impact

We Create Tangible Outcomes for People and Society


727

New Employments from Career Programs & Coaching


81

New Businesses from Entrepreneurship Programs & Coaching

vision & mission

We envision a Finland where talent isn’t limited by background — where everyone, regardless of origin, has the opportunity to participate, contribute, and lead with purpose.

As a hub for change, The Shortcut empowers this transformation by enabling a more inclusive, diverse, and future-ready workforce.

We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to contribute to society, regardless of origin. Our programs are designed to support international talents in overcoming barriers to employment and entrepreneurship, thereby fostering a more inclusive and diverse Finnish workforce.

Values

We Operate with Unwavering Core Values

Community

We’re stronger together.

Through collaboration, co-creation, and shared experience, we build something bigger than ourselves.

Support

We uplift each other.

Growth isn’t linear, and we’re here for every step of the journey.

Focus

We act with intention andintegrity.

We focus on lasting impact, not short-term optics.

Openness

We create space for all voices.

Our strength is in our diversity – of culture, thought, and perspective.

our story

How We Got Started

2016

The Beginning

The Shortcut was founded under Maria 01 to respond to the disconnect between international talent and Finnish working life.

2017-2020

Programs

We piloted programs in entrepreneurship, digital skills, and community learning — with a strong grassroots base.

2021

Independence

The Shortcut became an independent not-for-profit organization with its own board and governance.

2025

Rebrand

We now play a key role in national talent attraction and retention conversations.

A rebrand is launched to reflect a dual commitment: empowering individuals and enabling systems change for Finland’s future.

Our Past Projects

Työ-SIB Career Coaching (2021-2025)
Työ-SIB is a coaching program commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and coordinated by S-Pankki and the Finnish unemployment offices. Through this program The Shortcut has helped 770+ long-term unemployed international talents during the years 2021-2025 with the employability rate of 40-55%.
The KAVOT Project
(2023-2024)
The KAVOT Project (Kansainvälistä Osaamista Työelämään) was a cooperation with the cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa, the Helsinki Chamber of Commerce and the University of Helsinki, and funded by Uudenmaanliitto. The goal of the project was to encourage companies in Uusimaa to hire their first international talents.
Career Coaching for Internationals in Rauma (2024)
This free intensive coaching program aimed to guide participants to the Finnish job market and give them a taste of the first entrepreneurial steps in the Rauma region. This program is a collaboration of The Shortcut and International House Rauma, and was made possible by the City of Rauma, Satakunnan Ely-keskus, and TE-keskus.
Azure for Ukrainians (2023)
Together with Microsoft and the Ukrainian Association in Finland, we wanted to support Ukrainian asylum seekers to learn high in-demand skills by providing hands-on-training that enables them to find a job in the industry.
AWS re/start (2022-2023)
AWS re/Start was a free, full-time skills development program to jump-start a career working in cloud computing. AWS re/Start and The Shortcut have teamed up to offer this hybrid program in Helsinki.