IWF Finland (IWFF) is the Finnish forum of the global International Women’s Forum — a community for women leaders who want to learn from one another, strengthen their leadership, and shape the future. In 2016, Finland joined the global network that connects more than 8,400 leaders across 37 countries.
It all began in 2015 with a question: why are there still too few women in leadership positions in society? Finnish−American business influencer Kaarina Koskenalusta suggested, it was time to establish an International Women’s Forum in Finland. Based in Chicago, Kaarina proposed joining IWF because she felt there was no reason why Finnish women should miss out on this international community.
The founding members of IWF Finland were Kristiina Helenius, Tuula Honkanen-Buzalski, Kaarina Koskenalusta, Sole Molander, Elisa Nilsson, and Eeva Pinomaa. They brought IWF to Finland so that Finnish women leaders would have a place to build curated networks, gain new perspectives, and create connections across borders.
During the past ten years, IWFF has grown into a network of more than 120 members, that has brought high-level speakers to Finland, built international connections, and strengthened the impact of women leaders across different sectors.
The International Women’s Forum was originally founded in New York in 1974, when a group of courageous women wanted women leaders to have a network of their own, the opportunity to learn from one another and encourage each other to develop.
By the time Finland joined IWF, the organization was already a global player. Today, it has more than 8,400 members in 78 forums and 37 countries. Its members are leaders in business, public administration, science, and the arts — women who are shaping the world in many ways.
A requirement for joining IWF was to establish an association in Finland, which could then be admitted as one of IWF’s forums. The first half of 2016 was spent identifying new members and creating IWF’s rules for the Finnish member association. At the IWF summit held in Chicago in autumn 2016, Finland joined the international network as its 36th country.
In the early years, the forum operated in the homes, communities, and organizations of active members. This created a close-knit and intimate community, as limited resources required creative solutions to build activities.
The aim has been to strengthen the vitality of the community and grow in a managed way without compromising the quality of member activities and experience. Vitality has been reinforced by improving the member experience and increasing meaningful encounters. Each board has guided the strategy and made choices according to the circumstances and times.
During the pandemic years, IWFF — then five years old — moved its activities to digital channels, which also opened new opportunities to participate in international discussions and strengthen connections with IWF forums outside Finland. As a result, operations became even more international, and the association strengthened its position as part of the global network.
The strategy was refined in 2024–2025 in close dialogue with members. At its core, the strategy clarified IWF Finland’s mission: to connect women leaders in Finland and to advance women’s leadership today and in the future as part of the global IWF network.
At the same time, the values were defined as Unite, Uplift, and Unleash, emphasizing the power of community, supporting one another, and strengthening leadership potential.
At the beginning of 2026, IWFF had 121 members. The goal is to continue growing the membership base and diversifying the community in a controlled way, without compromising the quality criteria for membership.
Each chair of the board has developed IWFF in their own way. Shared themes have included courage, community, and building international networks, and the thought that the best insights arise in meaningful encounters.
The founding phase was built on the initiative of Kaarina Koskenalusta, and a foundation was created in Finland for a network that connects people, ideas, and international opportunities.
Founding IWF Finland was a bold move at the time. I hope that every new member and potential partner sees the value of this community.
The organization became established as a meaningful platform for encounters, and Finland was placed on IWF’s international map. Annika’s global focus turned out particularly important during the first year of the pandemic, when these bridges built turned into rich digital connections. Served as Chair for the Helsinki conference in 2023.
The exceptional period of the pandemic clarified what makes IWF Finland special: value for members, societal relevance, and even stronger international connections. My term culminated in the Cornerstone Conference held in Helsinki in 2023, when 550 women arrived in Finland from around the world, from 42 countries.
The idea of women standing side by side is just as important today as it was more than half a century ago, when IWF was founded. IWF Finland has never been only about meetings or inspiring events. Above all, it is about genuine connections and concrete, sincere support.
A new chapter strengthened the mission and international visibility: we brought the values Unite, Uplift and Unleash into everyday life, launched the Leadership Series coaching program, expanded our mentoring, and strengthened Finland’s voice in the IWF Global network.
Warm thanks to everyone who contributed to it:
Kristiina Helenius, Tuula Honkanen-Buzalski, Nina Hyvärinen, Annika Jyllilä-Vertigans, Maria Krajewska-Olkkonen, Henriikka Leppo, Marita Markkula, Sole Molander, Elisa Nilsson, Arja Suominen, Heli Thoren, Donna Welton, and Kirsi Vine-Haaparinne.
