This might be the most unusual CEO role in Finland right now.
Finland is widely seen as a society that takes care of its children and young people. And still, too many are quietly left outside. Over the past ten years, We Foundation (Me-säätiö) has existed to change that.
Founded by two co-founders of Supercell, Ilkka Paananen and Mikko Kodisoja, We Foundation works to prevent social exclusion and segregation among children and young people. We do this by focusing on free time as a powerful, often underestimated driver of belonging, well-being, and opportunity. We build new community-based models, develop rigorous impact measurement, and turn evidence into action that shapes funding, policy, and public debate.
Now, we’re entering a new chapter.
We have defined our focus for the next decade, clarified our strategy, and raised our ambition. We’re looking for a CEO who wants to turn this direction into lived reality, in Finland and beyond.
Our direction for the next decade
Our long-term purpose is clear. We want to help ensure that no child or young person is left behind.
Our strategy focuses on meaningful free time as a way to strengthen belonging and prevent social exclusion. It rests on three pillars.
1. Reinventing how belonging is built
We develop and scale innovative community programs and free time activities for children and young people. We work hands on with partners to find new ways to reduce exclusion where it happens.
2. Data, insight, and influence
We use data to decide what works — and to redirect money, policy, and attention accordingly.
3. Changing the conversation and the outcomes
We invest in strong communication to bring evidence, lived experience, and solutions into public conversation. We aim to be a trusted reference point for decision makers in Finland and internationally.
These pillars are supported by a foundation of long-term thinking, measurable action, collaboration, team diversity, and a willingness to take thoughtful risks.
As CEO, you will hold this whole picture and help it move.
The role
As CEO of We Foundation, you will lead a decade-old organization into its next phase of growth and relevance. You’ll work at the intersection of research, operations, policy, funding, and public conversation.
You will:
- Own and drive the foundation’s overall strategy and operations, ensuring clear priorities, effective execution, and sustained momentum.
- Lead and develop two small, high-performing teams working on:
- community-based operations and programmes, and
- data-informed advocacy and policy impact.
- Define and steer the foundation’s research agenda on social inclusion and exclusion, funding models, and measurable societal impact.
- Shape and execute engagement with the public sector, working closely with policymakers, ministries, municipalities, and relevant agencies.
- Build and maintain strong partnerships with nonprofits, foundations, researchers, and mission-aligned founders.
- Collaborate closely with communications and public affairs to increase visibility, inform public debate, and support evidence-based advocacy.
- Act as a public representative of the foundation in Finland and internationally, articulating its mission, insights, and impact.
Strategic focus
- Short term: Build and operationalise a clear agenda for how free time activities, community-building, and preventive work can be used to reshape society in practice.
- Long term: Our vision is to turn this work into global benchmarks for how free time activities can foster belonging and help prevent segregation.
Who we are looking for
We’re looking for a person with depth, courage, and curiosity.
You might be right for this role if you:
- Hold a relevant university degree (e.g. social sciences, public policy, education, economics, law, or a related field), and bring at least 5 years of relevant leadership experience in building, scaling, or transforming organisations or initiatives.
- Care deeply about children, young people, and social inclusion — and are motivated to turn values into concrete action and results.
- Understand how public sector systems work, including policy processes, funding logic, and decision-making — and know how to navigate them pragmatically.
- Are comfortable working across sectors, bringing together government, municipalities, nonprofits, researchers, entrepreneurs, and funders to get things done.
- Thrive in an entrepreneurial environment where things are created from scratch, tested in practice, iterated, and improved over time.
- Are willing and able to be visible and vocal, representing the work publicly, engaging in debate, and shaping narratives through media and public forums.
- Can move seamlessly between big-picture strategy and hands-on execution, without losing momentum or quality.
- Lead people with clarity, trust, and warmth, and enjoy building small, high-performing teams around a shared mission.
- Communicate fluently in Finnish and English (spoken and written).
Why this role matters
This is a rare opportunity to:
- Lead a one-of-a-kind foundation with strong backing, real freedom to act, and a clear mandate to make things better.
- Redefine how free time, belonging, and inclusion are understood, funded, and valued in society.
- Influence policy, funding, and decision-making at local, national, and international levels.
- Work alongside a deeply committed, ambitious team that genuinely wants to change how things are done.
- Build something meaningful and durable, projects that outlives projects, headlines, and funding cycles.
If you’re motivated by long-term societal change and want a role where your work is both visible and meaningful, we would love to hear from you.
How to apply
If this role resonates with you, we’d love to hear from you. Please send your resumé and tell us why this opportunity feels right for you via email to careers@illusian.org by the end of February.
If you’d like to learn more before applying, you’re very welcome to have a chat with our board chair, Saara-Sofia Siren, tel. 050 513 2015 on 9.2.2026 at 10-12 or board member Sirkku Soini, tel. 040 70 222 94 on 6.2.2026 at 14-16. They can provide additional context and answer questions about the role, the foundation, and what we’re building.
Please submit your application by February 20th.