SHIFT Business Festival shared the recipe for success at work: Be on time, call back, don't lie
Organized for the 11th time, the event has established itself as one of Southwest Finland's most important networking events.
The sold-out SHIFT Business Festival 2026 gathered nearly 3,000 attendees, more than 120 partners, and a diverse lineup of top speakers at Turku Science Park on Thursday, May 28, to discuss success, growth, and the future of work. Organized for the 11th time, the event has established itself as one of Southwest Finland’s most important networking events.
This year’s edition of SHIFT Business Festival was bigger, more diverse, and more engaging than ever before. The event featured an impressive lineup of business leaders, creative thinkers, and future-oriented visionaries. SHIFT offered vibrant networking opportunities, packed audiences, and a record number of partner-led program sessions.
"SHIFT is a platform for success. We want to help you succeed — so be surprised, meet new people, and do business," encouraged SHIFT CEO Carita Varjonen during the opening remarks.
The event’s patron, Turku Mayor Piia Elo, emphasized the importance of businesses for the city’s future.
Follow us on: 
"When companies succeed, the city succeeds. When people dare to try something new, the city evolves," she said.
Elo highlighted that Turku has growth energy, strong expertise, and the courage to reinvent itself.
"Turku believes in the future."
"Enough with the negativity"
This year’s overarching SHIFT theme was success, explored through perspectives such as data-driven leadership, internationalization, and community building.
Among the keynote speakers was Sanna Suvanto-Harsaae, voted Finland’s most influential business decision-maker seven times. She encouraged companies to pursue growth boldly.
"Enough with the negativity. Let’s focus on how we can grow our businesses and our lives," she said, promising to share "a couple of ideas" on how to achieve that.
Suvanto-Harsaae encouraged businesses to learn from others — including international companies — and boldly adopt best practices. She also urged entrepreneurs to seek multiple alternative solutions instead of focusing on just one.
"Sometimes the best result comes from combining three to five ideas instead of searching for one perfect answer," she explained.
Finally, she reminded entrepreneurs of the importance of courageous pricing, especially in challenging economic times.
"If a company doesn’t grow, it only has one option: it dies," Suvanto-Harsaae summarized.
Stay close to your customers
"Potential customers are not interested in your product or service — they are interested in themselves. They care about how you can help them and make their lives better," said brand and marketing strategist Toni Lähde during his session.
Lähde encouraged companies to abandon abstract target-group thinking and instead ask customers why they choose their company. According to him, that is how businesses can identify what truly makes them unique and build stronger brands.
The same message was echoed by one of SHIFT’s most anticipated speakers, Lars-Johan Jarnheimer, who has more than 40 years of experience in multinational companies. His core message was that businesses must stay close to their customers if they want to succeed.
Jarnheimer shared that IKEA’s management works directly in customer-facing roles for one week every year, recommending the same approach to other companies.
"You get the best understanding of your business through customer service," he said.
He also encouraged companies to move faster, become more agile, eliminate unnecessary meetings, and let go of "sacred cows" — outdated beliefs that slow down progress.
Jarnheimer concluded by sharing four simple rules for succeeding in working life:
"Be on time. Call back. Don’t lie. And don’t park in customers’ parking spots — because small things always matter."
Held annually, SHIFT is the most significant networking event in Southwest Finland, bringing together experts, entrepreneurs, executives, and decision-makers from multiple industries to create new partnerships and identify opportunities for growth.
The event’s national appeal was also reflected in the attendee profile: nearly one-third of participants traveled from the Helsinki metropolitan area.
This year’s main partners included the City of Turku, Turku Technology Properties, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Business Turku, Rajupaja, Mama Creative, Restaurant Mauno, Tallink Silja, and Sandvik.
SHIFT Business Festival is Turku’s largest business event, bringing together companies and organizations from different sectors to provide insights into the present and future. The first SHIFT was organized in 2016. The event is organized by SHIFT Events Oy, owned by Turku Technology Properties Ltd and SHIFT Association.