Journal

International Women's Day 2026

Where It All Began – Reflections on Women's Leadership

Aino Ahlnäs, Creative Director I Kirsi Paakkari, CEO

Kalevala Jewelry was born from the initiative and desire of strong women to do good. For nearly 90 years, Kalevala Jewelry has worked to safeguard Finnish craftsmanship and cultural heritage, as well as to advance equality. Emotionally intelligent, courageous leadership and a strong set of values continue to guide everything we do.

Kalevala Jewelry came to life in the 1930s, when a group of socially engaged women wished to bring the beauty of our foremothers' jewelry within reach of modern women — and to do good in the world. They were united by values as a guiding force, determination, resilience, and the courage to push boundaries**, but also the ability to change course when needed.** Kalevala Jewelry's founder, Elsa Heporauta, was a visionary who took the brand to the 1939 New York World's Fair and talked her way into the White House to meet Eleanor Roosevelt. The First Lady took a liking to Elsa and to the jewelry gift she received, and wrote about it in her My Day column, which was syndicated in over 100 newspapers across the United States.

Aino-Mari Mecklin became the company's first CEO in a business world dominated by men. In 1963, Paula Häiväoja became the company's first female Chief Designer, transforming Finnish jewelry design in ways that feel just as relevant today.

— After Kalevala Jewelry was founded, President Kyösti Kallio suggested that men should handle the legal and business side of the company, while the emotional women should focus on the artistic side. The strong women Elsa Heporauta and Aino-Mari Mecklin boldly disagreed, and so Aino-Mari became the company's first CEO. Since then, women have led Kalevala Jewelry, and I have the honour of being the eighth CEO.

I am immensely proud of our company's history and values, and I feel truly privileged to lead a company like this. All of my predecessors have been women as well. At the same time, this carries a certain responsibility: to ensure that I, too, am helping to develop the company in a way that allows it to thrive and flourish for generations to come.

Women leaders remain a minority in the leadership of many companies. Companies have the power to advance equality through the force of example. Transparent, equitable processes and an encouraging atmosphere open doors for anyone to progress along their career path into a leadership role.

– Kirsi Paakkari, CEO

— To this day, we are women-owned — the mark of Kalevalaisten Naisten Liitto is reflected as a strong value choice. We are one of the few Finnish companies to have kept production in Finland — and in Helsinki, no less — for nearly 90 years. This enables the preservation of Finnish craftsmanship, and it is one of our competitive advantages and an important differentiator, together with the women's perspective, both
internationally and in the Japanese market.

– Paakkari

— Women's leadership at its finest is a style of leadership where emotional intelligence and the ability to understand the bigger picture from multiple perspectives lay the foundation for bold decisions, clear direction, and a shared vision. At Kalevala Jewelry, each person is valued as a whole: everyone brings their own strengths, life experiences, and perspectives. We believe that diversity makes us better and more creative. By sharing knowledge and supporting one another, we generate new innovations, growth, and impact that carries both at home and internationally.

It is truly remarkable that all of our jewelry is still made in Finland, at our own factory in Helsinki. It speaks to our values, our long-term commitment, and our sense of responsibility. At the same time, we look to the future with curiosity and ambition: we continue to develop our operations, our products, and our ways of remaining meaningful to the generations ahead. I see this wonderful brand as something we hold only in trust — and it is our duty to pass it on stronger than we received it, for the next 90 years as well.

– Aino Ahlnäs, Creative Director

International Women's Day is a moment to pause and appreciate what has been achieved, but also a reminder that equality is never a finished endeavour. It is an opportunity to thank those who came before us, to lift one another up, and to look ahead in a world where women's rights cannot be taken for granted.

As leaders and as a company, we have the ability to support the realisation of equality — not only in the business world, but in society at large. Doing good has been the very purpose of Kalevala Jewelry's existence since its founding. This year, too, we are dedicating one third of our profits to the wellbeing of our staff and to charitable causes, supporting girls and women in the most vulnerable circumstances through education at the Kalevala Training Center in Kenya. We have been funding the Kalevala Training Center
since 2020, and over five years, 642 young women have received training and the opportunity to build a better future. Education is the path to improving the rights of girls and women in the world.

We can make meaningful choices wherever it is possible to do so — and even small acts matter.

Happy International Women's Day!

Kirsi Paakkari & Aino Ahlnäs