In brief
I’m ..curious about most things, a design thinker turned business leader, a massive LEGO fan, cyclist and these days an infrequent blogger. The writings on this site are inspired by experiences from a career spanning NGO activism and sustainable development, design and new product development, academic research integration into business, experience innovation, consumer co-creation and lead-user innovation – now transitioning into leading innovation and marketing in the online space. Moreover there are also experiments here, the fun, play, and life outside work – the balance to the force, whatever you wish to call it – it’s what keeps us who we are despite what life may throw at us. Simple as that. And that needs a home. Hope you enjoy it – and if you like it get in touch.
And some more…
Originally a product designer by training, I will receive my TRIUM Executive MBA degree this year from the HEC Paris, NYU Stern School of Business and London School of Economics and Political Science. These days my work involves heading up the global media channel strategy for LEGO.com and overseeing Consumer Experience at the LEGO Group. I first joined the LEGO Group in 2001 at the company’s front-end innovation department and designed a number of major toy-lines from concept through to production – before moving into innovation and consumer experience in 2006. As a designer I understand the creative process, and the power of insight and consumer co-creation to support innovation and experience design and my passion is turning the insight into new business opportunities, models and strategies for sustainable company growth. Lastly I’m forever curious how play, learning and creativity supports innovation and reaching our full human potential as individuals.
Before joining the LEGO Group I ran my own company delivering graphic and multimedia design, while studying product design at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. And even before that I started my career as project coordinator and fundraiser and eventually became co-director of an international UN-sponsored children’s charity focusing on sustainable development issues and community development.
These days my passion for being the change you want to see in the world is a fantastic social enterprise, Riders for Health, whose work on providing infrastructure for health care in Africa inspired my fiancée Jon and I to develop an AIDS sample transport system to help Riders combat this terrible disease in hard-to-reach areas in Africa.
I live in London, am originally from Helsinki, Finland where I grew up and where my family still are; my dad, an artist, sculptor, jewellery designer and inspiration for what creative vision can achieve; my mum, who instilled in me a belief that we can learn anything if we put our minds to it, my brother and half sister, all of whom I miss when away. True to my Scandinavian roots I find solace among trees, have my best ideas while on a bicycle and tend to stroke any cat that comes my way.
