From Nigerian Student to Tech Executive in Helsinki

Mariam Shodeinde, who initially planned to become a fighter pilot in Nigeria, discovered her passion and a career in the technology sector after moving to Finland for her studies. Today, she serves as the Chief Growth Officer at the technology company Claned and is a co-founder of Adar Impact, an education company advocating for quality education.

Her move to Finland began with studies at Lapland University of Applied Sciences, prompted by her uncle. Shodeinde describes the initial period in Rovaniemi as a shock compared to her upbringing in Lagos but quickly found a sense of freedom. The Finnish educational system encouraged independence and initiative, a contrast to the stricter military school environment she had experienced previously.

"This independent mindset permeates Finnish society, from education to working life," Shodeinde states. "Finns understand these unwritten rules of figuring things out yourself, but for me, it was a significant adjustment."

After graduating, Shodeinde relocated to Helsinki, where her career took off within the startup ecosystem. She has also worked at Slush, a major international startup event, and is involved in developing Claned's learning platform, with a focus on helping others achieve their potential.

Shodeinde finds her place in Helsinki, characterizing it as a 'can-do city where ideas turn into actions.' She appreciates the city's balance, finding it diverse yet not overwhelmingly large, and enjoys living in the green area of Vuosaari.