, painting and installation. I have participated in artist residency programs; selected shows at art institutions in Belgium, Turkey and Finland. At the beginning of 2020, I moved to Tampere, Finland and embarked upon a new step in my career at the international level.  I became a member of the Tampere Artists’ Association, and I still continue my artistic research & production that focuses on the typographic application of an abstract alphabet influenced by sleeping patterns. Starting from October 2020, I became a proud member of the International Tampere Talent Ambassadors Network.

Aside from my artistic career, I worked in the art & culture industry, higher education sector while participating in freelance marketing and design projects, which included leading strategic research-driven campaigns, re-branding, developing design solutions on print media, photographic & video production but not limited to visual content production but writing/editing editorial content. Currently, I am studying at Tampere University at the faculty of Education and Culture to develop pedagogical competencies in the lifelong learning and workplace pedagogy fields while offering services for designing and planning art education curriculum, artistic activities and workshops at the local cultural institutions on behalf of Tampere Intercultural Art Community.

Despite the trying times, Tampere Talent Ambassadors have been actively working to build social & professional connections to support professional development of the community while engaging in projects targeting international talent attraction and retention through online seminars and networking events. The COVID-19 and transition process at the public realm was never easy; however, I am happy to participate in a community that does not give up on their dreams, missions and continue working very hard to meet their goals even under very restricting conditions. This is the Finnish sisu  and that  gives me hope & motivation to become an active participant in the community to support the diversity, inclusivity of the city of Tampere. 

Tampere Talent Ambassador Margarita Khartanovich speaks about her journey and work in Tampere. 

TAMPERE: SMALL IN SIZE BUT NOT IN THINKING

As a convinced cosmopolitan and a digital nomad by the will of fate, I could have lived anywhere – London, Berlin, New York, Amsterdam, Vienna, you name it. But after all these years (almost 11!) I’m still here, in Tampere, Finland. Why would an ambitious person, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, with tons of experience and skills, exploding with ideas have opted for a tiny city (with only 226,696 inhabitants) in the middle of nowhere condemning herself to a constant hunt for rare paid job opportunities? It might sound insane but, believe me, there is a reason.

Tampere - a Cozy, Peaceful Home

Before I moved to Tampere in August 2009 to pursue my Master’s degree in Journalism (major) and International Relations (minor), I had never lived in a city with a population smaller than 350,000 inhabitants. My hometime is Vladimir (350,000). I got my two degrees in Linguistics and Public Relations as well as my first 5-year experience in media relations in Nizhny Novgorod (1.257 million) and then worked in Moscow (11.92 million) in an international Tech PR agency and later at the TNT broadcasting company – one of the main entertainment TV channels in Russia known for its comedies, reality shows and TV series.

When the economic crunch happened in 2008, the media industry was hit the hardest losing hundreds of advertisers and content producers. I had to leave my beloved job behind and head for new adventures. As I always wanted to study abroad and experience a foreign country not just as a tourist, I decided to apply for Master’s programmes in Finland and was accepted to both Turku and Tampere Universities. I chose Tampere because it had a much more exciting study programme… and looked better in the pictures.

I’m a proactive person, and I mean it. As soon as my plane landed in Tampere (yes, I did take that 20 min flight from Helsinki) and got into my tutor’s car, I became a board member of the International Students of Tampere association (ISOT) and stayed in this role for the next five years. I was lucky with the groupmates – from Nepal, Belarus, Italy, the US, Sweden and Finland – and all other international and Finnish students around as well as my supervisor and lecturers, so my student years left a lasting warm memory with me.

And that was when the feeling of home started to form: the nature, the lakes, cozy districts, eating donuts at an observation tower, taking boat trips, going to see a rock gig or sing karaoke, bunnies and foxes running around, etc. Everything is close, approachable, taken care of, works well. Every time I left Tampere, I always looked forward to coming back. Because I was coming back HOME.

Making It in Finland

In terms of a career, I wanted to focus on building media products. I started with music journalism as music has always been my passion – I worked for a number of British, American and German blogs and later eventually for Rolling Stone magazine itself (note: not the band!) taking live photos, writing reviews of live shows, festivals and albums, interviewing the likes of Marilyn Manson, Korn, Deftones, Mastodon, IAMX, Stratovarius, Accept, Bullet For My Valentine, Tokio Hotel, John Grant, Say Lou Lou, Poets of the Fall, Negative, Tesla Boy, and many many more.

My other media project was “UUNI” – the English-language pages of Oulu University student magazine. I created it from scratch, launched, contributed to and coordinated for around 3 years. We covered everything related to studying, working and living in Finland including all the burning issues like employment for young graduates and international talents, educational, cultural and social challenges, discrimination and racism, etc. We tried to give a very practical and non-stereotypical perspective of Finland that would benefit both foreign and Finnish students.
 

From music and student-related journalism I moved to the topics of tech and business covering Tampere-rooted tech innovations for Business Insider and Tech.eu in cooperation with ex-Tredea (now Business Tampere). In between media products, I was also involved in creating communication, branding and marketing campaigns (WordDive, JM Tieto, Safe Internet Together, Kasvu Open, Demola) as well as in doing media research (International Press Institute, Aleksanteri Institute, University of Helsinki) that resulted in my pursuing a PhD degree in Journalism at Tampere University (still ongoing).

The biggest media project so far that I have had a chance to create and develop as Editor-in-Chief is Binary District Journal – a tech publication about new technologies (IoT, AI, Cybersecurity, Big Data, Biotech, Blockchain, etc.) with the focus on academics, engineers and everything business and R&D-related. In 2018, it was syndicated by The Next Web magazine (5 million visits per day) and, in 2019, acquired by Digital October.

An interesting detail about this job is that I worked remotely from Tampere going on business trips every other week – to London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Moscow, Beijing, Shanghai, Lisbon and many other cities. A true digital nomad but with a cozy home, right? Another highlight of that time is speaking at TNW Conference and events in Amsterdam and London sharing the stage with Financial Times journalists, banking and fintech representatives, VCs such as Tim Draper and Kavita Gupta, CEOs of large corportaions such as IBM and Microsoft and many others as well as representing Binary District at WebSummit and Slush. Later my duties expanded to Head of Insight, which included developing the company’s strategy, hiring staff, managing educational projects and helping raise funding for partner projects ($7 million for Primalbase, $120 million for Vostok).

In 2020, I joined Y-kampus as a growth hacker and coach with a mission to inspire Tampere students with entrepreneurship and create a community that would unite students, academia and the startup world.

Regional Development and Renewal

I joined Tampere Ambassador Network mostly because I wanted to learn more about and contribute to the city’s development, internationalisation and growth. It has become obvious to me that Tampere is actually a very ambitious city that realizes that it is small and provincial but thinks big, trying to attract more investment, businesses and talents by creating the right infrastructure, supporting and boosting various clusters and platforms. And I believe in Tampere’s potential to become something remarkable – a place with a great work and life balance where opportunities are created and open for everyone, a vibrant city where you want to live and can thrive despite your background.

However, we do need to do some work first to make it happen, e.g. to encourage changes in local companies’ culture making them more willing to scale up and recognize the necessity for and benefits of hiring international talents. But I’m sure that with the initiatives such as the Tampere Ambassador programme and readiness of policy-makers, businesses, academia, ecosystem-builders to support them and cooperate, Tampere will find a way to always renew and reinvent itself. And who wouldn’t like to live in a city like this? Well, that’s why I’m still sticking around too, for good.

A MEANINGFUL DECADE IN A MEANINGFUL CITY

Hello everyone, nice to meet you!

My name is Victoria Laaksonen and I am originally from Russia. I moved to Finland in 2010, in the age of 19, all by myself – after dreaming about it for several years as a teenager and finally finding a way to make the dream come true. My first trip to Finland was made a year earlier, it was my actual birthday on the 11th of August – I turned 18, it was finally possible for me to travel alone as an adult, so I headed abroad for the first time in my life, and spent a week in Helsinki and Tampere with my friend whom I met online. Back then all I could say in Finnish was “moi”, “kiitos” and a couple of swear words. After that I visited a couple of times and exactly a year later I moved to Finland already able to speak fluent Finnish (motivation and practice were the key for me if you wonder) as I became a student of a Finnish vocational school. 

After graduating I moved to Tampere, so if I count the numerous visits and times/weeks/months which I spent before settling down here, it makes about a decade that I’ve spent in Tampere. Usually one’s twenties are a very important chapter, and it has been very meaningful for me too: during this decade spent in Tampere there happened many first’s and many significant milestones of my life: for example first job, our marriage, birth of our 2 kids… So, yes, this place really holds special times in my heart and in my history. 

One of the reasons for wanting to become a Tampere Ambassador was my will to give back to this city. I am honored to be accepted as one of Talent Ambassadors and being able to take a part in projects meaningful for this city’s current and future residents and even for the city’s brand and reputation: it is great that Tampere values equality, accessibility, diversity and sustainability, and I am happy to participate in projects helping to increase the diversity and togetherness in our society.

Currently I am a third-year student at Tampere university, a translator (let me know if you need a translation from Finnish to Russian or backwards, English goes too!) and I also work part-time at the university as an Research assistant/Industry ambassador and HUB’s growth hacker until the end of this academic year. 

The topics of my interest are for example personal growth and entrepreneurship. I love to learn about things through others’ experience, so another reason for joining the Tampere Ambassador programme is that I’d like to gain a wider perspective on life, to get to look at things from others’ points of view, to hear about different experiences – as I think all of this enriches our lives in general, and of course to network in order to make the things mentioned above possible. I consider myself as a very empathetic and understanding person, so I think I’m in a right place. 

As a hobby I do photography and am much into interior decorating – particularly for kids and in general. From time to time I update my Instagram page with pictures and little stories about our life, so feel free to connect with me over there @laa_victoria or via LinkedIn where you can find me by my name. See you around!

JUST LIKE MUSIC, WE HAVE THE POWER TO BRING OUR COMMUNITIES TOGETHER

Hi! My name is Beatriz Macías and I’m a Mexican-American classical musician. I moved to Tampere in the fall of 2016, for a temporary job with the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra. Little did I know, I was about to embark on one of my most unique journeys.

I often speak about music because of the power it has to bring people together of different cultures, races, religions and backgrounds. Like numerous instruments uniting to perform in perfect harmony, we have the ability to make a greater impact, when we come together as a community, merging our distinct talents, experiences, and assets.

Being a part of the Tampere community as a Tampere Talent Ambassador excites me, because I see the great potential the city has. For me, Tampere is a blend of past and future, of tradition and innovation, of local and international. Tampere is a city that inspires a diverse and resilient community of creatives to come together for the common purpose of adding value to this dynamic city!

Beatriz is the Founder & Artistic Director of the Tampere Flute Fest. 

She is an active flute soloist and singer.

THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY

Shruti Mittal comes from India, Delhi. She followed her spouse to Finland 3 years ago, in December 2017. Shruti has an engineering background, currently she is working at Lionbridge as a Scrum Master. She describes her journey in Tampere incredible – she has had some of her best experiences here.

“I wish you all the best, and invite you for an incredible journey here in Tampere!”

On this video, Shruti Mittal shares more about her journey in Tampere. 

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES

"I said to myself, I’m a talented young man, someone who is blessed with varieties of talent, and I’m well educated. I can create something for myself. I can find something to do for myself."

Stanley Orock speaks on this video about his journey in Tampere. 
 

TAMPERE TAUGHT ME TO BE ENTREPRENEURIAL

I am from Tomsk, Russia, a half a million city in Siberia with 410-year history, six public universities and a number of private ones.

In Tomsk, I was working as an academic exchange coordinator, sending students abroad, and one day my boss forwarded to me information about the Erasmus Mundus scholarship to check for our students… But I couldn’t resist applying myself! As a result I got a chance to study in three countries: Norway, Finland and Portugal. The fourth semester we could choose where to write our Master’s thesis and I chose Tampere (over Oslo, that was offered to me), because I felt at home here (plus it was closer to Russia and not as expensive as Oslo :).

What would you like to tell about yourself?

During my 14 years in Tampere I have tried several hats: that of  a Master student, a  PhD researcher focusing on international graduate employability, an Erasmus+ project administrator, a planning officer,  a Conference producer and a part-time entrepreneur. I can’t say that my career path is smooth and stable, but due to certain instability of work positions I developed my sisu and learned to be entrepreneurial. I am going to write a research article about the importance of entrepreneurial capital soon.

What advice can you give to international talents planning to come to study in Tampere and stay for work?

As a researcher of  international graduate employability and an international graduate myself, the major advice that I can give is: if you can’t find a job, think of creating one yourself! 

Tampere entrepreneurial ecosystem (Demola, Y-kampus, Tribe, Tampere ES, Ensimetri, Red Brick Accelerator) will help you in this. So join their activities/programs already during your studies.  

And if you are planning to become a PhD student, please keep in mind that these days even PhD students have to be entrepreneurial as they often need to secure external funding for their studies. Grant writing and networking will be very important skills to master.

Why is Tampere the best place to live?

I am in love with Tampere’s nature and the view from Pyynikki tower. I guess, every other Ambassador has mentioned that already, yet it’s just worth seeing once all these lakes and forests! No wonder so many international students want to stay here after graduation (according to my research – at least 60%). 

Tampere is beautiful, safe, walkable, bike-able, fun (just wait for Vappu!) and foreigner-friendly. I am proud that the Mentoring program, Hidden Gems and the Ambassadors Talent Tampere networks were developed here.

Tell us more about your professional activities.

I work at Tampere University as a researcher, doing my PhD on the topic of International graduate employability in Finland and I am also involved in several EU funded projects. As an entrepreneur I organized more than 10 summer schools and professional development trainings for Russian partners in Tampere. 

Beside this, I am promoting the activities of Tampere Center for Russian Culture by organizing cooking/handicrafts and art workshops.

What is your involvement in international activities?

My workplace is quite international and in the EU-funded projects, I cooperate with a large network of partner universities from Europe, Asia, Russia and Ukraine.  In addition, I am glad that Tampere international community is becoming more active and I am trying to support my friends’ projects.

What potential do you see for Tampere in the future?

I believe that there is a huge potential in the international students who come to study here and stay after graduation as they build bridges between Tampere and their home cities and countries; bring diversity and stimulate innovation. And of course, I would like to see the new tram line finished and in action!

IF YOU CHOOSE TAMPERE, YOU WILL GET YOUR CHANCE

Warm greetings everyone!

I am Mariam from Georgia (საქართველო). That simple! Actually, some five years ago when I moved to Finland I always introduced myself like I-AM-THE-ONLY-GEORGIAN unconsciously trying to point up my feeling of loneliness. But this is different life now! I feel happy!!! I have great family my number one value, I have numerous friends, amazing job, quite life but of great adventures, everyday safety. This is Finland for me!

By profession I am a teacher, musical actress, journalist, and educational leader. These are all on my degree certificates. But my experience is rather extensive. I have worked with various universities in over 20 counties, I was in all types of media for 12 years, I worked as a teacher and an artist and I’ve been working with international talents and immigrants in Finland.

Tampere because ….
It is the city with its strength in depth to create lots of chances for everyone!

Trust me because…
I have my own story! I moved to Tampere with no single Finnish word! I got B2 certificate in 10 months and got my first job in Finnish. Since then, I have been working on various positions. I am now working my dream job at Tampere University!

Tampere is a fantasy place because…
The only thing to get to where you need is to know what you want and to be ready to move forward with your goals. You are always given opportunities along the way! Failures are allowed and bigger dreams are encouraged. This is Tampere!