Ep. 6: Finland's "The Shortcut" and my enlightened migration

I feel that I have been a migrant, immigrant or foreigner most of my life. They are labels that get attached to me quite easily, I often haven't looked the same as those who make up the majority and in at least for the first 20 years of my life and the latter decade, it feels also that I don't speak the same language.

That being said, I feel, and I certainly hope people who know me would agree, that I have been a positive force in any society I have lived in. Immigration is a very loaded topic these days. My own country of Canada and the country I live in, Finland, are grappling with different aspects of immigration. Either not having enough, having too much, not having the resources to have more or arguing about what kind of immigrant or foreign worker you need to make your society strong.

I think it's a fairly well understood example that Canada has been for the most part successful in how much immigrants such as myself have contributed to the economy. Finland is smaller, aging and more homogenous. Recently I became a board member of The Shortcut, an organization tackling the integration of foreign talent into Finland and creating the space for foreign entrepreneurship to blossom as part of the Finnish Startup Community.

Part 1: Interview with Riikka Loisamo, CEO, The Shortcut

Hear about the mission and the programs for The Shortcut in Finland and how organizations like The Shortcut are changing the mentality that Finland can be a place where foreign-born talent can thrive as entrepreneurs.

Part 2: The three stages of enlightened migration

Taking the winding path to the summit of Sri Lanka's Adam's Peak and reaching a peace between my numerous cultures along the way.

Read the article: The three stages of enlightened migration

Bonus: Sri Pada Samanale Kande, sung by the Wijayawardhana family

Recorded in 2010/2011, a small cut of a very long recording with my father, my eldest brother, Harsha, and his daughter, Panchali.

Thanks

This episode is possible only because of the generousity of Riikka Loisamo and my friends Liisa and Niall.

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