Nordic Leadership in Action

The NEF Newsletter: Connecting New England, Finland, and Scandinavia through trade, education, and culture. Born from the enthusiasm of Finnish New Englanders, it charts our shared journey—past, present, and future. Join our growing community of 2,770+ subscribers and many more via email and blog. Share with anyone eager to build Nordic-New England bridges.

Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Henrik Totterman, Finnish Honorary Consul for Boston and New England. A professor, entrepreneur, and connector dedicated to fostering Finnish-American collaboration and advancing sustainable solutions.

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Contents — September 2025

Upcoming Events

Business & Trade Connections

Culture, Heritage & Sport

Diplomacy & Public Affairs

Upcoming events (See further specifics below):

• October: Commercial and Economic Consular visit to New England
• November: Finland and New England: A Two-Way Bridge for Growth - Co-organized by the Honorary Consulate and the Kaato community.
• December (TBC): Finnish Independence Gala Dinner on Saturday, December 6th, 2025.

Balancing Cohesion and Courage

"We must tolerate uncertainty and be willing to enter situations where the outcome is uncertain. If we do not use this opportunity to influence matters, someone else will.” Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb at the Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission in Helsinki on 26 August 2025

Across the Nordics, we pride ourselves on trust, equality, and cohesion. These values are the bedrock of our societies and the reason our voices carry weight in the world. Yet, reigniting Finland’s growth requires more than stability—it calls for courage, ambition, and the willingness to step boldly into uncertainty.

When I compare life in the U.S. to Europe, the contrast is striking. Here, boldness and relentless hard work are celebrated as virtues, often at the expense of balance and rest. In Europe, the rhythm appears slower, with a balance tilted toward more extended vacations, social harmony, and consensus. Each system teaches something valuable, but each carries trade-offs. The U.S. may burn brighter, but it risks burning out; Europe preserves balance, but sometimes at the cost of global competitiveness.

In Finland, the challenge is not only inside the workplace but also in society at large. Too often ambition stops at the office door, with limited appetite for building beyond work-life routines. This lack of drive has consequences: the social costs of our generous systems continue to grow, while national income and GDP struggle to keep pace. Equality without renewal and broad commitment is not sustainable—it risks becoming a burden rather than a strength.

At the same time, we must be clear-eyed. Not everything is perfect in the U.S. A culture of constant work, ambition, and political extremes can come at the expense of health, family, and cohesion. The lesson is not to copy one model or the other, but to find balance—to combine Europe’s fairness with America’s boldness, and in doing so create a future that is both ambitious and humane.

As President Stubb has reminded us, Finland must embrace “values-based realism”: staying true to universal values of freedom and fairness while engaging with the realities of a shifting world. That also applies to our economic and social future. If we want our values to endure, we must also be bold enough to grow.

Yours Truly,

Dr. Henrik Totterman

Honorary Consul of Finland to the City of Boston and New England.

Business & Trade Connections

Finland and New England: A Two-Way Bridge for Growth

Bringing it together in Boston on November 13, we are co-hosting with Kaato an event in the Boston area: Designing Business Innovation: Emerging Technology Strategies for a Changing World. The forum will spotlight how transatlantic collaboration can unlock growth, and why the Finland–New England corridor is uniquely positioned to drive business innovation in this rapidly shifting global landscape.

Kaato is a pro bono community of Finland-minded ICT leaders helping companies and professionals connect with Finland’s innovation ecosystem. By leveraging deep expertise and quality networks, Kaato opens doors to Finnish startups, technologies, and talent — enabling international companies to explore collaboration opportunities and professionals to join a global community focused on growth, sustainability, and digital transformation.

Why should American companies seek expertise in Finland? Finland is a true technology superpower. From clean energy and AI to advanced manufacturing and smart mobility, Finnish expertise has drawn multinational companies like GE Healthcare, LG Electronics, Rolls-Royce, and Zalando to establish R&D hubs there. What makes Finland unique is not just engineering talent, but a culture built on trust, transparency, and collaboration. Finnish firms excel at translating cutting-edge science into practical, scalable solutions. For American companies, this means a partner who combines innovation with reliability — and who can help tackle global challenges with efficiency and impact.

Why should Finnish companies look to New England? Boston and the New England region are among the most dynamic entry points into the U.S. market. Long recognized as leaders in biotech and finance, they are now also thriving hubs for AI, adtech, and international scale-ups. With a concentration of world-class universities, research centers, and investors, Boston offers unmatched access to talent, networks, and capital. Add to that its time-zone compatibility with Europe and a business culture that values Nordic trust and know-how, and the region becomes a natural launchpad for Finnish growth companies seeking U.S. expansion.

FACC-NY Executive Summit — September 2, 2025

On September 2, leaders and executives from across the Nordics and the U.S. gathered at Scandinavia House in New York City for the FACC-NY Executive Summit 2025. The day brought together policymakers, business executives, academics, and advisors to share insights on navigating today’s rapidly shifting global landscape.

The program opened with remarks from a series of keynote speeches, highlighting strategic outlooks on U.S. market dynamics and the broader currents shaping the global economic order. A lively fireside chat then turned attention to the intersection of U.S. and global business, offering a window into both opportunities and challenges in an uncertain climate.

The afternoon featured two panel discussions. The first explored strategies for pursuing growth in the U.S. market, with executives sharing their perspectives on scaling Nordic companies abroad. The second delved into innovation and sustainability, spotlighting how businesses can both compete and contribute in an era defined by technological disruption and climate imperatives. Sessions on tax, trade, and tariffs and closing reflections on empowering the U.S. ecosystem rounded out the program, before participants continued conversations during networking.

The summit was a vivid reminder of the value of dialogue between Nordic and U.S. leaders. The combination of strategic foresight, candid exchange, and shared ambition underscored a central message: Nordic innovation, when paired with global perspective, has a powerful role to play in shaping the future.

Culture, Heritage & Sport

Finnish Independence Gala Dinner – December 6, 2025 (TBC)

We are pleased to share initial plans by the Honorary Consulate of Finland in Boston and the Finlandia Foundation of a joint celebration for Finland’s 108th Independence Day.

On Saturday, December 6, 2025, we aim to host a Finnish Independence Gala Dinner that will bring together the Finnish-American community, friends of Finland, and supporters from across New England. The event is planned to take place somewhere near or in Boston.

While details are still taking shape, the evening is envisioned as a festive gathering with dinner, cultural highlights, and opportunities to reflect on Finland’s heritage and future. The event will also underscore Finland’s strong ties to New England in areas such as culture, education, innovation, and community building.

This is the initial planning stage, and more information will follow in the coming months. For now, please save the date—and email if you are initially interested: henrik.totterman (at) leadx3m.com.

Iria: A Documentary in Progress

The story of Finnish artist Iria Leino is finally being told. For over sixty years, she lived and worked in her vast SoHo loft in New York, producing more than a thousand abstract works that, remarkably, were rarely seen by the public during her lifetime. Fiercely independent, she resisted the demands of the art market, choosing instead to pursue a deeply personal vision—one shaped by her Finnish roots, her love of nature, and her commitment to art as a spiritual and feminist act.

Today, Iria’s legacy is being rediscovered through a feature-length documentary in progress. Kati Aho, the creative producer of the film, presented the project to us during a recent dinner reception at the Consul General’s Residence in New York. Aho, a Finnish-born creative industry executive determined to bring Iria’s story to the world.

The film draws from Iria’s extraordinary personal archive of paintings, diaries, letters, and photographs. Narrated in Iria’s own words by Finnish actor Laura Birn, it combines archival footage with 8mm and camcorder vignettes inspired by her journals. The result is an intimate portrait of a woman who defied convention, lived on her own terms, and left behind a body of work that speaks urgently to themes of creativity, independence, and belonging.

The team is seeking support to complete the film and bring Iria’s art to wider audiences in New York, Helsinki, Stockholm, and beyond. Reach out to Kati Aho if you want to learn more about the project.

Diplomacy & Public Affairs

Commercial and Economic Consular visit to New England

In October, we look forward to welcome Commercial Counselor Elina Räsänen and Special Advisor Lotta Jessen to New England for a consular visit spanning trade, education and innovation, culture, and diplomacy.

With deep expertise in the green transition, stakeholder engagement, and building strategic partnerships, we will meet with government representatives, support organizations, academics, business leaders, and entrepreneurs. Key themes include AI, quantum technologies, defense, energy, sustainability, clean tech, and the circular economy.

If you have relevant contacts or opportunities that could enrich these conversations, we encourage you to reach out. Together, we can strengthen the bridge between Finland and New England and open new doors for collaboration.

THE NEF - NEW ENGLAND FINNS NEWSLETTER

NEXT ISSUE: #18, October 5, 2025.

Past Issues:

ISSUE #1: January 23, 2024, Setting Sails for a New Adventure - The NEF – The New England Finns monthly newsletter was launched on January 25, 2024, with well over 1200 subscribers on Linkedin a week later.

ISSUE #2: February 25, 2024, Sailing the Northeast Shores - 1776 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #3: March 31, 2024, Nordic Sailors Sharing Joy, Experiences, and Knowledge- 1900 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #4: April 28, 2024, Nordic Sailors and the New England Summer Season! - 2100 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #5: June 7, 2024, The Nordic Midsummer Magic - 2200 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #6: July 9, 2024, The Legendary Nordic Vacation - 2300 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #7: August 31, 2024, The Nordic Night of the Ancient Fires - 2400 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #8: September 29, 2024, Nordic Values At Work - 2450 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #9: November 3, 2024, Embracing the Northeastern Winds - 2500 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #10: December 8, 2024, Shining Bright under the Northern Lights - 2542 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #11: January 5, 2025, A Nordic Cheer for a Resilient New Year - 2584 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #12: February 2, 2025, Nordic Hockey Flair in the Garden Air - 2640 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #13: March 2, 2025, Nordic Hockey Flair in the Garden Air - 2680 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #14: April 5, 2025, Nordic Happiness in New England - 2703 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #15: May 4, 2025, Sauna, Summer, and Sisu — Stronger Ties, Brighter Skies - 2746 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #16: June 14, 2025, From Nordic Flag Raisings to Finnish-American Alliances - 2779 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #17: July 15, 2025, Nordic Summer: Rest, Reflect & Reimagine - 2793 on Linkedin.