This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Andro Lindsay, a 48-year-old who moved from Santiago, Chile, to Helsinki. It’s been edited for length and clarity.
I was born in Santiago and raised in Chile. My relationship with Finland started over 20 years ago — I’ve been a part of several businesses with links to Finland, and some of my best friends are Finns.
I’m an industrial engineer who started my career at big corporations in Chile, but I always wanted to make an impact as an entrepreneur.
In 2009, I resigned from a very good position at an airline to go out on my own. I’ve built online marketplaces and cofounded a solar photovoltaic and energy efficiency company, a venture focusing on copper mining, pulp and paper, another in AI and robotics, and several consultancies.
Now, I’m in charge of business development for systemic complex challenges, focusing on carbon neutrality, at the VTT Technical Research Center of Finland.
A program called “90 Day Finn” was launched in 2021
The program, launched by Helsinki Partners, aims to attract talent from the rest of the world and bring it to Helsinki. Selected applicants receive a 90-day relocation package for their entire family.
The package doesn’t include a specific monetary amount but comprehensive support in whatever you need to make the move. This includes assistance with visa applications and finding an apartment, a virtual prep program, networking events, an advisor, support for your business plans, and access to a coworking space.
My Finnish friend Janne told me about the program. I applied, and in January 2021, I found out I was one of 14 people selected from more than 5,500 applicants. I moved from Santiago to Helsinki in July 2021.
I built my personal and family life here
Andro Lindsay
I’m a proud dad of two intelligent and beautiful girls. It was the perfect time to bring them to a new country to experience education, safety, and a Finnish perspective on life.
The team from Helsinki Partners provided me with detailed information about visas, accommodations, school for my girls, and activities in the area and helped me throughout the process.
I knew I would enjoy Helsinki and decide to stay. The logistics of moving to Finland and landing here were effortless. I applied for residency for my family and me, and the residence visas were ready in a couple of weeks.
My favorite things about Finnish culture are the balance between professional and personal life, technology and nature, and economic growth and sustainability. I also value the amazing free education, free healthcare, safety, access to everything you need, and closeness to nature, saunas, and ice.
The venture I originally came to build in Finland focused on smart cities failed, but I was still in love with my vision
When I first moved, I met with most of the Finnish ecosystem in the built environment, energy, mobility, construction, and architecture spaces. I started collaborating with entities and investors, including VTT.
It made sense to become an intrapreneur, join VTT, and help the organization from the inside to address new global challenges such as sustainable mining, decarbonization of cities, and competitive production of green hydrogen and derivatives. I’ve expanded my work to include sustainable mining, green hydrogen, and more.
Right now, I’m leading a bi-national consortium between Finland and Chile, matching government, private companies, R&D entities, and universities from these countries around strategic topics like sustainable mining that are key to both countries’ sustainable development.
The only challenge was to learn the local language
Finnish is quite tricky and requires serious time to learn, but everyone in Finland speaks fluent English and many other languages. Every day, I encounter Finns who speak fluent Spanish with me.
Helsinki is an amazing city. Santiago has 10 times more people than Helsinki, but everything that I could have in Santiago, I can have in Helsinki (and more).
We had two cars in Santiago. Here, everything is less than a 15-minute walk away. Helsinki has amazing natural surroundings, such as Kaivopuisto Park, Seurasaari Island, and Hietaranta Beach. It’s a smart, sustainable, and resilient city.
I like the food in Finland a lot. My daughters and I love Fazer Chocolate and Korvapuusti (Finnish cinnamon rolls). We also love Poronkäristys (sautéed reindeer), salmon soup, salmon in any way, and toast Skagen (originally Swedish but very rooted in Finland).
The social scene is active in summer, full of daily events and activities. Winter is much quieter, and people focus more on getting things done. Art and cultural activities are very present in Finland all year long.
My daughters fell in love with Finland as soon as we arrived
Andro Lindsay
My daughters already speak Finnish. Their school was amazing when they first started, and both of them received extra support for language and everything they needed. Soon, they started to talk not just Finnish but also a bit of other languages because of the international students within their group.
Since everything is very close and safe in Helsinki, my girls rapidly gained more freedom to go to nearby parks and other places. Their favorite place became the public library.
We all fell in love with Finnish culture, and we couldn’t be happier here. This is our home now.
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