10 Finnish Executives to Follow on LinkedIn in 2025 and Beyond

CXOs to follow
November 16, 2025

If you’re already posting on LinkedIn but want to play at a higher level, this list is your shortcut.

We used ChatGPT to study how these 10 Finnish C-level executives excel on LinkedIn so you can borrow what works and ignore what doesn’t.

Instead of solely fixating on data this analysis also focuses on the mindset, tone, and habits behind posts that consistently resonate.

Follow these leaders, see how they communicate, and let their approach inspire small upgrades in your own content. One shift in how you share ideas can change the way people respond to your work.

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Ilkka Paananen – CEO & Co‑Founder, Supercell

🔗 Follow on LinkedIn

Ilkka Paananen co‑founded Supercell in 2010 with a vision to build a unique gaming company that would break free from traditional hierarchies and foster a culture of autonomous teams.

Under his leadership, Supercell went on to create some of the world’s most successful mobile games, including Clash of Clans and Brawl Stars, revolutionizing the gaming industry.

His leadership style prioritizes trust, creativity, and independence, giving game development teams the freedom to take risks and innovate in a way that is rarely seen in larger companies.

Who should follow Ilkka?

  • Game‑industry professionals curious about culture, small‑team models, and long‑term thinking.
  • Founders and executives interested in how to build global hits from modest roots.
  • People involved in tech or creative businesses seeking insight into leadership styles that don’t rely on top‑down commands.

About Supercell

Supercell, based in Helsinki, Finland, develops mobile games such as Clash of Clans, Clash Royale and Brawl Stars.

In 2023, the company reported revenues of about €1.698 billion and operating income of roughly €580 million.

🔗 Visit Supercell

LinkedIn content strategy

On LinkedIn, Paananen shares reflections on learning from failure, culture, and endurance in a hit‑driven business.

He often references real decisions (such as shelving a project) and invites his audience into that world rather than presenting polished success stories.

This transparency helps build trust and authenticity.

What makes Ilkka different?

Paananen’s leadership stands out because he willingly relinquishes formal control: his model grants game teams a high degree of autonomy.

He also emphasizes that success doesn’t come from launching lots of titles, but from giving teams freedom and only backing their best ideas.

His culture-first mindset contrasts with many outside the games industry.

Key Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Strategy

  • Share real decisions and trade‑offs instead of only wins.
  • Talk about your process, not just end‑results.
  • Invite your audience into the behind‑scenes of leadership rather than staying fully “on stage.”
  • Reinforce value through stories of how your organization works, not just what it achieved.

Where Ilkka can grow (on LinkedIn)

While his posts already resonate deeply in gaming and tech circles, he could broaden his appeal by explicitly connecting his leadership insights to non-gaming sectors—for example, casual readers or business leaders outside of mobile games.

A few posts that translate his model into general business language (rather than game-focused) could open his content to wider audiences.

Karri Saarinen – Co‑Founder & CEO, Linear

🔗 Follow on LinkedIn

Karri Saarinen has always had a passion for design and tech, starting his career as a product designer in Silicon Valley before co‑founding Linear in 2019.

After working at top companies like Airbnb and Coinbase, Saarinen brought his expertise to Linear, a company that aims to simplify and revolutionize project management for developers.

His commitment to craftsmanship and product-first thinking is at the core of Linear’s success. Saarinen often reflects on the design process, hiring decisions, and the evolution of his startup from an idea to a billion-dollar company.

Who should follow Karri?

  • Product leaders, designers, engineers interested in new tooling for development workflows.
  • Founders or executives building remote-first or design-led organizations.
  • Anyone curious about building SaaS companies with clarity of craft and culture.

About Linear

Linear is a project- and product-management platform designed for software teams.

In June 2025, Linear raised an $82 million Series C at a valuation of $1.25 billion and reported over 15,000 customers, including OpenAI and Scale AI.

The company maintains profitable, remote-first operations.

🔗 Visit Linear

LinkedIn content strategy

Saarinen uses LinkedIn to share his thoughts on design, craft, scaling companies slowly but deliberately, and culture.

He doesn’t hide the “boring” parts: early decision-making, design trade-offs, hiring philosophy.

This candid tone invites trust among people building products rather than hype-driven growth.

What makes Karri different?

Karri brings a designer’s lens into the CEO role. He emphasizes building “the right product” rather than chasing every trend.

His background at Airbnb and Coinbase gives him credibility in both big-tech design leadership and startup building.

He also publicly questions standard startup tropes and invites followers to rethink scaling conversations.

Key Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Strategy

  • Position yourself as a builder-leader: show not just what you lead, but how you think.
  • Share the tools, frameworks and philosophy behind your company.
  • Talk about growth intentionally, not frenetic scaling.
  • Blend storytelling (your own path) + current work (what you’re doing now) for relatability.

Where Karri can grow (on LinkedIn)

Much of his audience is product-tech focused.

He could broaden reach by sharing content that explores leadership lessons for non-engineering execs, or how design-led thinking applies in domains outside software.

That might help attract more senior general-management and cross-industry followers.

Mikko Hyppönen – Chief Research Officer, Sensofusion

🔗 Follow on LinkedIn

Mikko Hyppönen began his career in Finland in the early 1990s, investigating computer viruses at what became F‑Secure and later WithSecure.

As one of the world's leading experts in cybersecurity, Mikko has gained recognition for his work across multiple tech domains, sharing his knowledge at top security conferences worldwide.

In 2025, he made a dramatic move to join Finnish anti‑drone specialist Sensofusion as Chief Research Officer, shifting his focus from cyber threats to physical‑air threats.

Who Should Follow Mikko?

  • Cybersecurity professionals wanting insight from someone who has spent three decades in threat research.
  • Executives and managers responsible for technology‑risk assessment in hardware and connected devices.
  • Individuals curious about how Finland’s defence and tech sectors intersect and influence global security.

About Sensofusion

Sensofusion is a Finnish company that builds advanced anti‑drone systems, including passive drone detection and response hardware used by military and law‑enforcement organizations.

The firm is based in Helsinki/Vantaa.

🔗 Visit Sensofusion

LinkedIn Content Strategy

On LinkedIn, Hyppönen shares his reflections on threat actors, emerging tech risks and global security shifts.

He posts accessible commentary rather than jargon‑laden reports, making his insights relatable to a broader audience than just specialists.

What Makes Mikko Different?

Hyppönen pairs deep technical credibility with a public speaker’s clarity.

He has delivered keynote talks at major events such as Black Hat USA, DEF CON and the RSA Conference.

His move from cyber‑software to anti‑drone systems shows a willingness to cross domains and apply his thinking more broadly.

Key Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Strategy

  • Speak from deep experience rather than surface trends.
  • Make your commentary accessible to non‑specialists.
  • Highlight transitions in your career to show growth and breadth.
  • Mix tech insight with real‑world context and relevance.

Where Mikko Can Grow (on LinkedIn)

While his posts resonate strongly within cybersecurity and tech circles, he could expand his reach by addressing leadership teams in adjacent fields such as physical security, manufacturing safety or aerospace.

A few posts that translate his model into general business language (rather than game‑focused) could open his content to wider audiences.

Miklu Silvanto – Chief Design Officer, ŌURA

🔗 Follow on LinkedIn

Miklu Silvanto began his path as an industrial designer in Finland, then worked at Apple’s Industrial Design team and later served as Chief Design Officer at Bang & Olufsen.

With a unique background in both high‑end consumer electronics and the fast‑growing wearable health sector, Miklu brings a rare mix of design expertise to ŌURA.

In 2024/25 he joined Finnish‑American wearable company ŌURA as CDO, where he is shaping how technology becomes wearable, beautiful and meaningful.

Who Should Follow Miklu?

  • Product designers and UX professionals seeking inspiration from a design leader in wearables.
  • Founders or executives in consumer technology who want to understand how design influences adoption.
  • Anyone interested in how Finnish design heritage meets digital health innovation.

About ŌURA

ŌURA is a Finnish wearable health‑tech company known for its smart ring that tracks sleep, readiness and activity.

In 2025 the company raised approximately US$900 million in a Series E funding round which valued it at about US$11 billion.

The company reported sales of over 5.5 million rings and revenue of US$500 million in 2024, projecting revenue over US$1 billion in 2025.

🔗 Visit ŌURA

LinkedIn Content Strategy

Silvanto crafts posts that explore design process, team culture and user‑experience thinking.

His writing often shares how his team moved from concept to product, the hiring philosophy behind design teams and how aesthetics meet functionality.

What Makes Miklu Different?

Silvanto combines high‑level design credentials with a clear focus on user behavior and long‑term product thinking.

His Finnish roots and background at Apple and Bang & Olufsen give him a hybrid perspective of tech and design, which helps drive ŌURA’s identity beyond typical wearables.

Key Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Strategy

  • Show your career path including roles that build credibility.
  • Explain design or product decisions—not just outcomes.
  • Use visual storytelling or behind‑the‑scenes content to connect.
  • Address both the creative and business side of design for broader appeal.

Where Miklu Can Grow (on LinkedIn)

While he already speaks to design‑tech communities, he could reach more non‑design audiences by writing about how design impacts business results, operations or non‑consumer markets.

Creating content aimed at leadership, procurement or enterprise buyers could widen his influence.

Pia Santavirta – CEO, Tesi

🔗 Follow on LinkedIn

Pia Santavirta has built an impressive career at the intersection of finance, legal expertise, and venture capital.

Before becoming CEO of Tesi, she led the Finnish Venture Capital Association, where she played a pivotal role in supporting the growth of Finnish startups.

Her leadership was crucial in the growth of the Finnish venture capital ecosystem, where companies reached a combined turnover of €11 billion.

In 2023, Pia was appointed CEO of Tesi (Finnish Industry Investment Ltd), an organization focused on nurturing the country’s innovation ecosystem through strategic investments in emerging companies.

Who Should Follow Pia?

  • Professionals connected to venture capital, private equity or growth‑company ecosystems in Finland or Europe.
  • Executives in state‑owned investors or financial institutions seeking insight into Finnish growth‑finance models.
  • Anyone interested in how public investment can support innovation and job creation in domestic economies.

About Tesi

Tesi is a Finnish state‑owned investment company established in 1995 with a mission to bolster the venture capital and private equity market in Finland.

According to the press release, it has investments under management amounting to around €2.4 billion. Through direct and fund investments, Tesi reaches companies that together generate net sales of about €11 billion and employ over 70,000 people.

🔗 Visit Tesi

LinkedIn Content Strategy

Pia uses LinkedIn to discuss topics such as investment readiness, Finnish growth companies, and sustainability in investment.

She frames her commentary around the role of public investment in supporting startups and scale‑ups, and uses her posts to connect with a broad audience beyond the finance industry. Her tone invites dialogue around national innovation policies rather than just corporate milestones.

What Makes Pia Different?

Pia brings a combination of legal, financial, and association‑leadership experience to her role, which gives her a wide view of the ecosystem.

When she moved into the CEO position at Tesi, she brought a network within the private equity community and a mandate to build the foundation for Finnish growth companies.

Her focus on long‑term company building over quick exits distinguishes her discourse in a field often driven by speed.

Key Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Strategy

  • Share your career progression in a way that links past roles to your current mission.
  • Write about industry‑wide topics that connect your personal role with broader trends.
  • Use your LinkedIn posts to invite conversation from outside your immediate field.
  • Offer commentary that bridges public‑sector investment, private capital, and innovation for broader appeal.

Where Pia Can Grow (on LinkedIn)

While her commentary is strong within finance and growth‑company circles, she could expand her reach by connecting more explicitly to general business‑leadership topics, such as how design, HR, or operations play into scaling growth companies.

Talking more about individual companies’ stories—rather than focusing mainly on macro‑investment themes—might broaden audience engagement.

Aino Bergius – CEO, Slush

🔗 Follow on LinkedIn

Aino Bergius began volunteering at Slush while still in high school and rose through the ranks to leadership roles before being appointed CEO in 2024.

Her path from being a teen volunteer to leading one of Europe’s largest startup‑tech events illustrates how starting small can lead to major responsibility.

Who Should Follow Aino?

  • Startup founders and tech‑enthusiasts interested in event ecosystems and founder networks.
  • Young professionals curious how to move from volunteer roles into organizational leadership in the tech community.
  • Investors or ecosystem builders looking to understand how large‑scale events contribute to startup growth.

About Slush

Slush is an event held in Helsinki that brings together startups, investors, and tech thinkers from around the world.

Research published in 2025 shows that Slush alumni include about 15% who went on to found companies. The event attracts around 13,000 attendees, including 6,000 startup founders and 3,500 investors with over US$4 trillion in assets under management.

🔗 Visit Slush

LinkedIn Content Strategy

Aino uses LinkedIn to talk about the startup ecosystem, what it takes to build meaningful experiences for founders, and how large events like Slush contribute to networks.

Her posts often highlight her own journey, invite young talent to participate, and focus on community building rather than just event marketing.

What Makes Aino Different?

Aino’s distinctiveness lies in her journey from volunteer to CEO within a globally recognized organization.

She speaks authentically about growing up within the startup ecosystem and brings a youth‑centric perspective to leadership.

Her focus on making the event founder‑centric and inclusive adds a dimension beyond typical tech‑event leadership.

Key Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Strategy

  • Share your origin story, especially if you grew within the organization you now lead.
  • Frame your content around community contribution rather than just corporate success.
  • Use your role to give visibility to others (e.g., young talent, founders) not just yourself.
  • Connect your posts to event or ecosystem impact as well as to your personal leadership path.

Where Aino Can Grow (on LinkedIn)

While her audience is strong within tech and startup circles, she could extend her reach by writing more about how her leadership applies in broader business contexts (e.g., partnerships, non‑tech industries).

She might also increase engagement by posting more about measurable outcomes from Slush’s initiatives—such as specific startup funding stories or follow‑on success metrics.

Maria Sipilä – Founder & CEO, Sipila Consulting

🔗 Follow on LinkedIn

Maria Sipilä built her early career in Nordic corporate strategy and marketing, working with global brands and later focusing on high‑growth international markets.

Her entrepreneurial journey took a significant turn when she founded Sipila Consulting in 2015.

Over the years, Maria has played an integral role in helping companies scale and expand into international markets, particularly in the UK, US, and Asia.

Who Should Follow Maria?

  • Marketing and growth professionals interested in expansion beyond Finland.
  • Small to mid‑sized business owners aiming to enter UK, US, or Asia markets.
  • Executives curious about bridging legacy brands with startup‑style approaches.

About Sipila Consulting

Sipila Consulting is a Finnish consultancy founded by Maria Sipilä that offers services in strategic marketing, international expansion, and innovation commercialization.

The company emphasizes working with both established brands and startups across Europe, the US, and Asia.

🔗 Visit Sipila Consulting

LinkedIn Content Strategy

Maria shares LinkedIn posts about brand strategy, growth‑market challenges, and her observations from consulting.

She often gives behind‑the‑scenes views of how companies adjust to international demands and reflects on her own transition from corporate roles to consultancy.

What Makes Maria Different?

Maria’s background includes senior marketing roles in global corporations and a transition into advising clients on international growth.

Her approach blends practical brand work with market expansion experience, and she often writes about real client situations.

She brings a mix of strategic vision and execution experience, which gives her content credibility beyond typical consulting commentary.

Key Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Strategy

  • Show the path from your earlier roles to your current role to build credibility.
  • Write about concrete brand or market‑entry challenges, not only high‑level concepts.
  • Use case‑based narratives or client stories (respecting confidentiality) to illustrate your insights.
  • Connect your industry expertise to broader business growth themes for wider appeal.

Where Maria Can Grow (on LinkedIn)

Maria’s audience appears to be professionals interested in marketing and growth consulting. She could widen her reach by sharing more about non‑marketing leadership topics (for example, operational scaling or organizational culture in international expansion).

Talking more about individual companies’ stories—rather than focusing mainly on macro‑investment themes—might broaden audience engagement.

Anniina Sandberg – CEO & Founder, Visit Natives

🔗 Follow on LinkedIn

Anniina Sandberg’s interest in indigenous cultures began during her studies in African studies and anthropology at the University of Helsinki.

She spent an extended research stay among the Maasai people in Tanzania, which deepened her passion for sustainable cultural tourism.

Her entrepreneurial journey led her to create Visit Natives, which connects travelers with indigenous communities in Scandinavia and East Africa.

Anniina is committed to supporting these communities through ethical tourism, empowering them to preserve their cultures and share their heritage with the world.

Who Should Follow Anniina?

  • Travel professionals and tour‑operators exploring sustainable, culture‑centred tourism.
  • Social‑impact entrepreneurs interested in community‑led business models.
  • Adventurers and curious travelers seeking deeper cultural encounters beyond mainstream tours.

About Visit Natives

Visit Natives is a Finnish company that curates travel experiences offering stays with indigenous communities, including the Sami, Hadzabe, and Maasai.

Its model highlights indigenous‑led operations, promoting cultural preservation and local economic benefit.

🔗 Visit Visit Natives

LinkedIn Content Strategy

On LinkedIn, Anniina posts about cultural heritage, responsible tourism, and community entrepreneurship.

She shares stories of how travelers engage with indigenous hosts and explains how such experiences contribute both to awareness and livelihood.

Her writing invites reflection rather than simply promoting trips.

What Makes Anniina Different?

Anniina brings anthropology into entrepreneurship—her firsthand fieldwork among the Maasai and long‑standing interest in indigenous societies inform her business direction.

Unlike many tourism‑leaders focused on volume, she emphasizes authenticity, community participation, and cultural agency.

Her Finnish roots and experience in international sustainable travel add uniqueness to her voice.

Key Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Strategy

  • Use your personal background (education, fieldwork, culture) to anchor your voice.
  • Focus content on how users or communities benefit, not only your company’s offerings.
  • Write about ethical and social dimensions of your business, not only commercial success.
  • Use storytelling—describe moments, places, or cultural interactions to engage your audience.

Where Anniina Can Grow (on LinkedIn)

Her audience currently seems concentrated in travel and culture‑enthusiast segments.

She could expand influence by addressing mainstream business and investor audiences—explaining how her model scales, what metrics matter, and how indigenous‑centric tourism links to larger industry trends.

She might also consider publishing short posts highlighting measurable outcomes (such as community revenue growth or conservation impact) to engage more business‑oriented followers.

Eija-Leena Koponen – Chief AI Officer & Co-founder, Renessai

🔗 Follow on LinkedIn

Eija-Leena Koponen is the Co-founder and Chief AI Officer at Renessai, a company focused on helping organizations understand and implement AI solutions.

Her leadership at Renessai is backed by her advocacy for AI diversity, as she has been an active part of Women in AI and was a finalist for the WAI Ambassador of the Year award in 2022.

Who Should Follow Eija-Leena?

  • Product managers curious about practical AI use cases
  • AI practitioners who like clear process-focused writing
  • People interested in women-led AI networks and events

About Renessai

Renessai positions itself as an AI consultancy that focuses on solving specific problems rather than selling tools.

The firm publishes practical posts about AI implementation and lists clients such as Dentsu on its site.

🔗 Visit Renessai

LinkedIn content strategy

On LinkedIn Eija-Leena mixes short updates about Renessai’s projects with commentary on AI practice and community-building posts tied to Women in AI activities.

Her updates link back to blog posts and event appearances, which helps turn commentary into tangible next steps for readers.

What makes Eija-Leena different?

She pairs hands-on product and research experience with visible community work, including a WAI ambassador role and speaking slots at events like DIGI360.

That combination gives her posts both credibility and reach.

Key Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Strategy

  • Share short notes that point to longer write-ups or resources
  • Tie professional updates to community roles or event appearances
  • Use client-friendly case examples where possible

Where Eija-Leena can grow (on LinkedIn)

She could add more quantifiable outcome stories that show specific results from client engagements, and occasionally thread longer “how we solved X” posts to help readers replicate an approach.

Valtteri Ahti – Chief Investment Strategist and Head of Investment Research, Evli

🔗 Follow on LinkedIn

Valtteri Ahti is an economist by training who moved into asset management research and strategy.

He was appointed Evli’s chief strategist in 2021 after senior strategist roles elsewhere, and he writes regularly about macro trends and market risks.

With a Ph.D. in economics, Valtteri’s expertise is often sought for his in-depth insights on the intersection of financial markets and global events.

Who Should Follow Valtteri?

  • Individual investors who read macro commentary
  • Financial advisors looking for Nordic market perspective
  • Journalists and students tracking European economic views

About Evli

Evli is a Nordic asset manager founded in 1985.

The firm reports roughly 280 employees and about EUR 20.8 billion in assets under management, and it describes itself as one of Finland’s larger fund managers.

🔗 Visit Evli

LinkedIn content strategy

Valtteri uses LinkedIn to publish market commentary, summaries of conference talks, and short takes on geopolitical events that affect markets. His posts tend to combine a big-picture observation with a concise implication for investors.

What makes Valtteri different?

He brings academic credentials (Ph.D. in economics) together with years of strategist roles across banks and asset managers, which gives his commentary both technical depth and a practical market orientation.

Key Takeaways for Your LinkedIn Strategy

  • Post concise market reads after major events
  • Link commentary to explainable implications for investors
  • Repost short clips or summaries from talks you give

Where Valtteri can grow (on LinkedIn)

He could increase engagement by adding more visuals (charts or short explainer slides) and occasional threads that unpack one idea step by step for non-specialist readers.

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