“Helsinki is a can do city” – Ideas turning into actions for Mariam
Mariam Shodeinde planned to be a fighter pilot in Nigeria, but moving to Finland to study led her to discover her passion – and a job at a Helsinki startup. Mariam shares her secrets to finding balance in life and making life-long friendships in Helsinki.
Making life-long friends
“In 2008, my uncle in Finland suggested I head north. I had planned to study in Northern Nigeria, but he convinced me to go even further, so I applied to the Lapland University of Applied Sciences from Lagos. I was curious about Rovaniemi because it’s where the band Lordi is from and I like their concept!
I flew to Helsinki via Istanbul and took the train to Rovaniemi. The start was quite a shock, but I quickly grew fond of Lapland. It felt great to be free, to become myself. I had no expectations about Finland, but the best part turned out to be the people. I made lifelong friends from my fellow students.”
Lessons beyond the classroom
“I graduated in four years with a degree in information and communication technology. Studying in Lapland was the complete opposite of attending military school in Lagos, where success was all about following orders and sticking to the rules.
When I moved to Finland, everything was different. I suddenly had no rigid rules or constant monitoring and I had to think for myself and take the initiative. This independent mindset runs through Finnish society, from education to working life. Finns know these unwritten rules of figuring things out yourself, but for me, it was a big adjustment.
Had I stayed in Nigeria, I likely would have followed the path my grandfather laid out for me. But here, I discovered something entirely new about myself and realised what brings me joy: helping others. It feels incredible!”
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Life-Work Balance
Learning, leading and living fully
“Leaving Rovaniemi after graduation was bittersweet, but moving to Helsinki brought new adventures and kick started my career. Today, I’m the Chief Growth Officer at Claned, a learning technology company, and I co-founded Adar Impact, an education company advocating for quality education for all. That is something I’m very proud of.
I like that I don’t need to follow a predetermined path. I’ve worked at Slush, the international start-up event. I’m part of a start-up that combines Finnish pedagogy with machine learning. I’ve also been involved in developing Claned’s learning platform since it was founded in 2011. With every project and client, I think about how I can help others reach their potential.
I’m also not just a working professional – I’m a mother. My son, Eli, was born at Christmas. The birth was long, but the incredible midwife at Helsinki Women’s Hospital made all the difference and helped me through. I was also lucky to take a year off for maternity leave before returning to work.”
Finding my place
“The longer I’ve lived in Finland, the more I’ve found my place and learned to appreciate its beauty. Realising that I can be myself and pursue what I love has lifted the pressure I used to feel.
I live in Vuosaari, a green and lovely part of Eastern Helsinki. In my free time, I enjoy cooking and spending time with friends. The international evangelical church in Sörnäinen is a big part of my life.
Helsinki strikes the perfect balance – diverse, not too small, and not too big. Coming from Lagos, with its 15 million inhabitants, I joke with my family that all of Finland could fit into a single market square.“
