Inspiration Instead of Emptiness

It is not uncommon to feel a certain emptiness after a major effort or undertaking. However, following the recent EUEW Business Convention hosted in our hometown Helsinki, that feeling has been replaced in my mind with lasting inspiration.

I am genuinely pleased that the EUEW Board and Office had the courage and vision to deviate from the traditional format of hosting everything under a single congress hotel roof. Instead, participants were welcomed to several distinct venues across the city — each offering a unique setting to engage with the programme and experience the flavours of Finnish cuisine. These choices allowed our participants and partners to appreciate elements of Finland’s architectural heritage and to encounter glimpses of our history. I sincerely hope these impressions will serve as an invitation for many to return to Finland, whether for business or leisure.

I am grateful to our Headline Partner – ABB, who demonstrated sustainability in practice during the field trip to their Porvoo factory. My sincere thanks also go to our Main Partners – LEDVANCE and Signify, who provided valuable food for thought during the panel discussion.

Naturally, I find myself reflecting: did I succeed in encouraging enough representatives from our 111 member companies to take part in the event — especially when it was finally being held on our home ground? Many of us are accustomed to trade fairs where we participate as buyers or sellers of solutions and products. Conventions, on the other hand, offer something more intangible: inspiration, the sharing of ideas, and meaningful opportunities to build networks. These benefits often reveal themselves over time rather than immediately.

It is worth asking — both within Finland and at the level of the EUEW Board — whether we are able enough to communicate to the companies within our networks what conventions like this can truly offer. Do we clearly convey what to expect, and on the other hand in which ways it would be beneficial to approach these events in order to maximise their value?

In light of the spontaneous feedback and the atmosphere throughout the event, I believe we have taken a meaningful step forward. The challenge and the opportunity now lie in continuing to build upon this momentum for doing more prosperous business while building a more electrified future.