Last week, I had the privilege of hosting “Momentum: The Value of Trust,” an event organized by the law firm Hannes Snellman for their clients. It was a different kind of challenge — and one that left me both inspired and grateful.
I want to thank everyone who joined for the lively engagement, for participating in the dignity exercise, and for the meaningful conversations that followed. Nothing makes me happier than seeing both connection and client satisfaction in action.
Building Trust with a Tough Crowd
I’ll admit it — I was nervous before stepping on stage. Hosting a room full of lawyers and their stakeholders is no easy feat. How do you build rapport in a setting where precision and restraint often dominate the conversation?
I decided to start where trust truly begins — with something deeply human.
Trust doesn’t grow behind screens or through email chains. It grows when we meet in person, look one another in the eye, and acknowledge the human being in front of us.
So, I asked everyone in the audience to do something simple — to turn, say hello, nod, and make eye contact with the person next to them.
Yes, there were giggles. Some uneasy smiles. But that was the point.
Dignity is simple. It’s the quiet act of recognizing that every person matters. No flash, no performance — just mutual respect.
This theme resonated even more deeply as Global Dignity celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. My message that day was clear: keep building trust, and do it with dignity in mind.
Highlights and Insights from the Day
The event featured many powerful contributions from leaders and experts who shared timely perspectives on today’s world and tomorrow’s challenges.
- Johanna Vuorelma encouraged us to reflect on how quick political fixes can distort long-term progress, reminding us that true stability requires consensus on economic policy.
- Susan Duinhoven, former CEO of Sanoma and the first non-Finnish CEO to lead the company, shared practical wisdom on leadership. Her advice for executives to stop overthinking, be less self-critical, and act decisively in an increasingly competitive world struck a chord.
- The discussion with Riikka Rannikko built on this momentum perfectly — showing how courage and clarity remain essential for leadership in uncertain times.
We also heard timely reflections on political instability, regulatory shifts, and the role of technology in Finland’s future growth from speakers including Mervi Airaksinen, Matti Hietanen, Christoph Kuhn, and Matti Lajunen.
The Human Side of Hosting
While the topics on stage were serious and substantial, the small human moments made the day truly special.
Between sessions, I discovered that one of the guests was a fellow parent from my daughter’s daycare — and by the end of the event, I had already made plans to join a local sports club with another attendee.
Those encounters reminded me of what trust really looks like in practice: connection, conversation, and a willingness to show up as ourselves — even in professional settings.
Gratitude and Looking Ahead
My sincere thanks to Hannes Snellman, MySpeaker Finland, LIWLIG Finland, and the outstanding team — Anna-Maria Tamminen and Emilia Lanu — for their collaboration and trust.
“Momentum” was more than an event. It was a reminder that in demanding times, we build progress one handshake, one conversation, and one moment of dignity at a time.
