About

Who am I?

Hi, I’m Venla—a small-town girl from the northwest coast of Finland, born and raised in a village so tiny that if you blink, you’ll miss it.

At 19, I packed my bags and set off to explore the world. Since then, I’ve lived in the UK, Australia, Spain, and most recently, Germany, where I spent 11 years soaking up Berlin’s vibrant chaos.

But in the summer of 2024, I did the unthinkable: I moved back to Finland.

Why? Because, honestly, Finland is hands down the best country for people with children. Coming home made me realize what really matters for a happy life and why Finland nails it.

This website is my passion project. I created it to unpack why Finland consistently ranks as the happiest country in the world. Not in some grand, theoretical way but through the small, everyday things that quietly make life here work.

After years of working in different roles in start-up and scales-ups across Europe, I couldn’t help noticing how much of Finnish happiness is baked into how we live and work—through trust, autonomy, and balance. This project helps me explore those ideas and share them with others, one small observation at a time.

Thinking about moving to Finland for work?

Got questions about life in Finland? Whether you’re curious about work, culture, or just surviving the winters, I’m here to help. Let’s chat!

Are you a foreigner living in Finland with a story to tell?

I’d love to hear about your experience and share it to inspire others considering the move.

Or maybe you just want to chat about Finnish happiness?

Let’s have a virtual coffee and talk about what makes life here so unique.

hi(at)venlah.com