Future Forum Kipinä is a new invitation-only event which brings together decision-makers, business leaders, researchers and the 30 under 30 individuals. The theme of the Future Forum is the role of human capital in future economic and skills policy.
The 30 under 30 list was compiled from nominations put forward by the university community. Featured on the list are researchers, entrepreneurs and social commentators, each with ties to the University. They are united by not only their outstanding contributions to the world but also their commitment to positively impacting their community and society.
The named individuals from the Faculty of Social Sciences are as follows:
Graduated with a Master of Social Sciences degree from the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Social Sciences in 2023.
Benjamin is an animal rights activist and founding member of an organisation working for animal rights. He turned to activism after gaining insight into the contradictory treatment of animals in our society. He considers animal production a blind spot of our time, often evading scrutiny. Benjamin recently co-authored the non-fiction book Rakkaat eläimet, joita syömme (The Beloved Animals We Eat) with Pavel Tahkovuori. The book highlights tangible and sustainable solutions for overhauling food production. Benjamin is confident that the future of Finnish food production will be plant-based and talks about a just food transition. His ultimate goal is a world without the animal industry.
What is your biggest career achievement to date? “Thanks to my efforts, many Finnish student unions, organisations and other bodies have drawn up guidelines for plant-based catering, committing to serve fully vegan food at events.”
What about your most significant personal achievement? “Having the chance to work on something that feels more like a labour of love than a job.”
Pursuing a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree in the Bachelor’s Programme in Politics, Media and Communication at the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Social Sciences.
Emilia is a regular panellist in the Jälkiviisaat segment of the Aamu-tv programme on Yle (Finnish public service media company), discussing the week’s current topics. She was just 20 when she started in the programme, becoming the youngest panellist in its history. She is passionate about equality policy and education policy, viewing them as the cornerstones of Finnish society. Her other priorities include EU policy and international cooperation. While Emilia has not mapped out specific career plans, she has a keen interest in public engagement. She previously chaired the Union of Upper Secondary School Students in Finland.
What is your biggest career achievement to date? “Chairing the Union of Upper Secondary School Students, a role that allowed me to significantly shape the Covid debate in Finland.”
What about your most significant personal achievement? “When I left the countryside to attend a general upper secondary school in Helsinki at age 16, I didn’t really know anyone here. I’ve created my own community and career and a life that feels true to who I am.”
Studies social sciences at the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Social Sciences.
In 2024 Iida participated in her first Paralympic Games, in Paris, where she finished fourth in the long jump. She also competes in running in the T12 category intended for runners with a severe visual impairment.
Iida is a two-time junior world champion, having won the World Junior Championships in Athletics in both long jump and 400 metres. In addition, she is a European champion at 400 metres. Iida is studying in the University of Helsinki’s Bachelor’s Programme in Social Research. For her, the most interesting aspect of her studies has been learning how to better analyse perspectives on inequality. She believes social attitudes should be transformed to more automatically factor in physical and digital accessibility. In her future career, she aspires to influence the opportunities of children with disabilities.
What is your career biggest achievement to date? “It’s too early to say for sure.”
What about your most significant personal achievement? “How I’m fulfilling my dreams in both athletics and education. I couldn’t do it without a close support network.”
Graduated with a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree from the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Social Sciences in 2023.
Jenni is studying in the Master’s Programme in Politics, Media and Communication at the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Social Sciences. In spring 2024, she participated in the Faculty’s Women in Global Security exchange programme, funded by the US Embassy in Finland. The programme sought to encourage women’s democratically vital participation in diplomacy, conflict resolution and defence. Jenni applied to join the programme because she views the conditions, challenges and advancement of women’s participation as important both personally and socially.
She is currently pursuing another master’s degree in a strategic management programme at Aalto University. In addition to understanding social and global phenomena, she wishes to learn more about how organisations can respond to changes around the world. Jenni has chaired the board of Valta, the association of the University of Helsinki’s politics, media and communication students.
What is your biggest career achievement to date? “Participating in the exchange programme and succeeding in my studies. In addition, the chance to do something for our student community as the chair of the subject association felt especially meaningful.”
What about your most significant personal achievement? “I’m still working towards my goals and focused on achieving them in the long run.”
Graduated with a Master of Social Sciences degree from the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Social Sciences in 2023.
Juuso has always been motivated by the desire to understand how the European Union functions and how its decisions are reflected in both the everyday lives of citizens and the global reality. He therefore decided to apply for a job in a place where important decisions are made. At first, he worked at the European Parliament as an assistant to a Finnish MEP. After that, he became a member of a cabinet at the European Court of Auditors, and is currently Special Adviser in EU Affairs to the Prime Minister.
What is your biggest career achievement to date? “Participation in tripartite negotiations in connection with the establishment of the Ukraine Facility.”
What about your most significant personal achievement? “I’ve been extremely lucky to have a strong support network in my life that has made it possible to pursue my dreams. I’ve also had wonderful colleagues over the years, with whom I have had the opportunity to share the successes and failures of professional life.”
Graduated with a Master of Social Sciences degree from the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Social Sciences in 2022.
Milja is a member in a working group appointed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, which is preparing a government strategy for research on and the development and utilisation of quantum technologies. She is also a national delegate in the NATO Transatlantic Quantum Community. Quantum computing will solve future computing problems that are currently too challenging for humanity.
For Milja, the most meaningful part of her work is the opportunity to collaborate with thinkers whom she considers to be among the world's sharpest and boldest. It also has its challenges: Milja works in the technology and security sectors as a young woman whose background is in the social sciences, not in, for example, engineering or mathematics. Milja makes the effort to ask herself ‘Why not me?’ instead of ‘What am I doing here?’.
What is your biggest career achievement to date? “Working in an academic field full of doctoral expertise, I feel like I have a unique vantage point to the world. With their ideas, the people around me are opening up new perspectives that can also offer me a new dimension to examining society, the universe and the nature of being.”
What about your most significant personal achievement? “My greatest achievement has been learning to define myself without external titles or merits.”
Graduated with a Master of Social Sciences degree from the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Social Sciences in 2023.
Oskari is an active contributor to public discussion who has spoken and written a lot about the equal human rights of sexual minorities in particular. He also contributed to the expert hearing of the legal affairs committee of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland on reforming the church order to include a provision on parallel notions of marriage, with one of the two being gender neutral.
Studies in the Study Track in Economic and Social History laid a solid foundation for Oskari’s passion for making the world a better place. He believes that the best societies provide people with the opportunity to live lives that they feel comfortable with. He wishes to contribute to a reality where everyone has the freedom and the opportunity to choose the direction of their lives. The enormous attention attracted by the discussion on the church’s concept of marriage came as a surprise to him, producing, in addition to praise, unpleasant feedback. However, Oskari wanted to be a voice heard in the discussion also for those who do not have the opportunity to defend their rights.
What is your biggest career achievement to date? “In a relatively short period of time, I’ve managed to establish a unique and diverse career path, as well as accumulated significant responsibility in a large international company.”
What about your most significant personal achievement? “Definitely finding a balance and an understanding of who I am and what kind of life I want to lead.”
Graduated with a Master of Social Sciences degree from the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Social Sciences in 2024.
Sanchi arrived in Finland in 2022 to study in the Master’s Programme in Sociology at the University of Helsinki. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Mumbai’s St. Xavier’s College in 2020 in her native India. In her master’s thesis, Sanchi studied the experiences of employees of Indian businesses who identify as queer. Sanchi has worked as an international student advisor in a project launched by the University of Helsinki in 2023. She also volunteers in the Helsinki Pride organisation, as she considers it important to contribute to the establishment of safe spaces for international queer people in Finnish society. At the moment, Sanchi is in the process of founding a company called Beyond Wool, which develops non-animal alternatives to traditional wool scarves.
What is your biggest career achievement to date? “The opportunity to work in different roles: on the one hand, as a sociologist who wishes to make jobs increasingly diverse and, on the other, as an entrepreneur in the field of sustainable fashion.”
What about your most significant personal achievement? “I'm proud that I’ve moved to another country whose culture I’ve adapted to, while preserving my personal values and identity.”