TEDxEspoo Youth

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Aicha Manai

  CEO of a Social Enterprise (Startup Refugees) & DEI Expert

  Aicha Manai is the CEO of Startup Refugees and a sought-after professional speaker and host. With Finnish-Tunisian roots and a trilingual upbringing, Aicha has integrated her rich cultural background into both her personal ethos and professional mission. She advocates for inclusivity, representation and the value of diverse perspectives. Aicha has spoken on global stages and moderated countless conversations on topics ranging from migration to equity in leadership. Aicha leads Startup Refugees, a social innovation that supports refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in building careers and launching businesses. Startup Refugees has become a powerful force for connecting untapped talent with meaningful opportunities and reshaping the narrative around refugees, immigration and integration.

• Apurva Ganoo

  Lecturer in Entrepreneurship

  Apurva Ganoo is a permanent (tenured) Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at Aalto University School of Business. His research examines entrepreneurial education from a critical perspective, exploring its connections to the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem and institutions. In his teaching, he contributes to Aalto's new master’s program in Sustainable Entrepreneurship and teaches introductory bachelor’s courses in entrepreneurship. Apurva is actively involved in several EU-funded capacity-building projects, where he has played a key role in securing over €3M in funding and establishing partnerships with universities across Europe, Africa, and Asia. In 2024, Apurva was recognized by the Suomen Liikemies-Yhdistys (The Finnish Businessmen's Association) for his contributions to promoting entrepreneurship at Aalto and beyond.

• Dora Puhakka

  Diversity Work Specialist

  Dora Puhakka, a highly experienced DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) consultant from Namibia, currently based in Finland. She is a co-founding member of Kuikan Co. With over a decade of experience in the Finnish NGO sector. In recognition of her significant contributions to women's rights, she was honored with the "Mentor and Supporter of Women’s Rights" award in 2022 by AFAES (Africans and African-Europeans Associations). Additionally, Dora Puhakka serves as the Vice-Chairperson of the board for Suomi-Namibia Seura (Finnish-Namibian Society), the oldest friendship society in Finland with an African country.

• Emilia Lun

  High School Student

  Emilia Lun is a high school student, raised between Germany, Italy, the U.S., and Switzerland, she’s learned to navigate identity, language, and belonging from a young age. After spending a life-changing exchange year at Beau Soleil, a Swiss boarding school and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro at 15, Emilia saw that real leadership isn’t about fitting in. It’s about building bridges. In her talk, she shares why growing up between cultures isn’t a gap. It's a gift.

• Frederick Lalu

  Student at University of Helsinki & Board Member at the National Committee of European Youth Parliament Finland – EYP Finland ry

  Frederick Lalu is currently studying at University of Helsinki. Apart from his studies, he is currently a Board Member at the National Committee of European Youth Parliament Finland – EYP Finland ry an independent youth organization dedicated to empowering young Europeans through European Parliament simulations and promoting active citizenship. Frederick has been an active member in many other youth organizations for the last four years.

• Justina Gimbutiene

  Community Counselor Youth Work & Multicultural Work

  Justina is a Lithuanian national living in Finland for 15 years already. She came to Finland to do EVS and thought that she would leave after 12 months, but apparently Finland never thought the same way! Justina has studied social work, did internships in Malaysia and South Africa, worked in child protection services and for the past two years at Espoo International School as a community counselor! Multicultural work has always been big part of her life.

• Leotrim Deliu

  Student at Eiran Aikuislukio & President of European Youth Parliament (EYP) Uusimaa, Finland.

  Leotrim Deliu, studying at Eiran Aikuislukio. Alongside his studies, he is the President of European Youth Parliament (EYP) Uusimaa, Finland. Leotrim uses his free time in activities to improve society.

• Pavel Tahkovuori

  Sustainability Expert & Non-Fiction Author

  Pavel Tahkovuori is a Non-Fiction Author and Sustainability Expert with a background in the food business and a strong interest in how companies shape what we eat. Before Co-Founding Viral Vegans, he worked in market research, often for some of Finland’s largest companies. That experience gave him a rare inside view of the food industry giant's influence on consumer behavior. Today, he produces Finland’s most listened-to sustainability podcast and creates social media content that reaches up to 1.7 million people each month.

• Ted Apter

  Industrial Policy Special Advisor & Local Politician

  Ted Apter is a Special Advisor on Industrial Policy, an active local politician, and has taken many roles in a multitude of NGOs. His career includes positions in both the public and private sectors. He currently works as a Special Advisor on Industrial Policy for Suomen Ekonomit, with a focus on accelerating Finnish economic growth. He is mainly focused on themes such as increased study - and work - related migration, adding financing for research and development and supporting the startup ecosystem for grow in Finland.