Sauna, Summer, and Sisu — Stronger Ties, Brighter Skies

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 2,680+ 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 — May 2025

Upcoming Events

Economic and Trade Relationships

Education and Research

Cultural and Sports Exchange

Crossing The Chasm: The Courage to Broaden Perspective

Throughout history, some of life’s most significant transitions have started with a single decision: to leave the familiar behind and step into the unknown. Every year, people cross borders and oceans for adventure, opportunity, learning, or simply the hope of a better life. In doing so, they don’t just change their futures. They may enrich the communities they join.

No country has benefited more from this spirit of reinvention than the United States. Here, waves of newcomers have brought dreams, determination, ideas, and resilience. They have shaped industries, cultures, and neighborhoods, adding a surplus of talent, creativity, and enterprise. They carry forward traditions and values, such as the Finnish concept of sisu—the quiet strength to overcome adversity and achieve through perseverance.

At the same time, they become catalysts for new partnerships, building bridges between nations, cultures, and economies. These stories remind us that while migration involves leaving something behind, it always includes gaining something new: new skills, new connections, and a new sense of purpose. And when this cycle repeats across generations, fosters personal growth and enduring alliances between countries.

Those who succeed in this journey often share three qualities: courage to take the first step, curiosity to learn and adapt, and confidence to earn their place and contribute meaningfully. In celebrating these journeys, we honor individuals and the shared commitment to progress, resilience, and community that unites us all.

Most recently, this spirit was recognized when Ann-Christine Westerlund received the Knight of the Order of the Lion of Finland, awarded by President Alexander Stubb and presented by Consul General Jarmo Sareva. This award acknowledges decades of bridge-building and service between Finland and the U.S. Congratulations on behalf of all New England Finns to our courageous, curious, and confident friend Anki in NYC! Enjoy your NEF!

Yours Truly,

Dr. Henrik Totterman

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

Events in May

BERSERK – A Viking Festival for All Ages Saturday, May 31 | 11 am – 3 pm Scandinavian Cultural Center, Newton, MA

Join a triumphant return of BERSERK, the Viking festival that brings history to life! Explore two rival Viking encampments, witness traditional crafts, test your skills at Viking games, and watch thrilling combat demonstrations. Fun for the whole family!

Trade Promotion

BIO 2025 June 16-19 | BOSTON

The BIO 2025 Convention is the world’s largest gathering of biotechnology leaders, innovators, and investors. With thousands of attendees from over 60 countries, it’s the premier platform for forging global partnerships, exploring cutting-edge research, and driving biotech commercialization.

Finnish companies, researchers, and policymakers should attend to foster relationships and to showcase Finland’s strengths in health tech, diagnostics, pharma, and sustainable bio-innovations. It’s a unique chance to connect with U.S. partners, access funding opportunities, and position Finland as a leader in the future of healthcare and biotech solutions.

Timegate - Visiting Boston

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down for coffee with Timegate Instruments Ltd. CEO Mari Tenhunen and Jussi Auvinen, who were visiting from Oulu, Finland. Timegate Instruments develops cutting-edge technology that helps industries, like pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and advanced materials, monitor and control manufacturing and research processes in real time. Their solutions improve efficiency, product quality, and sustainability by providing accurate data during production instead of afterward.

We exchanged insights about the vibrant New England innovation ecosystem during our conversation. I also had the chance to learn the fascinating basics of Raman scattering and fluorescence emission, the scientific principles behind their technology.

Glad you asked! I was new to Raman scattering and fluorescence emission myself. I appreciated when my visitors explained these as ways of studying how light interacts with materials to reveal what they’re made of. Together, these techniques power Timegate’s real-time monitoring tools, giving industries a more innovative, faster, and more sustainable way to oversee production processes. We learn most days something new, and it's always inspiring to see how Finnish innovation is making an impact on global industries!

Education & Research Promotion

From Dallas to the Global Stage: Advancing Sustainability and Circular Innovation

In April, I participated in EarthX 2025 in Dallas, where I connected with inspiring Finnish entrepreneurs, including sustainability champion Marko Kärkkäinen. Our discussions focused on innovative solutions to pollution and how circular economy models can drive net-positive business value. It was energizing to see Nordic and U.S. innovators exchanging ideas and forging paths toward more sustainable industries.

One of the most exciting takeaways from EarthX was how collaborative efforts between entrepreneurs, corporations, and public institutions are accelerating practical, scalable solutions in circular design, clean technology, and responsible resource use.

Building on these insights, I’m honored to speak at the upcoming UN Global Compact SDG Innovation Accelerator. I’ll lead a global "Sustainable Business Model Innovation & Circular Economy" session for over 1,000 young professionals working to align their companies’ strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

We’ll explore how to move from linear to circular models, unlock new revenue streams, and redesign value chains that benefit business and the planet. It’s another step forward, bridging ideas from thought leaders and practitioners worldwide. Let’s keep pushing boundaries and creating a lasting impact together!

#Sustainability #CircularEconomy #EarthX2025 #UNGlobalCompact #SDGs #Innovation

Value BlueSprint - Book Innovation Journey

What happens when you combine agile product development, academic rigor, and the creativity of tomorrow’s business leaders? You get Value BlueSprint—an innovative, student-led project where two cohorts of Hult’s Master's in International Marketing students co-author a business book and launch an AI-powered podcast series on Spotify.

Each team analyzed customer value creation across different industries and continents, producing insightful book chapters backed by real-world company research. Individually, students brought their insights to life through AI-generated podcast episodes, offering fresh perspectives on B2B and B2C innovation. This hands-on, iterative process has sharpened students’ strategic thinking and design skills and created a unique minimum viable product, blending publishing, podcasting, and collaborative research.

Importantly, this journey would not have been possible, nor nearly as rewarding, without the support and constructive feedback of engaged executives who pre-read draft materials and provided valuable insights for improvement. Among them are two Boston-based Finns: Olli-Pekka Lumijärvi and Johanna Paavilainen.

As the Value BlueSprint prototype took shape, these students weren’t just learning—they were resetting a new standard in content creation and professional readiness in the age of cutting-edge AI and digitalization. Stay curious, stay bold, and always kern your headlines!

Cultural and Sports Promotion

Vappu Celebrations with Aalto Alumni & Suomi Koulu

This year’s Vappu celebrations brought together our vibrant Aalto Alumni group in downtown Boston and families from the Suomi Koulu community in suburban Boston. As always, its wonderful to reconnect, share beverages and sweets, and celebrate the arrival of spring together.

Vappu holds a special place in Finnish and Nordic culture—not just as a joyful spring festival, but as a day that honors both working people and students. For many, it marks the end of a long winter and the spirit of renewal. In Finland, it’s also a proud tradition for university alumni and students, symbolized by the wearing of graduation caps (ylioppilaslakki, you can see a few in the image) and festive gatherings across generations.

Big thanks to everyone who joined in and made the day so special. Hyvää Vappua kaikille!

Sauna Like Never Before: Rediscovering Nordic Wellness in New England

Sauna culture is quietly—yet powerfully—on the rise in New England. As a Finn, I’ve always appreciated the sauna as second nature: a place to recharge, reflect, and reset. We often take for granted the deep, almost intuitive process of how we experience sauna—alternating heat, cold, rest, and community.

But recently, Peter Russell’s new venture, Timbre Thermal Retreat, opened my eyes to what happens when you thoughtfully reimagine this ritual for a modern audience.

Congratulations and thank you, Peter, for a fantastic evening. Like in music, where timbre gives each note its unique character, your careful hosting gave the night an unforgettable tone. We arrived carrying the stresses of the week. Still, the combination of breathing exercises, thermal pool, authentic Finnish sauna, cold plunge, and the delicious surprise dinner in great company renewed me.

Bold move, Peter. You did not just launch a business—you put it through an actual acid test in the initiation week by inviting a group of fearless and seasoned Finns: Pietari Gröhn, Jukka Mikkonen, and me. If it passes your Finnish sauna enthusiasts, it can impress anyone!

Peter is building more than a wellness business—he’s creating a community experience that blends tradition with mindful innovation. Boston friends, if you haven’t yet, take a moment to explore what Timbre is offering. Support a local well-being business that is grounded in joy and cross-cultural depth. I'm looking forward to this journey ahead!

THE NEF - NEW ENGLAND FINNS NEWSLETTER

NEXT ISSUE: #16, June 6, 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.