Afa’s journey is marked by a unique blend of high-stakes motorsport experience and strategic business development in technology. As a former motorsport team Principal with nearly 20 years in Formula racing, he achieved significant successes, including five European championship titles and numerous national wins, underpinned by a focus on speed, precision, and teamwork.
Afa shapes Younite's strategic directions, working closely with the executive team to push the limits of AI-driven technologies and digital solutions, with a focus on practical applications like digital twins and immersive XR experiences. His personal drive is reflected in his motto, "speed and quality," emphasizing Younite's commitment to agile, impactful solutions that deliver top-tier results.
Laura leverages her deep expertise in leadership and organizational strategy to keep Younite’s AI and digital transformation initiatives on track. Her role is multi-dimensional, focusing on aligning the company’s strategic goals and ensuring that operations run smoothly. Laura manages internal operations, facilitates cross-functional collaboration, and strengthens Younite’s external relations, particularly in AI-powered digital twins and smart city solutions.
Her leadership is crucial for translating Younite's mission into actionable projects, guiding both team-centered initiatives and external partnerships to enhance the company's impact in its industry.
Mikael is a technology-driven finance and operations leader. With over two decades of experience in various roles both in Finland and internationally, Häkkilä has built a diverse career in the software business. His journey has included hands-on work, project and initiative management, as well as technology leadership. Over the past decade, he has transitioned into senior operational and financial leadership roles, all while staying connected to his technological roots.
Mikael is a firm believer in the power of technology and its potential to transform businesses. He integrates technology into his role, continuously seeking ways to leverage artificial intelligence and innovative solutions to enhance decision-making, create actionable insights, and drive business development. Häkkilä advocates for using technology boldly and without preconceived limitations in daily operations. He sees its potential to unlock opportunities, whether in operational activities, financial management, or everyday tasks. Having witnessed Younite's growth from its inception, Mikael takes honor in being part of the journey that has shaped the company into what it is today.
Ella applies her strong background in strategic business and service design to lead the development of AI-based solutions that drive transformative impact for clients. With experience spanning biotechnology, construction, and maritime industries, Ella brings a broad and insightful perspective to her work in technology, enabling her to effectively bridge diverse industry needs with cutting-edge digital solutions. She nurtures digital business concepts from initial ideas through to commercialization, ensuring that every solution is both innovative and aligned with market needs.
An experienced facilitator and coach, Ella excels at fostering collaboration and identifying key business pain points, guiding her team to address these areas with technology as a strategic driver. She is well-versed in methodologies such as design thinking, agile, and lean startup, which she integrates throughout the entire product lifecycle—from conceptualization and customer validation to prototype development and defining the minimum viable product (MVP).
John McGarry, CEO North America. John is a dynamic leader in marketing and technology with extensive global experience. John spearheads the company’s expansion across the region, driving innovation and cultivating meaningful relationships with clients and teams. He fosters a culture of curiosity and creativity, attracting top international talent and fostering an environment conducive to groundbreaking ideas. He oversees cross-functional teams in the U.S. and Finland, delivering AI-driven software solutions and immersive experiences for prominent clients like Ford Motor Company and Bedrock Detroit.
As Chief Digital Officer & Partner at mcgarrybowen, John pioneered a transformative digital practice that significantly increased revenue and expanded the agency's capabilities globally. By integrating digital strategy, marketing, PR, product development, and media planning and buying, his leadership played a pivotal role in mcgarrybowen's recognition as "Agency of the Year" and its subsequent acquisition by Dentsu Inc. John also founded 2MRW, a consultancy focused on creativity, product innovation, and data-driven experiences. After merging 2MRW with Drumroll, he served as Chief Growth Officer, redefining the agency's vision, driving substantial client growth, and facilitating its successful acquisition by Bond.
John’s career is defined by his strategic vision, technological innovation, and unwavering commitment to driving transformative business growth.
David leads the creative vision at Younite with a firm belief that creativity can come from anyone, making it part of the fabric of the organization and not a department. His work is driven by embracing new technologies and pushing innovative thinking. This has resulted in many accolades including a Time Magazine Invention of the Year. He also served as practice lead for the LABS group at mcgarrybowen, a Dentsu agency, where he led a team dedicated to the exploration of new and emerging technologies and their impact on the marketing landscape.
David has 30 years of experience at some of the most recognizable advertising and digital marketing companies, and has worked on clients as wide-ranging as MasterCard, Kraft Foods, Nestlé Water, Maserati, J.P. Morgan Chase, and the National Gallery of Art, to name just a few.
Over two decades of experience in product design and strategy, delivering user-centric, scalable digital products for global brands including Adidas, Etihad Airways, Microsoft, Rolls-Royce Marine, Liverpool FC, and Tommy Hilfiger. Known for a hands-on leadership style and a track record of uniting cross-functional teams to create impactful digital experiences.
Lauri specializes in aligning product strategy with emerging technologies to tackle complex challenges and deliver engaging digital products that meet business goals and delight users. An expert at collaboration, he brings cross functional teams and clients together to reach common goals.
Previously, led design at Reaktor Amsterdam, where he established the design studio and led global initiatives across industries.
Markku is a seasoned technology leader and Chief Technology Officer at Younite. With over 20 years of experience, he specializes in designing and delivering AI-enforced solutions across industries, including healthcare, workforce management, logistics, financial services, consumer products, and manufacturing. His expertise lies in aligning business needs with cutting-edge technologies to create innovative and scalable technical architectures.
At Younite, Markku leads technology development and oversees AI-enforced customer projects. Notable achievements include building a scalable workforce management ERP for Eezy and designing an AI-driven caregiver-job matching system for CareConnect LLC. His prior roles include directing software development at Spent, managing product development and platform architecture at Telrock, and designing healthcare system architecture for the City of Oulu. At Nokia, he led the architecture for Mobile Financial Services, driving innovation in financial-grade systems.
Markku holds a Bachelor of Technology in Automation Engineering from the University of Applied Sciences Oulu. Passionate about leveraging AI and emerging technologies, he is dedicated to solving complex challenges and driving growth in dynamic industries.
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