We speak with the Founder & CEO of Inklusiiv for our Inspirational Female Entrepreneurs series…

In recognition of International Women’s Day we’ve been speaking with the women who have used their time at business school to become trailblazers – unleashing their entrepreneurial superpowers to make a change in their industries and the world around them.

Katja Toropainen, is the Founder & CEO of Inklusiiv – a start-up with a solid moral focus, an ambitious vision for the future and an impressive global reach. Utilising her expertise in technology, her status on the Helsinki start-up scene and an MSc Business and Economics from Aalto University School of Business, Katja, along with her colleagues at Inklusiiv, are creating a more diverse, inclusive and business landscape.

What does your startup do?

Inklusiiv is a global DEI consultancy helping organisations build more diverse, inclusive and equitable workplaces. We equip our clients with the knowledge, tools and strategic support to build better workplaces where people can thrive. So far we have worked with 150+ companies with employees across Europe, Asia, America, Latin America, and Oceania.

What inspired you to start your business?

As a part of Slush‘s leadership team (Slush is a big startup and tech event held annually in Helsinki, Finland), I led the task of enticing founders and investors from global hotspots like Silicon Valley, London, and Tokyo to join us in Helsinki for the tech event. These conversations opened my eyes to the pervasive challenges faced by underrepresented groups in the industry.

At first, I built a community through volunteers to kick off discussions around DEI topics in Finland. But quickly I realised, people and organisations needed more than just inspiration; they needed the equipment, data, tools, goals, and accountability necessary to drive real DEI change. And so Inklusiiv, a DEI consultancy, was founded.

How has business school helped your life as an entrepreneur?

Studying at Aalto University School of Business wasn’t just about textbooks and lectures; it opened doors to Slush and now Inklusiiv, and gave the seeds to build my own network. The multidisciplinary studies also taught me to think outside the box and equipped me with the technical prowess needed to navigate the digital landscape of modern business.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in the early stages of building your business, and how did you overcome them?

The business world in Finland was not ready for diversity & inclusion work when we started. We encountered absurd challenges such as the inability to open a bank account due to scepticism about the nature of our venture. Our early sales calls, we found ourselves educating prospects on what diversity and inclusion means, rather than directly selling our DEI services.

“…People and organisations needed more than just inspiration; they needed the equipment, data, tools, goals, and accountability necessary to drive real DEI change…”

– Katja Toropainen – Founder & CEO of Inklusiiv

Despite these initial hurdles, we have laid the groundwork for the transformative changes we’ve witnessed in Finland’s business landscape over the past five years.

As a female entrepreneur, have you encountered any unique obstacles or biases in your entrepreneurial journey? How did you navigate them?

When I founded Inklusiiv, diversity topics were a neglected topic in the business world, even advisers cautioning me against pursuing it. Their warnings proved prescient as I encountered public backlash from influential figures in the business world. Additionally, some dismissed our advocacy for DEI as a mere hobby, failing to recognise its business potential. Thankfully, times have changed. 

What advice would you give to other women who are considering starting their own businesses?

For aspiring women entrepreneurs, my advice is to seek out diverse role models beyond your immediate surroundings. Despite the lack of diverse local representation, I found inspiration by connecting with women entrepreneurs globally, thanks to my role at Slush. That majorly contributed to my realisation that entrepreneurship could be something meant for me.

So, if you’re hesitating, don’t worry – there’s a lot of women entrepreneurs in different places and it might just take some extra work to find supportive entrepreneur peers.

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