Moral Ambition Summit Day 1
“Some of the greatest talents of our generation are thinking of the easiest ways to make people click on more ads.” –Jeff Hammerbacher
Year after year, the brightest minds of our generation start their careers in jobs with:
High prestige, high pay, and zero actual impact on the world’s greatest struggles.
For us, in a world that is burning, success means making a difference BEYOND maximizing growth. It means tackling our greatest problems – climate change, poverty, war, biodiversity loss.
Combining the ambition of entrepreneurs with the idealism of activists, we are looking for a way to turn the era of crises into a momentum of collective action for our future. We want to be: morally ambitious.
This spring, we ask:
- What kind of systemic change is needed to navigate this century?
- How can I create a path for meaningful change in the world?
- Where can I find hope, inspiration, and like-minded people to support me on this path?
To hear from the experts who are already making change, join us at the Moral Ambition Summit on the 4th and 5th of May 2026!
Together with experts from Demos Helsinki, Puistokatu 4, School of Moral Ambition, Kestävyyspaneeli, The Activist Agency, and multiple startup entrepreneurs, we will explore this topic and help you craft your very own morally ambitious path. We’ll help you find your role in the fight for a livable planet and society.
Don’t step up to the challenge. Leap!
Pre-event: Leading up to the Summit, we will have a reading circle of the book Moral Ambition (Rutger Bregman, 2025) on the 23rd of April at Puistokatu 4 library - more info here.
Note: The registration is separate for days 1 & 2 ! We encourage everyone to join us on both days if possible, but you may also join for one of the days only.
For more info and updates, follow us also on LinkedIn & Instagram <3
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Event schedule:
DAY 1
14:00 Opening Words
14:05 Talk: Lieve Poulis from the School of Moral Ambition
14:30 Panel discussion: Systemic change
Dr İdil Gaziulusoy, associate Professor of Sustainable Design at the Department of Design, Aalto University
Aleksi Neuvonen, PhD, co-founder of Demos Helsinki
Johanna Kentala-Lehtonen, Secretary General of the Expert Panel for Sustainable Development (Kestävyyspaneeli)
16:00 Food break
16:30 Keynote: Anni Pokela, Operaatio Arktis
17:15 Coffee break
17:30 Workshop: What is my role in systems change?
18:55 Closing words
19:00 onwards: Networking & Socializing
DAY 2
14:00 Recap Day 1
14:05 Talk: A School of Moral Ambition success story
14:30 Panel discussion: Startups as a tool for change
Miisa Mink, founding activist, The Activist Agency
Juho Makkonen, co-founder and CEO, Sharetribe, a steward-owned marketplace software
Ari Evwaraye, CEO, The Finnish Solutions Fund Effekt, a non-profit impact financing company
more panelists TBA
16:00 Food break
16:30 Workshop: Ideating for transformative startups
featuring: Woamy, Sealevä, Sharetribe, Moxworld, and other innovative companies TBA
18:30 Coffee break
18:45 Closing remarks
19:00 onwards: Socializing