1. What inspired you to join the FBC board, and what kind of impact would you like to help create?
I joined the FBC board to help strengthen the Finnish business presence in the UAE and to deepen the ties between our two cultures. Finland is recognised for its innovation, trust, and commitment to sustainability. These values align well with the UAE’s ambitious and forward-looking vision. I believe there is a strong opportunity to highlight Finnish strengths in leadership, technology, and wellbeing in a region that is open to new ideas and partnerships.
The FBC is more than a business network; it is a supportive community that connects Finnish professionals and encourages collaboration across industries. I hope to contribute by promoting dialogue, sharing knowledge, and mentoring others, particularly those who are new to the region or early in their careers.
My aim is to help position Finnish expertise as a trusted and valuable resource in the UAE. At the same time, I want to ensure that every member of our community feels welcomed, supported, and empowered to grow. By doing so, we can build lasting relationships and make a meaningful contribution to both Finnish and UAE business ecosystems.
2. Can you share a recent professional insight, habit, or mindset shift that’s made a difference for you?
Our lives are getting busier and busier, and there’s a growing emphasis on the art of saying no—setting boundaries, streamlining focus, and doing less. But interestingly, I’ve gone in the opposite direction. I’ve started saying yes to more things: new experiences, unfamiliar challenges, and unexpected opportunities that push me outside of my comfort zone. This shift has been energising and has required accepting that not everything will go perfectly.
Living and working in the UAE, a dynamic and fast-moving environment, has only reinforced this. It’s a place that rewards those who are open, agile, and willing to create opportunities for themselves. By saying yes more often, I’ve gained new perspectives, built valuable relationships, and discovered new paths I might not have considered before.
3. How do you think we can accelerate gender diversity in AI, and what role can industry leaders play in making that change happen?
As a member of the Executive Leadership Team at Women in AI UAE, a non-profit network that supports and promotes women working in artificial intelligence, I see the gender gap in tech every day, and it is wide. According to the Global Gender Gap Report, only about 30 percent of AI professionals globally are women. Even in countries where there is near gender equality in the general workforce, the AI sector still shows large gaps, reaching up to 51 percent in parts of Europe.
This is more than a numbers problem. When women are underrepresented in AI development, the technology can become biased. Algorithms may overlook or misrepresent entire groups of people, leading to inequality in systems that affect everything from healthcare to hiring. To close the gap, we need to act deliberately. Gender diversity in AI will not happen on its own. It starts with education, grows through mentorship and support, and depends on women being directly involved in designing and building the tools that shape our future.
Industry leaders in both Finland and the UAE have a key role to play. They can lead by example by promoting diverse talent, investing in inclusive innovation, and ensuring that AI solutions reflect the needs and voices of all parts of society.
4. What’s something interesting about the gold industry that most people don’t know?
Most people think of gold in terms of jewellery or investment, but it plays a much larger—and often invisible—role in our everyday lives. Thanks to its exceptional conductivity and resistance to corrosion, gold is a critical component in everything from COVID-19 tests and pregnancy kits to smartphones, medical devices, and even space technology. Its unique chemical properties make it irreplaceable in many high-precision and life-saving applications.
What may surprise people even more is that gold was once used in toys and novelty items—until rising costs made that impractical. Today, rather than being just a symbol of wealth, gold is at the heart of some of the most advanced innovations shaping our future. The World Gold Council is increasingly focused on supporting gold-enabled technologies that advance renewable energy, healthcare, and digital infrastructure. As we move toward more sustainable and tech-driven solutions globally—including in the UAE and Finland—gold continues to quietly power progress behind the scenes.
5. What’s a book, podcast, or film that’s had a lasting impact on you?
There’s Nothing for You Here by Fiona Hill has stayed with me long after I turned the last page. In the book, Hill shares her personal journey from a coal-mining town in northern England to becoming a top foreign policy advisor in the United States. Her story is not only one of resilience, but also a sharp critique of how class, geography, and gender continue to shape access to opportunity. She writes candidly about how narrow the pathways can be for those outside traditional power circles—and how easily talent can be lost when support systems are missing.
For me, her story resonates deeply, especially as someone who has lived and worked across different cultures and systems. It’s a powerful reminder of how critical mentorship, encouragement, and visibility are—how just one person believing in you can help shift your trajectory. That’s why I’ve taken part in the FBC Mentorship Programme and why I joined the FBC board: to pay that support forward. Helping others navigate their journeys, especially in international and transitional environments like the UAE, is something I feel strongly about. We all benefit when talent is seen, supported, and allowed to grow.
