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Flow Talks: All Inclusive AI & Design with Tieto 

  • SAT 15.8.

Most barriers are invisible. Until we choose to see them. Inclusion is not an easy term, and it means different things to different people. But in a world where AI is rapidly reshaping how we work and make decisions, the question becomes more important than ever: who gets included, and how?

In this Tieto’s Flow Talks session, we explore the intersection of AI, design, and inclusion. How can we create services, systems and experiences that truly serve diverse users, and not just the average? And how can we recognize and remove invisible barriers in everyday life?

The discussion brings together inclusivity, design and technology experts, with insights from a unique perspective and experiences. We will also reveal the winner of Inclusive Design competition organized by Young Finnish Design, Inklusiiv, Flow Festival and Tieto.

We invite you to make inclusivity tangible, and to remove invisible barriers for everyone.

Jani Toivola, social influencer, actor, and author

Jani Toivola is a well-known social influencer, actor, and author. He is also Finland’s first Black Member of Parliament (2011-2019). Jani graduated as an actor from HB Acting Studio in New York. Jani Toivola has explored themes of identity, parenthood, and masculinity in his books, and has also published a popular children’s book series since 2021. Jani’s extensive experience in societal influence, combined with his expertise in art and culture, is unparalleled.

Rayene Bech Senior AI Engineer, Tieto Tech Consulting

Rayene is a Senior AI Engineer working at the intersection of language technologies and real-world applications. Her work focuses on building AI systems that serve people across different cultures, languages, and everyday contexts – from healthcare and legal tech to banking and customer services.

Having shipped products used by diverse audiences, Rayene brings a practical perspective to inclusive AI: systems are only successful if they are understandable, accessible, representative and trustworthy for the people who rely on them. This has shaped her approach to development, where inclusivity is not an afterthought but a core design principle.

Alongside her engineering work, Rayene is actively involved in AI education. She has led learning initiatives within organizations and volunteered her time to run workshops for students and women, helping broaden access to AI knowledge and careers. She is particularly interested in how we can make AI development more representative, both in the people who build it and those it serves.

Teemu Roos, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Helsinki

Teemu Roos is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Helsinki, Leader of the AI Education program at the Finnish Center for AI (FCAI). He has published over 80 peer-reviewed articles on statistical machine learning, its applications in areas such as astrophysics, neuroscience, and epidemiology, and AI education. Roos is also the lead instructor of the Elements of AI course that has over 2.1M users worldwide and has been rated as the world’s best computer science online course.

Katharina Schmidt, Senior Business Development Manager at Rovio and artist

Katharina Schmidt leads Business Development at Rovio, driving global partnerships that expand the reach of the iconic Angry Birds brand. Focusing on cross-media collaboration and market growth, she crafts complex deals that bridge creative vision with business goals – from bringing slingshot games to TV screens to driving partnerships in China. Equity and inclusion are central to her approach and guide everything she does. As a passionate gamer and startup mentor, she is dedicated to spotting the next big trends in entertainment. Outside the office, Katharina is a contemporary painter focusing on multidisciplinary topics and has held multiple gallery exhibitions in Helsinki.

Petra Tarkkala Head of Design, Tieto Tech Consulting Finland

For Petra Tarkkala, design is not just a job, but a way of thinking. As a digital designer and leader, she believes the best solutions emerge where creativity, curiosity, and clear thinking meet, and that the role of design is to make the world more usable, inclusive, and more human. She combines strong design expertise with the ability to build teams where both people and ideas can grow. Petra’s work is defined by empathy, clarity, and high standards, along with a drive to create solutions that genuinely matter — especially in services and experiences used by diverse groups of people.

Katja Toropainen, CEO, Inklusiiv & Women in Tech Finland

Katja has over a decade of experience helping international leadership teams turn cultural, linguistic, and generational differences into stronger team performance. She works with executives, boards and HR leaders across the public and private sectors on how culture, inclusion and leadership connect to business results, and is a sought-after speaker and trainer for corporate audiences. She has been selected twice to the Nordic 100 list of influential Nordic tech leaders and featured on Tivi’s Top 100 IT influencers in Finland for six consecutive years.