Bloom ry is an association dedicated to building a community where both internationals and locals can thrive together. The synergy, empowerment and support that is found at Bloom will enable each individual to integrate with ease into any culture.
Meet the Bloom Executive Board
Kelly Keodara, Founder and President
Serving another year as President, Kelly Keodara has received her Executive Education in Leading Organisations and Change at MIT and graduated from Tampere University with a Master’s degree in Media Education. She has extensive expertise in the communications and media realm. She has been active in humanitarian aid via the United Nations and European Commission Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. She currently works in investor communications and sustainable development at Nordic Development Fund, and is the Chief of Opportunities at Finnish Leadership Team podcast. She is also the Founder of Bloom. As President, her main responsibilities at Bloom will be to supervise the activities of the association, in addition to maintaining the sustainability of the vision and mission. This year, she would like for Bloom to support in finding solutions for the economic and societal challenges in Finland, as well as to continue to lift up others by blooming to other cities of Finland. Kelly’s mission is to empower others to live to their highest potential.
Jens C. Trier, Co-founder and Advisor
Jens C. Trier has a background in international relations and law from the University of Gothenburg and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in political science at Uppsala University whilst working as Chief of Operations for We Make Change, an international social enterprise. Jens’ background revolves around NGO-organisational work, events, business development and community-building on an international level. Jens’ main responsibilities at Bloom includes conceptualising and strategy, developing partnerships and building community. He is also on our Advisory Committee.
Karen Ahtiainen, Co-founder and Advisor
Karen Ahtiainen graduated from Tampere University of Applied Sciences with a degree in International Business, majoring in Marketing and Customer Experience. She has over 10 years of professional working experience in different fields and industries, with a background in marketing (branding and new market strategy), event management, training, and customer service experience. Her main responsibilities in Bloom include marketing, promoting and ensuring that members will have a great experience in Bloom. She currently works at International House Tampere as Business Coordinator. She is also on our Advisory Committee.
Shruti Dharwadkar, Vice President
Shruti Dharwadkar, who is from India, has a background in communications, public relations and event management. She has founded a start-up in India in the sustainability space and has years of experience in various aspects of business. Shruti’s Business degree in Circular Economy at Tampere University of Applied Sciences takes her one step closer to her personal goal - ‘People and Planet’. Her goal for Bloom is to widen its reach as she sincerely believes every international and Finn-ternational should have the opportunity to be a part of and equal, diverse and unified community so that they can truly ‘Bloom’ in Finland. As an avid traveler with a fondness for food , Shruti loves to explore the connections between traditional culinary styles and geographies.
Tiina Lustig, Treasurer
Tiina Lustig works as Microsoft Dynamics Finance and Operations consultant at Tietoevry and has a Master’s degree in Business and Economics for studying International Business and Entrepreneurship at the University of Jyväskylä. Her path to where she is now comes from the passion to problem solving and will to help, whether it is trying to find the best way to navigate around an unknown city abroad or a simple accounting problem. She is from Tampere and currently resides in the capitol area but from time to time likes to look back at the times of living abroad and new travels. Most of her free time is spent at the gym or on a walk in the forest or by the sea. Her interest in other cultures but also excitement to share Finnish culture to others led her to Bloom, in order to connect the internationals in Finland with locals and their networks.
Niharika Anand, Secretary
Niharika Anand is from New Delhi, India. She spent most of her primary education in India before moving to Finland to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Information Technology. She graduated from Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences and then continued her education by pursuing a Master's degree in Information and Communication Technology at Tampere University. She is currently in a traineeship at Wärtsilä in Identity and Access Management. Her passion for technology and innovation has driven her to choose this field of study. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, going for hikes, reading books, listening to music, and volunteering. She is a well-rounded individual who is committed to both personal and academic pursuits. Throughout life, she has had a deep love for nature and a desire to make a positive impact in the world. She is determined to use education and experiences to make a difference in the world and contribute to the advancement of technology.
Miika Kärnä, Head of Legal
Miika Kärnä feels honored to continue as Head of Legal in Bloom board of 2024. In his experience, connection is what life is all about: sharing moments, thoughts and feelings. Hence, he will give his best effort to the great cause that Bloom has to offer, professionally and personally. About his life: his days run more or less around his own law firm and producing music. In his spare time, he enjoys walking and cycling in nature and swimming through the seasons. Cooking is also his passion. He is looking forward to continuing to ensure that Bloom's actions are aligned with Bloom's values and are legally sound.
Henna Väisänen, Head of People and Culture
With a heart dedicated to fostering positive environments, Henna Väisänen is thrilled to bring her passion and experiences to this vibrant community as a Head of People and Culture. Henna describes herself as a people-oriented generalist, currently pursuing a Master's degree in Social Work at the University of Jyväskylä, all while serving as an Office Manager at Nordcloud, an IBM Company. With a 6-year track record in the HR field, Henna is on a mission to integrate her academic expertise from social work into creating socially and environmentally sustainable communities and societies. Henna is excited about the journey ahead and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the growth and success of Bloom ry by not solely helping foreigners establish roots in Finland, but also enriching the experiences of locals. Let's build a community where we can support others to bloom in their unique way.
Ruchira Liyanage, Head of Marketing and Communications
Ruchira Liyanage, an architect by proffession, exudes warmth and extroverted charm. As a Master’s student in Sustainable Architecture at Tampere University, he blends his creative architectural perspective with marketing projects, pushing boundaries and fostering innovation. With a diverse background in project coordination, human resource management, business development, and designing, Ruchira is a seasoned volunteer as well as a passionate entrepreneur. He firmly believes in giving back something good to the society will add a meaning to our lives. He cherishes human connections, particularly in integrating internationals into the local community. As Head of Marketing and Communications at Bloom Finland, Ruchira aims to break away from conventional marketing tactics. His vision is to permeate every corner of Finland with innovative campaigns with an organic growth, aligning with the organization’s overarching goal blooming the whole Finland. He endeavours to spread awareness of Bloom Finland, fostering a culture where everyone can flourish.