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What if the key to future business success isn’t what you know – but how boldly you imagine?

In today’s world, where change is exponential, disruption constant, and complexity the new normal, traditional innovation is losing ground. Businesses everywhere are being forced to rethink their strategies – not just to stay competitive, but to stay relevant.

That’s why this is not just another event – it’s one you can’t afford to miss.

We invite business leaders, strategists, and decision-makers to engage in a future-facing dialogue about the evolving role of creativity in business. In a world where algorithms can optimize the known, it’s imagination, empathy, and artistic thinking that will differentiate the exceptional from the obsolete.

This international event is not about art appreciation – it’s about strategic transformation. You’ll hear from global cultural innovators who have successfully integrated artistic creativity into business thinking, and see real-life examples of how this approach is driving growth, resilience, and meaning in uncertain times.

Join us to explore why the future of leadership may depend less on what we measure – and more on what we dare to imagine.

Please note that we have a very limited number of seats for the event. If you have to cancel your participation, please contact artpreneurship@aalto.fi.  

Keynote speakers:

Dr. Thomas Girst, Global Head of Cultural Engagement, BMW Group

Named European Cultural Manager of the Year, Dr. Girst has led BMW’s global cultural strategy for over two decades. His pioneering work has connected BMW with institutions like Tate Modern, Art Basel, and the London Symphony Orchestra, demonstrating how cultural engagement can serve as a long-term strategic asset.

Ben Hartley, President and CEO, Silkroad

Leading the international music collective founded by Yo-Yo Ma, Hartley brings a deep understanding of how cross-cultural collaboration, storytelling, and the arts can drive innovation, empathy, and systemic change. His leadership spans world-renowned cultural institutions including the Guggenheim and BAM.

Panel discussion includes:

Siamäk Naghian, CEO, Genelec

A visionary leader at the intersection of sound, culture, and sustainability. Under his leadership, Genelec has become a global standard-bearer of quality – and a community where trust, creativity, and meaning are embedded in the company’s DNA.

Join us to explore what happens when art and business stop talking past each other – and start imagining together.

Heli Hytönen, CEO, The Growth Collective

Heli Hytönen leads The Growth Collective (Kasvur yhmä), a community of over 200 growth-driven business leaders transforming the growth trajectory of Finland, one bold action at a time. With a background in consulting and leadership roles across Finnish business, Heli champions a culture where embracing risk and opportunity becomes the new norm.

Roleff Kråkström, Managing Director, Moomin Characters Ltd.

Roleff Kråkström is managing director of Moomin Characters Ltd, and CEO, chair of the board and founding partner of the licensing agency Rights & Brands. He is a board member on several companies within the Moomin group of companies as well as others. Moomin Characters Ltd owns the rights and licenses t he original artwork of the Moomins, created by Tove Jansson (1914-2001), a Swedish-speaking illustrator, writer and artist from Finland. The Moomins are a family of white and roundish trolls with large snouts that live in Moominvalley. All characters from Moominvalley are trademark-registered worldwide. Before joining Moomin Characters, Roleff worked in the publishing industry for 15 years. Previous to that, he was a fishmonger, something he is very proud of and claims laid the foundation for his skills in sales.

Anna Miettinen, Owner and Member of the Board, Ensto Invest Oy

Anna Miettinen is one of the owners of Ensto and a member of the Board of Ensto Invest Oy. Ensto is an international technology and family-owned company that enables the green transition and ensures reliable and safe electricity networks by providing sustainable solutions for power distribution. Anna is an art enthusiast who has also curated art exhibitions. In addition to her engagement with the arts, she actively contributes to the dialogue on diversity and is a strong advocate for diversity as a vital strength in society.

Jan D. Oker-Blom, Head of Corporate Public Affairs, Fiskars Village

Jan D. Oker-Blom leads corporate public affairs and thecFiskars Village at Fiskars Group, where business, community, and culture intersect. With a background spanning both public and private sectors – from startups to listed companies, and from city governance to boardrooms – Jan brings a systems-level view to change-making. He has chaired and served on the boards of energy companies, fintech ventures, ports, and creative businesses alike. A political scientist with an MBA from Aalto University, he is a passionate advocate for art and aesthetics in everyday life and a dedicated collector of visual art.

Agenda