Bio

Special Projects and Operations at Fifty Years. We support technology entrepreneurs in solving the world’s biggest problems. If you are one or aspire to become one please reach out at sara@50y.com! Before joining Fifty Years, I was Head of Program at Slush (world’s leading startup event). In the midst of the pandemic, I curated a stage program of 140 speakers, with the likes of Renate Nyborg (CEO @Tinder), Tony Xu (Co-Founder and CEO of Doordash), and April Koh (Co-Founder & CEO @ Spring Health), sharing actionable advice & mentoring early stage startups. Before that, I was on a fast track to becoming a tech policy expert. I completed my Bachelor’s in the honors college of Leiden University, and started a Dual Master’s at Sciences Po / Columbia University. As much as I hate to be a cliché, I dropped out to start building a company. I am originally from Finland, but went to high school in an Italian fisherman village alongside 200 brilliant kids from 92 nationalities. I have also sailed around the globe and worked as a lumberjack. I am addicted to being surrounded by people smarter than me. My toolbox includes: • Building relationships: I am hopelessly curious about people, and tend to make friends in all of the best places like the women’s restroom, an airport, or a monastery. • Sales & hustle: I once talked a tech firm into giving our non-profit a free office space for a year. 4 years later and we’re still there, not a single euro spent. • Storytelling: If you have heard my food poisoning story in a Kenyan overnight bus you know what’s up. • Project Management: At Slush my honorary title was ‘Head of Getting Shit Done’. • Problem solver: Action > complaining. I see problems and turn them into opportunities. No career counseling at our uni? No problem, let’s build a non-profit that does just that for the whole city.