The closing event of the first Boardman Board Buddy Program was held on Thursday, October 24, 2024, both on-site at Futurice in Helsinki and via an online stream. The atmosphere at the event was energetic and lively, as international professionals working in Finland or Finnish companies and experienced Finnish board professionals gathered under one roof.

The event featured topical interviews, including a Board Buddy pair interview moderated by Mia Ahlström, where Colin Brown and Hanna Sievinen reflected on the differences between board work in Finland and abroad.

In a panel discussion moderated by Timo Lappi, panelists Marjo Miettinen, Tuomas Syrjänen and Charles Héaulmé delved into current issues in Finnish boardrooms. They discussed topics such as geopolitics, cybersecurity, the growth aspirations of Finnish companies and the impact of EU regulations on Finnish businesses.

The participants of the Board Buddy program, Boardman’s international members, Finnish board professionals, and other international experts were invited to the event.

A total of 50 people gathered in person at Futurice to network and learn about current topics in Finnish board work. Additionally, a private dinner was organized after the event, exclusively for the pairs who participated in this year’s Board Buddy program.

Board Work in Finland – Current Hot Topics

The event was opened by Boardman’s CEO, Taru Lindeman, followed by an interview with the Board Buddy pair Hanna Sievinen and Colin Brown. Sievinen is a Boardman Partner and serves on several boards, including Taaleri, Koskisen and Aalto University. Colin Brown is a Boardman Member and a serial entrepreneur who has founded and built companies across 17 countries. He has served on boards in the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

The Board Buddy pair shared their thoughts on the differences in board work between Finland and for example in the U.S. They discussed how boards in America tend to be more operational and hands-on with company affairs, while Finnish boards focus more on governance. The interview emphasized that diversity in boards enriches the board’s perspectives and that debates improve when the board does not consist solely of Finnish members.

In a panel discussion moderated by Boardman Partner Timo Lappi, current hot topics in Finnish boards were discussed. The panelists included Marjo Miettinen who is a Partner at Boardman, Charles Héaulmé who is a Boardman Member, CEO of Huhtamäki and Chair of Suominen, and Tuomas Syrjänen who is the Chair and Co-Founder of Futurice. They discussed topics such as the growth ambitions and risk-taking tendencies of Finnish companies’ boards.

The discussion highlighted the idea that when regulation is strong, boards may be satisfied as long as they fulfill their regulatory responsibilities. While this was an exaggeration, it served as a reminder to participants that a board’s role is not just to comply with directives from the EU but also to be an active player that considers the future direction of the company and creates added value for management through its work.

The audience was reminded that “you cannot win a game if you have only defenders on the board.” Boards should remember that instead of simply avoiding risks, it’s important to regularly introduce new investment opportunities and ideas for driving growth, ideally at every meeting.

At the end of the event, Tuomo Haukkovaara, the Chair of Boardman’s International Membership Working Group, introduced himself to the audience, as it included several attendees participating in a Boardman event for the first time.

He informed the international professionals about Boardman’s English-language activities and upcoming initiatives, which are the following:

• Boardman Membership Introduction Webinar on November 7, 2024. Sign up here.
• Boardman’s CG and Board Work in Finland Training on November 19, 2024. Sign up here.

What is the Boardman’s Board Buddy Program?

Boardman piloted the Board Buddy program for the first time in 2024. In the program, Boardman created 12 pairs, each consisting of one international Boardman Member and one experienced Finnish board member.

The program began in March with an opening event and concluded with this event at Futurice at the end of October. Between the opening and closing events, the pairs met approximately once a month to mentor each other on topics such as the differences in board work between Finland and board work abroad. They shared their thoughts on how to secure a board position in Finland and how to succeed as a board member.

The search for international professionals for the next Board Buddy program will start soon. Only international Boardman Members are eligible to apply for the program. If you’re interested in applying for next year’s program, we encourage you to apply for a membership as soon as possible!

English-language Boardman Membership

Boardman Membership integrates international professionals to Finnish business networks and provides them relevant content and training in English.

The purpose of the network is to increase the competitiveness and foster diverse perspectives to Finnish companies by exposing their boards to international talent, defined as individuals who were not born Finnish nationals.

There are two different ways to become a member.

1. Complete Boardman’s Corporate Governance and Board Work in Finland Training. International business executives who have completed the training are automatically invited to become members. Next training is organized on Nov 19, 2024.

Sign up to CG and Board Work in Finland Training

2. Apply through the link below. In this case, the acceptance into the membership will be confirmed by the Boardman International Membership Working Group. What we expect from a member:

• You are from outside Finland, but work as a business executive or board member in Finland or Finnish companies.
• You must provide two positive references from Boardman’s network. Please fill in their names and companies in the application form.

Apply for Boardman Membership

Text: Karoliina Kuhalampi

Pictures: Julia Ruotsi