Some conversations are not planned, they grow. What began as a simple connection across screens slowly turned into a journey of shared ideas, trust, and learning. Sitting in Finland, where so much of this work truly lives, this conversation with Pekka goes beyond a typical podcast. It reflects on collaboration across borders, the evolving role of education, and how meaningful change is built quietly, together.We explore how Finland continues to inspire new ways of thinking about learning, how AI is beginning to reshape creativity and classrooms, and how gaming is opening powerful new pathways for engagement, problem solving, and imagination. The conversation moves through growth, innovation, and purpose, while staying deeply human at its core.At JAMK University of Applied Sciences, he now focuses on AI, business, and international brand development, building on years of experience in creating digital learning environments.His work connects AI, XR, and emerging technologies with entrepreneurship, sustainability, and future skills. The goal is to support students, professionals, and companies in discovering new opportunities, experimenting boldly, and turning ideas into impact. 🚀He is grateful to collaborate with forward-looking colleagues and partners who continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Olga Kazarina is an award-winning EdTech Specialist, ISTE+ASCD Community Leader, and Google Certified Trainer, Coach, GEG Leader, AI Fellow, and Educator with over a decade of international experience.From beginning her journey as a classroom teacher in Chile to her current role as Customer Success Manager and Community Builder at Genially, Olga has been a passionate advocate for empowering educators across the world.Her expertise shines in:✨ Strategic & ethical integration of Generative AI✨ Building educator communities✨ Fostering computational thinking in young learnersA recipient of the ISTE 20 to Watch Award, Olga also played a key role in the Guinness World Records breaking Capacita+ Google Cloud AI event a testament to her global impact.

Joonas Nieminen is a Finnish filmmaker, visual storyteller, and entrepreneur based in Jyväskylä, Finland. With a lifelong passion for cameras and creative media, Joonas turned his early interest in video games and editing into a full-time career in visual content production.After starting out with video editing in his teens, he studied IT engineering before pivoting to the media industry, eventually earning a Bachelor of Culture and Arts. He has worked across a wide spectrum of visual media, from corporate videos and industrial shoots to weddings, events, motion graphics, and AI-assisted creative tools.Beyond production, he’s shared his expertise as a visiting lecturer at Helsinki Design School, and he continues to develop educational content and training around video production, photography, post-production, and creative uses of artificial intelligence.Whether filming on industrial production lines or capturing personal stories at weddings, Joonas brings curiosity, technical skill, and a relaxed energy to every project.Joonas has been part of many TV-production teams that are behind in award winning TV-shows like Grand Designs Suomi (Best Lifestyle TV-Program 2023, Kultainen Venla) and Yle MOT (Best News and Current Affairs Program in 2023, Kultainen Venla). Other TV-shows include Huutokauppakeisari, Maajussille Morsian and many more

Tim Needles is an artist, educator, performer, and author of STEAM Power: Infusing Art Into Your STEM Curriculum. Tim is a TEDx speaker, technology integration specialist, and teaches art, film, and emerging media at Smithtown School District and Five Towns College.His incredible work has been featured on NPR, in the New York Times, and exhibited at renowned museums including the Columbus Museum of Art, Norman Rockwell Museum, Alexandria Museum of Art, Katonah Museum of Art, and Cape Cod Museum of Art.Tim’s accolades include:🏆 ISTE’s Technology in Action Award & Creativity Award🏆 NAEA’s Eastern Region Art Educator Award & ArtEdTech Outstanding Teaching Award🏆 The Rauschenberg Power of Art AwardHe also serves as a board member of NYSCATE and NYSATA, and is a National Geographic Certified Teacher, NASA Solar System Ambassador, Adobe Creative Educator, and much more!

Tuomas has spent nearly 15 years helping shape the Finnish game industry, particularly in Central Finland, where he has worked to build a connected and ambitious developer community. He currently wears several hats: Co-Founder and Projects Director at Expa Game Business Cooperative, Game Ecosystem Project Manager at the University of Jyväskylä, and CEO and Co-Founder of Add Inspiration, his own game studio. He is also pursuing an MBA in Game Business Management.His work centers on entrepreneurship, ecosystem development, and supporting game companies at every stage. He co-founded the Digi & Game Center, an award-winning 1000m² co-working and ecosystem hub launched in 2020. He also helps organize XmasJKL, one of Finland’s long-standing game business seminars.Over the years, he has mentored indie teams, coached startups now valued at nearly €50M, and played a key role in building Finland’s first — and the world’s northernmost — Epic Games Unreal Authorized Training Center through Expa. He has secured public and EU funding for several industry projects and has volunteered with IGDA Finland, Neogames, and The Finnish Game Developers’ Association.Tuomas is at his best when he’s building something new, connecting people, and helping game studios grow — whether through hands-on coaching, infrastructure development, or community-building. With more than 100 industry events behind him and both his Bachelor’s and Master’s work focused on the Finnish game sector, this field is more than a career for him. It’s where he thrives.

Experienced technology industry leader with extensive experience working across cloud, AI, device, productivity, and gaming offerings. Dedicated career driving best practices in teaching and learning supported by technology – and empowering leaders, educators, and students for success in the classroom and beyond. Partnered with community and government leaders around the world to define and deliver projects and policy aimed at transforming education systems. Leading sales and marketing executive, responsible for managing education business and education global sales teams of over 650 people with an inclusive and mentorship approach. Teams led have consistently achieved business goals year over year, achieving often double-digit growth across the organization. Active spokesperson invited to speak and keynote at industry events, schools, and universities around the world. Received numerous awards for work in advancing technology in schools and most recently received the Association of American Publishers’ Visionary Award and a position in Tech & Learning’s List of the Most Influential People in Edtech.

Charuni is currently pursuing a Master’s in Learning, Education and Technology at the University of Oulu, where she also serves as an AI Ambassador. With a background that combines a Bachelor of Education (specialized in IT), a Bachelor in IT, and a National Diploma in Teaching (ICT, English medium), she brings over five years of experience as a secondary-level ICT teacher and as a trainer helping educators integrate digital pedagogy and technology into their teaching. She has worked as a Research Assistant at INTERACT on critical data literacy and contributed to international educator engagement and EdTech validation projects through the WiKIT teacher network in Norway. Most recently, she interned with the City of Oulu’s Bothnian Arc Association, where she explored cross-border Sweden–Finland education initiatives, supported project planning and organization, and managed social media content. Her interests center on AI in education, digital resilience, ethical and responsible use of EdTech, and empowering both educators and students.

Jari Laru is a University Lecturer and researcher at the University of Oulu, Faculty of Education and Psychology. His work centers on learning sciences, digital pedagogy, and AI literacy in teacher education, and he was part of the team that established the STEAM minor subject in the faculty. He also works in the Generation AI project (STN), which has developed educational tools such as the GenAI Teachable Machine, Somekone, and the Breakable Machine to foster AI literacy in schools and teacher education.

Dr. Jussi Kajala is the CEO and co-founder of 3DBear Oy, a Finnish edtech company specializing in immersive learning through XR technologies and AI. With a PhD in material physics and degree from University of Cambridge, Jussi began his career in academia before bridging into entrepreneurship, where he now leads innovation at the intersection of education and technology.Under his leadership, 3DBear has become a pioneer in developing simulation-based learning platforms used globally in vocational education, healthcare training, and schools. Jussi’s work focuses on harnessing virtual and augmented reality, 3D environments, and pedagogical AI to create scalable, impactful digital education solutions.He has been recognized for advancing the role of immersive technologies in mainstream curricula, from math and science to healthcare and workplace training, and for championing the ethical, responsible use of learner data in digital environments.Passionate about empowering educators and learners, Jussi’s vision is to make cutting-edge educational technology accessible worldwide, enabling students to take ownership of their learning and thrive in the digital age.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jussikajala/

Christine Haskell, Ph.D. is a leadership strategist, organizational psychologist, and seasoned technology executive with a career spanning top companies like Microsoft, Starbucks, and Yahoo!. As the founder of Dative.Works, she helps leaders and organizations navigate digital transformation with integrity, focusing on AI ethics, terminology governance, and values-based leadership. Christine is also an adjunct faculty member in executive MBA programs and a published author of several books, including Driving Data Projects and Driving Your Self-Discovery. Her work bridges technology, psychology, and leadership to create systems that are not only efficient but ethically grounded.