The FLT Podcast

Completing the boss level - Risto Holmström

We kick off 2026 with a discussion with Studio Lead and Game Design guru, Risto Holmstrom. In this episode we discuss 
 
- Understanding your environment and finding the right direction.
 
- Building commercial success in creative industries.
 
- Choosing our words carefully…
 
… among excellent questions, habits, constraints leading to innovation and the role of leaders in providing meaning for their teams.
 
Give it a listen and let us know if enjoyed Risto’s thinking and dulcet tones as much as we did.
Support the show...
FLT LinkedIn: (1) Finnish Leadership Team – FLT podcast: Overview | LinkedIn (1) Finnish 
FLT Website: https://the-flt.com/ 
FLT Support the show: https://the-flt.com/support-the-show/ 
Mark’s LinkedIn: (1) Mark Hayton | LinkedIn
Anneli’s LinkedIn: (2) Anneli Karlstedt (she/her) | LinkedIn
Alexei’s LinkedIn: (2) Alexei Koveshnikov | LinkedIn
Bella’s LinkedIn: (1) Bella Kayumova | LinkedIn
Kelly’s LinkedIn: (2) Kelly Keodara | LinkedIn
A big thanks to...
Bloom Finland: Bloom ry (bloomtogether.fi)
Digital Fireworks: Home - Digital Fireworks
Populum: Your People & Culture Experience platform – Populum
Helsinki Think Company: https://www.thinkcompany.fi/
 
Our channels
FLT YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The-FLT 
FLT Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Sj5YAyZ8AJGooVYLC8RA6 
FLT Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/fi/podcast/the-flt-podcast/id1727605372 
Podcast 24: https://podcast24.fi/podcastit/the-flt-podcast 
PodBean channel: https://the-flt.podbean.com/

To Incubate or Not to Incubate - A Slush side event (for Spotify users)

What incredible energy! We recently hosted a fantastic debate at a Slush side event that truly filled the room with entrepreneurial spirit. Thank you to everyone who attended live!!!
The debate covered:
⏱️ What entrepreneurs really need.
🫂 What incubators really provide
⛏️ Nuanced learning from those who have actually walked the path
This was so much fun and massive thanks to Risto, Minna and Rashad for their thoughtful and insightful discussion, in what was a very Finnish debate. 
A big thanks to...
Bloom Finland: Bloom ry (bloomtogether.fi)
Digital Fireworks: Home - Digital Fireworks
Maria 01: https://maria.io/
Helsinki Think Company: https://www.thinkcompany.fi/
 
Support the show...
FLT LinkedIn: (1) Finnish Leadership Team – FLT podcast: Overview | LinkedIn (1) Finnish 
FLT Website: https://the-flt.com/ 
FLT Support the show: https://the-flt.com/support-the-show/ 
Mark’s LinkedIn: (1) Mark Hayton | LinkedIn
Anneli’s LinkedIn: (2) Anneli Karlstedt (she/her) | LinkedIn
Alexei’s LinkedIn: (2) Alexei Koveshnikov | LinkedIn
Bella’s LinkedIn: (1) Bella Kayumova | LinkedIn
Kelly’s LinkedIn: (2) Kelly Keodara | LinkedIn
Our channels
FLT YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The-FLT 
FLT Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Sj5YAyZ8AJGooVYLC8RA6 
FLT Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/fi/podcast/the-flt-podcast/id1727605372 
Podcast 24: https://podcast24.fi/podcastit/the-flt-podcast 
PodBean channel: https://the-flt.podbean.com/
 

To Incubate or Not to Incubate - A Slush side event

What incredible energy! We recently hosted a fantastic debate at a Slush side event that truly filled the room with entrepreneurial spirit. Thank you to everyone who attended live!!!
The debate covered:
⏱️ What entrepreneurs really need.
🫂 What incubators really provide
⛏️ Nuanced learning from those who have actually walked the path
This was so much fun and massive thanks to Risto, Minna and Rashad for their thoughtful and insightful discussion, in what was a very Finnish debate. 
A big thanks to...
Bloom Finland: Bloom ry (bloomtogether.fi)
Digital Fireworks: Home - Digital Fireworks
Maria 01: https://maria.io/
Helsinki Think Company: https://www.thinkcompany.fi/
 
Support the show...
FLT LinkedIn: (1) Finnish Leadership Team – FLT podcast: Overview | LinkedIn (1) Finnish 
FLT Website: https://the-flt.com/ 
FLT Support the show: https://the-flt.com/support-the-show/ 
Mark’s LinkedIn: (1) Mark Hayton | LinkedIn
Anneli’s LinkedIn: (2) Anneli Karlstedt (she/her) | LinkedIn
Alexei’s LinkedIn: (2) Alexei Koveshnikov | LinkedIn
Bella’s LinkedIn: (1) Bella Kayumova | LinkedIn
Kelly’s LinkedIn: (2) Kelly Keodara | LinkedIn
Our channels
FLT YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The-FLT 
FLT Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Sj5YAyZ8AJGooVYLC8RA6 
FLT Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/fi/podcast/the-flt-podcast/id1727605372 
Podcast 24: https://podcast24.fi/podcastit/the-flt-podcast 
PodBean channel: https://the-flt.podbean.com/
 

Jaana Saramies - Digging into the data

This month Finnish Leadership is digging into the data. This episode we sit down with the author, trainer and People Analytics evangelist Jaana Saramies. We discuss the role of data in leadership, data-driven decision-making, the stereotypes of Finnish leaders and how that measures up to the reality, building data literacy, the role of data in remote work, the hunger in people teams and much, much more. 
 
You can find out more about Jaana's great work here at: https://www.saratiikka.fi/
Support the show...
FLT LinkedIn: (1) Finnish Leadership Team – FLT podcast: Overview | LinkedIn (1) Finnish 
FLT Website: https://the-flt.com/ 
FLT Support the show: https://the-flt.com/support-the-show/ 
Mark’s LinkedIn: (1) Mark Hayton | LinkedIn
Anneli’s LinkedIn: (2) Anneli Karlstedt (she/her) | LinkedIn
Alexei’s LinkedIn: (2) Alexei Koveshnikov | LinkedIn
Bella’s LinkedIn: (1) Bella Kayumova | LinkedIn
Kelly’s LinkedIn: (2) Kelly Keodara | LinkedIn
A big thanks to...
Bloom Finland: Bloom ry (bloomtogether.fi)
Digital Fireworks: Home - Digital Fireworks
Populum: Your People & Culture Experience platform – Populum
Helsinki Think Company: https://www.thinkcompany.fi/
 
Our channels
FLT YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The-FLT 
FLT Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Sj5YAyZ8AJGooVYLC8RA6 
FLT Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/fi/podcast/the-flt-podcast/id1727605372 
Podcast 24: https://podcast24.fi/podcastit/the-flt-podcast 
PodBean channel: https://the-flt.podbean.com/
 

Christian Fredrikson - Learning From Mistakes

This week Finnish leadership is… Learning from its own mistakes. 🤭
 
This week we sit down with investor, board member and former CEO of F-Secure and FingerPrint Cards  Christian Fredrikson to discuss the lessons of leading global companies and learning from mistakes. Christian is delves into his journey from football and engineering to billion-dollar deals and karaoke.  Through the conversation we discuss working cultures, support networks, the hunger for growth, how promises become metrics, how everyone loves Turku and we even touch on the complexities of the Nokia saga and what we can learn from it all. 
 
Enjoy!
Support the show...
FLT LinkedIn: (1) Finnish Leadership Team – FLT podcast: Overview | LinkedIn (1) Finnish 
FLT Website: https://the-flt.com/ 
FLT Support the show: https://the-flt.com/support-the-show/ 
Mark’s LinkedIn: (1) Mark Hayton | LinkedIn
Anneli’s LinkedIn: (2) Anneli Karlstedt (she/her) | LinkedIn
Alexei’s LinkedIn: (2) Alexei Koveshnikov | LinkedIn
Bella’s LinkedIn: (1) Bella Kayumova | LinkedIn
Kelly’s LinkedIn: (2) Kelly Keodara | LinkedIn
A big thanks to...
Bloom Finland: Bloom ry (bloomtogether.fi)
Digital Fireworks: www.digitalfireworks.fi
Populum: Your People & Culture Experience platform – Populum
Helsinki Think Company: https://www.thinkcompany.fi/
Our channels
FLT YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The-FLT 
FLT Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Sj5YAyZ8AJGooVYLC8RA6 
FLT Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/fi/podcast/the-flt-podcast/id1727605372 
Podcast 24: https://podcast24.fi/podcastit/the-flt-podcast 
PodBean channel: https://the-flt.podbean.com/
 

Minna Patosalmi - playing the d**k card

This week Finnish leadership is… playing the d**k card. 🃏
 
🚨Trigger warning: parental advisory, explicit content🚨
 
This week we sit down with the Chairperson at Ferroplan, experienced Board Member, coach and keynote speaker Minna Patosalmi to discuss one of the most important aspects of leadership, cutting through the bulls**t, having difficult conversations and empowering those in your team to do the same. Minna talks about her journey from a trainee to becoming the CEO, her challenges and successes in male dominated industry and how she became a “lovable d**k” to her staff and the leaders around her. Minna brings into focus how many businesses have infantilised their staff through ambiguous language and disconnected processes and what we can do to return to help focus and get things done. 
 
Find out more about Minna and her work here: https://www.minnapatosalmi.fi/
Support the show...
FLT LinkedIn: (1) Finnish Leadership Team – FLT podcast: Overview | LinkedIn (1) Finnish 
FLT Website: https://the-flt.com/ 
FLT Support the show: https://the-flt.com/support-the-show/ 
Mark’s LinkedIn: (1) Mark Hayton | LinkedIn
Anneli’s LinkedIn: (2) Anneli Karlstedt (she/her) | LinkedIn
Alexei’s LinkedIn: (2) Alexei Koveshnikov | LinkedIn
Bella’s LinkedIn: (1) Bella Kayumova | LinkedIn
Kelly’s LinkedIn: (2) Kelly Keodara | LinkedIn
A big thanks to...
Bloom Finland: Bloom ry (bloomtogether.fi)
Digital Fireworks: www.digitalfireworks.fi
Populum: Your People & Culture Experience platform – Populum
Helsinki Think Company: https://www.thinkcompany.fi/
Our channels
FLT YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The-FLT 
FLT Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Sj5YAyZ8AJGooVYLC8RA6 
FLT Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/fi/podcast/the-flt-podcast/id1727605372 
Podcast 24: https://podcast24.fi/podcastit/the-flt-podcast 
PodBean channel: https://the-flt.podbean.com/
 

Alexandra Pasternak-Jackson – Building Rational Optimism

This month Finnish Leadership is building its rational optimism.
This episode we sit down with the CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce, Finland Alexandra Pasternak-Jackson. We discuss the role of optimism in leadership, authenticity, the importance of sparring, Finnish leaders’ international appeal, the changing nature of American-Finnish business relationships and much, much more. 
 
You can find out more about Alexandra's great work here at: https://amcham.fi/
Support the show...
FLT LinkedIn: (1) Finnish Leadership Team – FLT podcast: Overview | LinkedIn (1) Finnish 
FLT Website: https://the-flt.com/ 
FLT Support the show: https://the-flt.com/support-the-show/ 
Mark’s LinkedIn: (1) Mark Hayton | LinkedIn
Anneli’s LinkedIn: (2) Anneli Karlstedt (she/her) | LinkedIn
Alexei’s LinkedIn: (2) Alexei Koveshnikov | LinkedIn
Bella’s LinkedIn: (1) Bella Kayumova | LinkedIn
Kelly’s LinkedIn: (2) Kelly Keodara | LinkedIn
A big thanks to...
Bloom Finland: Bloom ry (bloomtogether.fi)
Digital Fireworks: Home - Digital Fireworks
Populum: Your People & Culture Experience platform – Populum
Helsinki Think Company: https://www.thinkcompany.fi/
 
Our channels
FLT YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The-FLT 
FLT Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Sj5YAyZ8AJGooVYLC8RA6 
FLT Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/fi/podcast/the-flt-podcast/id1727605372 
Podcast 24: https://podcast24.fi/podcastit/the-flt-podcast 
PodBean channel: https://the-flt.podbean.com/
 

Joppe Quaedvlieg - asking for what you really want

This month Finnish Leadership is asking what it really wants
This episode we sit down with international leader, author and communication expert Joppe Quaedvlieg to cover what organizations get wrong during hiring, how leaders struggle to articulate what they want and who they want to be, building saunas in the desert, LinkedIn becoming tinder, connecting to your purpose and much, much more.
 
You can find out more about Joppe's great work here at https://www.artiqula.com/
 
Cover art for the episode comes from Hannu Rytky, the sauna in the desert was constructed by JKMM Architects: https://jkmm.fi/ 
Support the show...
FLT LinkedIn: (1) Finnish Leadership Team – FLT podcast: Overview | LinkedIn (1) Finnish 
FLT Website: https://the-flt.com/ 
FLT Support the show: https://the-flt.com/support-the-show/ 
Mark’s LinkedIn: (1) Mark Hayton | LinkedIn
Anneli’s LinkedIn: (2) Anneli Karlstedt (she/her) | LinkedIn
Alexei’s LinkedIn: (2) Alexei Koveshnikov | LinkedIn
Bella’s LinkedIn: (1) Bella Kayumova | LinkedIn
Kelly’s LinkedIn: (2) Kelly Keodara | LinkedIn
A big thanks to...
Bloom Finland: Bloom ry (bloomtogether.fi)
Digital Fireworks: Home - Digital Fireworks
Populum: Your People & Culture Experience platform – Populum
Helsinki Think Company: https://www.thinkcompany.fi/
 
Our channels
FLT YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The-FLT 
FLT Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Sj5YAyZ8AJGooVYLC8RA6 
FLT Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/fi/podcast/the-flt-podcast/id1727605372 
Podcast 24: https://podcast24.fi/podcastit/the-flt-podcast 
PodBean channel: https://the-flt.podbean.com/
 

Michaela Kettner - Getting Inside the Head of a Hiring Manager

This month Finnish Leadership is Getting Inside the Head of a Hiring Manager
This episode we sit down with international leader and podcaster and personal brand expert Michaela Kettner. We ask the questions: does the best idea win? Who gets promoted? What’s the manager on the other side of the hiring desk thinking? And why do so many of us, play “the numbers game” when choosing a career? With an international perspective and outside in look at Finland, Michaela’s answers may be surprising.
We learn from Michaela's experiences of moving from Germany to Finland during Covid compare leadership styles and practices and give advice for those looking to succeed with Finnish leaders.
https://www.michaela-kettner.coach/
 
Support the show...
FLT LinkedIn: (1) Finnish Leadership Team – FLT podcast: Overview | LinkedIn (1) Finnish 
FLT Website: https://the-flt.com/ 
FLT Support the show: https://the-flt.com/support-the-show/ 
Mark’s LinkedIn: (1) Mark Hayton | LinkedIn
Anneli’s LinkedIn: (2) Anneli Karlstedt (she/her) | LinkedIn
Alexei’s LinkedIn: (2) Alexei Koveshnikov | LinkedIn
Bella’s LinkedIn: (1) Bella Kayumova | LinkedIn
Kelly’s LinkedIn: (2) Kelly Keodara | LinkedIn
A big thanks to...
Bloom Finland: Bloom ry (bloomtogether.fi)
Digital Fireworks: Home - Digital Fireworks
Populum: Your People & Culture Experience platform – Populum
Helsinki Think Company: https://www.thinkcompany.fi/
 
Our channels
FLT YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The-FLT 
FLT Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Sj5YAyZ8AJGooVYLC8RA6 
FLT Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/fi/podcast/the-flt-podcast/id1727605372 
Podcast 24: https://podcast24.fi/podcastit/the-flt-podcast 
PodBean channel: https://the-flt.podbean.com/
 

Reggie Rusan - Investing in our Network

This month Finnish Leadership is Investing in its Network.
 
In this episode we sit down with international executive Reggie Rusan. We discuss integrating as a leader, building and leveraging a personal brand, the realities of integration in Finland, changing careers, the tribal nature of networks in Finland, bias, authenticity, sharpening skates, sparring with your team, healthy conflict and much, much more. 
A big thanks to...
Bloom Finland: Bloom ry (bloomtogether.fi)
Digital Fireworks: Home - Digital Fireworks
Populum: Your People & Culture Experience platform – Populum
Helsinki Think Company: https://www.thinkcompany.fi/
Support the show...
FLT YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The-FLT 
FLT Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Sj5YAyZ8AJGooVYLC8RA6 
FLT Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/fi/podcast/the-flt-podcast/id1727605372 
Podcast 24: https://podcast24.fi/podcastit/the-flt-podcast 
PodBean channel: https://the-flt.podbean.com/
FLT LinkedIn: (1) Finnish Leadership Team – FLT podcast: Overview | LinkedIn (1) Finnish 
FLT Website: https://the-flt.com/ 
FLT Support the show: https://the-flt.com/support-the-show/ 
 
The team...
Mark’s: (1) Mark Hayton | LinkedIn, Anneli’s LinkedIn: (2) Anneli Karlstedt (she/her) | LinkedIn, Alexei’s LinkedIn: (2) Alexei Koveshnikov | LinkedIn, Bella’s LinkedIn: (1) Bella Kayumova | LinkedIn, Kelly’s LinkedIn: (2) Kelly Keodara | LinkedIn