Jaakko Sahimaa

Jaakko Sahimaa is an organisational psychologist and working-life explorer. He has worked in dozens of Finnish workplaces on the #Koeaika research journey and the Työkylässä series. During a year-long #Koeaika journey he visited 12 workplaces across 12 industries, followed the everyday work of hundreds of people and listened to what makes a job motivating, meaningful or unbearable. That is why he knows what hurry, frustration and a good workday actually feel like.

Jaakko is the founder of Hyvän työn foorumi (the Forum for Good Work), the author of four books on working life and the host of the Hyvä Paha Johtaminen podcast. His latest book, Ikuinen koeaika (2024), grew out of that research journey into professional self-knowledge and meaningful work. He previously contributed to Johda merkitystä, Paremman työelämän opas and Inhimillinen tehokkuus. He is also doing doctoral research at Tampere University on the meaning of work.

As a speaker, Jaakko does not hide behind slides. Stories stir emotion, research adds knowledge and concrete challenges get the audience moving. He brings together organisational psychology, fieldwork and first-hand insight into a talk that is honest without cynicism and hopeful without pep talk.

His talks fit kick-offs, staff and wellbeing days, leadership events and board or management-team sessions. Whether the topic is a sustainable working day, human leadership or the meaning of work, Jaakko leaves the audience with something to take into Monday: a new thought, a shared language and permission to make work more sustainable.