#11 Sam Leijonanmieli - Understanding Togetherness & Strengthening The Nordic Countryside

Our community influences every element of our life. We have communities in our municipalities, countries, countrysides, and overall, as Nordic people- we are a community ourselves.

The point is: We are brought together by a sense of belonging, despite our differences or individualities.

It can provide us with possibilities to interact with others, to achieve our objectives, or even to feel protected and secure. A healthy community must have a feeling of community that encompasses spirit, character, image, and pride. And that’s what we’ll talk about today with our friend Sam!

As mayor, Sam’s goal is to bring dedication, cooperation and be a part of something bigger than ourselves. That said, unanimity toward a single objective is what makes a community powerful.

About Our Guest: Sam Leijonanmieli
When Sam Leijonanmieli turned 28 years old, he became the proud Mayor of a small Finnish town called Vimpeli, the World Capital of Nordic Baseball. Before he became Mayor, Sam had a solid military background from the Finnish Defence Forces. He has experience serving in multiple different officer positions in the Finnish Army Special Forces and Finnish Navy, where he has learned his strong leadership skills and the ability to adapt even when under the most demanding circumstances. He also has a Master’s degree in Diplomacy, experience as an entrepreneur focusing on the Asia education business. He has a GC degree in State Security and Strategy from Hawaii Pacific University. Today, Sam continues to inspire and lead Vimpeli with passion and loyalty.

In this episode, we talked about:
Who is Sam Leijonanmieli (0:27-7:49)
Why do most Nordic people undermine potential in the countryside? (7:51-15:47)
Family Talk: Surnames and Life Stories (15:55-17:27)
A conversation about communities, leadership, and togetherness (18:36-25:12)
Why are there so many municipalities in Finland? (26:02-29:58)
The importance of “Identity” and cultivating one’s talents (30:02-41:03)
Old and young people in the space of leadership & learning (42:13-53:12)

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Contact Sam Leijonanmieli!
• LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sami-gustafsson-007/

• Twitter
https://twitter.com/sleijonanmieli