Even the Smallest Can Rise from the Countryside

How did three women from Ostrobothnia end up organizing a seminar in Paris? By dreaming, daring, and working together.

Chance and timing often play their part in life as well. Let’s go back to the 1990s, when two girls meet at a riding camp and continue corresponding by letter for years, until they gradually lose touch. Nearly twenty years later, Finland’s centenary year, Finland 100, arrives—what a perfect opportunity to envision an event that would bring visibility to Finland in Paris. Sandra comes up with the idea of bringing a sauna to Paris, and the terrace of the Bar à Bulles restaurant on the rooftop of the Moulin Rouge is chosen as the venue. Sanna Sandberg and Sandra Mangiapan meet again at a planning meeting for the sauna event and realize not only that they know each other from years ago, but also that they now live in the same city.

Their connection is rekindled, and over the years in Paris they discover many shared interests: organizing events, investing, career aspirations, and international life. The everyday challenges that inevitably come with living abroad are easier to share with a friend. They also both have their first child within the same month, adding a new dimension to their friendship as they exchange thoughts on parenthood and balancing work and family life.

Meanwhile, things are happening in Vaasa with enough energy to light up an entire city—or even a continent. Jannica Granbacka, an energetic woman with a background in sports, is producing projects and events left and right, and before long, the hugely popular VoimaNaiset seminars are being organized across Finland. Jannica has big dreams, and the seed of taking VoimaNaiset abroad has already been planted. However, the mother of three is still working her day job, while VoimaNaiset’s journey across Finland is gaining promising momentum.

The connection between Sanna and Jannica dates back to Sanna’s student years, when she met Jannica’s husband at theatre school. As so often happens, one person’s energy inspires another, and if you want to be part of something, you shouldn’t wait for someone to come knocking on your door. Sanna begins envisioning a concept that could take VoimaNaiset abroad. Could she suggest something like this to Jannica? Sanna presents the idea to Sandra, and together the women decide to give it a shot—after all, they have successfully created innovative things together before!

Jannica is immediately excited about the idea. The timing isn’t perfect, but it rarely is, and these women tend to see more opportunities ahead than threats. So, they roll up their sleeves, and soon the expertise, contacts, and energy of three people begin to create something entirely new. VoimaNaiset is ready to go international!

The VoimaNaiset Around the World event concept brings together, in one weekend, courage, trust in oneself and others, and a passion for discovering something beyond the familiar fields back home. To you, VoimaNainen, reading this story, we want to show through our own journey just how far taking action, daring, asking, and throwing yourself into new opportunities can take you. We encourage you, too, to believe in your own abilities and dare to take the leap.

As they say in France, au plaisir d’échanger avec toi—or, to put it more casually: come tap us on the shoulder, and let's network!

Sanna Sandberg and Sandra Mangiapan