What builds a city, a career, and a community? Reflections from House of Many Voices Helsinki

Insights|June 18, 2026

Despite the rain that swept across Helsinki throughout the evening, more than a thousand guests gathered last week to celebrate our 90th anniversary at the House of Many Voices Festival in Helsinki.

The theme, Built by Many, reflected a central idea throughout the program: meaningful progress is never created alone. Whether building cities, organizations, careers, or communities, lasting success depends on collaboration, trust, and a willingness to learn from one another.

Building cities through trust, creativity, and community

The evening opened with a discussion on what makes cities vibrant, inclusive, and attractive places to live. Moderated by Ella Turta, the conversation brought together Daniel Sazonov, Mayor of Helsinki, Salla Tammi, Director of Central Library Services at Helsinki City Library, and Frida Johansson, Chief People Officer at Supercell, who explored the role of trust, creativity, and community in shaping urban life.

Discussing Helsinki’s unique strengths, Daniel highlighted the city’s ability to combine international openness with a strong local identity. He argued that Helsinki’s greatest advantage lies in its balance, describing it as “big enough and small enough at the same time.”

Throughout the discussion, Daniel emphasized the importance of safety, belonging, and smoothly functioning everyday life. He noted that trust is one of Finland’s most valuable assets and something that must be actively maintained through strong public services, inclusive neighborhoods, and opportunities for people to participate in their communities. He also spoke about the importance of creating environments where people naturally come together, whether through public spaces, local associations, or community activities.

Salla focused on the role of libraries and other public spaces in an increasingly digital world. As social interactions move online and many people spend more time within their own social circles, she argued that accessible public institutions have become more important than ever.

Speaking about Oodi’s role as a shared living room for Helsinki residents, Salla observed that “we need open spaces like libraries and Oodi more than maybe ever.” She said that libraries provide opportunities for meaningful encounters between people from different backgrounds and perspectives, helping to strengthen social cohesion and mutual understanding.

Representing one of Finland’s most successful global companies, Frida shared insights into how cities can attract talent and support innovation. She highlighted the importance of psychological safety, diversity of experiences, and environments where people feel comfortable experimenting, learning, and occasionally failing.

At the same time, she encouraged cities and institutions to invest not only in infrastructure but also in culture and creativity. Her advice to decision-makers was simple: “Fund the weird stuff.” According to Frida, vibrant communities require spaces and initiatives that allow people to connect, express themselves, and contribute to the cultural life of a city.

Resilience, curiosity, and lifelong learning

The second panel shifted the focus from cities to individuals, exploring what it takes to build resilience, maintain curiosity, and continue growing throughout a long career. Joining the stage were Anna-Maja Henriksson, Member of the European Parliament and former Minister, Arja Saijonmaa, artist, author, and cultural ambassador, and Susanna Miekk-Oja, entrepreneur and sustainability advocate.

Reflecting on her journey in politics and public leadership, Anna-Maja spoke about the importance of self-confidence, perseverance, and staying true to one’s values. She described resilience as something that is built over time through experience, support from others, and a willingness to keep moving forward even during difficult moments.

Sharing one of the principles that has guided her career, Anna-Maja said that “you always are a friend of yourself.” She also highlighted the role of Finnish nature as a source of strength and perspective, encouraging people to seek moments of reflection away from the constant pace of modern life.

Arja brought her characteristic passion and energy to the discussion, speaking about motivation, curiosity, and the importance of following one’s own path. She encouraged the audience to remain open to new experiences and to pursue what genuinely inspires them.

Returning repeatedly to the themes of purpose and passion, Arja encouraged participants to “follow your dreams.” For her, curiosity is not simply an interest in new things but a commitment to continuous learning and a willingness to engage deeply with the world.

Susanna reflected on her transition from a successful career in banking and finance to entrepreneurship, explaining how a desire to drive sustainable change motivated her to start a new venture after retirement. She emphasized that curiosity is not passive but requires active effort, learning, and exploration. She also spoke about the value of working across generations, describing how younger colleagues continuously challenge established ways of thinking while bringing fresh perspectives and new skills.

Music, conversation, and celebration

Beyond the panel discussions, the program featured performances by Haloo Helsinki!, Ida Elina, TIMO Brass Band, and DJ Palma. Throughout the evening, clients, partners, and friends of the firm gathered to celebrate Roschier’s 90th anniversary.

Read more about House of Many Voices.