Ilokivi, Keskussairaalantie 2, 40100 Jyväskylä
Speakers 2025
Sami "Haxu" Hakala
Deputy Managing & Development Director
Topic: “Leading in a Creative Industry”
Sami Hakala is a transformation-focused leader with a career spanning IT, software, video games, music, and entertainment since 1994. My expertise lies in guiding organizations through complex change, building high-performing teams, and fostering a growth mindset. I specialize in strategic leadership, organizational development, and mentorship, helping businesses align with long-term goals while thriving in dynamic environments. Driven by sisu and continuous learning, I’m passionate about enabling teams and leaders to unlock creativity, embrace uncertainty, and achieve sustainable success.
Grace Lind
CEO
Topic: “From Billboards to Battle Buses: How Brands Win in UGC Worlds”
Grace began her career over 16 years ago, working with non-profit organizations in virtual spaces well before the metaverse became a buzzword. Her path has taken her through powerhouse AAA studios including Blizzard Entertainment and Epic Games, where she helped shape unforgettable player experiences. Today, she bridges the worlds of user-generated content (UGC), creator ecosystems, and brand innovation. She collaborates with UGC creators, influencers, and iconic IPs to develop immersive experiences across platforms like UEFN, Roblox, and beyond. Most recently, she’s helped bring to life viral and culturally relevant UGC games for Skibidi Toilet, Snoop Dogg, and Crunchyroll.
Jesse Lempiäinen
CEO | Co Founder
Topic: “Misleading Mobile Game Ads: Why They Work”
Jesse Lempiäinen, the CEO & Co-founder of Geeklab, has notably advanced the gaming industry with his innovative approach to game development and marketing. At Geeklab, Jesse and his team offer tools for launching games and acquiring players, empowering developers to refine their product strategies. Geeklab’s collaboration with prominent gaming companies like Supercell, Rovio, and Wooga underscores its impact and credibility in the industry. Jesse’s framework and Geeklab’s services provide valuable insights and methodologies to anyone enhancing understanding of mobile game marketing’s dynamic landscape.
Katharina Schmidt
Senior Business Development Manager
Topic: “Leading International Gaming Partnerships”
Katharina Schmidt is a seasoned Business Development professional at Rovio, with a focus on strategic partnerships and geographical expansion of the Angry Birds portfolio. She has a strong track record of combining creative thinking with data-driven evaluation to build impactful partnerships and is actively coaching games industry professionals on contract negotiations.
Jussi Ultima
CEO | Co Founder
Topic: “No dev like co-dev”
Namya Joshi
Minecraft Student Ambassador, Microsoft
Topic: “How Game Based learning changed my life”
Namya is a student at JAMK University of Applied Sciences. Inspired by her own motto #EachOneTeachTen, Namya spent the last six years designing and delivering free of cost coding workshops for more than 20,000 teachers, young people, especially girls, in India and all over the world, as well as empowering other young people to run their own coding clubs. She raises awareness about the social issues using game-based learning with STEM to provide solutions for the problems humanity faces. She has been honoured with many prestigious awards and serves in numerous reputable organisations as a board member and advisory member.
