Arto Sivonen: A Remode Journey

Welcome to Arto Sivonen’s ongoing journey with #Remode: founder of Måndag, a marketing designer and an urban activist. ❤

What does a "A Learning Journey with Real Impact" mean to you?
“It means that we set out to learn together and not stick to the belief that we ourselves know everything. It means that we have to dare to question our own thinking and be able to listen. Through learning together we make sure that we stay up to date with the latest information, also in the future. It means also that we will aim for maximum impact, ways that genuinely matter and have the biggest possible effect on society. We don’t greenwash or whitewash, we actually do.”

What is the biggest surprise from your Remode journey so far?
“How similar things we want from life all around the world. Of course this was known, but it always manages to surprise you in the middle of the practicalities of getting work done. Another thing that makes me positively surprised is when you find an agency with such a strong drive for change. I’ve been looking for this from Finland for years, usually with quite poor results. And now the right partners were found from Kenya and Nigeria. We have things to learn in Finland in this area.”

Why would you recommend Remode as a personal growth experience?
“First of all, I definitely recommend it. There’s a lot of know-how in the Nordics that’s worth sharing. There are massive amounts of know-how in the African continent that we should learn from. Many forms of collaboration have existed for a long time, but often the problem has been the lack of genuine cooperation. Remode is a great opportunity to step on a journey of personal growth while building new sustainable entrepreneurship between the North and the South.”

“Along with environmental work Måndag is strongly tied in advancing human rights, in Finland and in different parts of the world. It is still the case that human rights issues are distanced way too far from environmental issues, even if these should be addressed as one. Companies have difficulties in adhering to human rights issues because they are political and more difficult to measure. It is easier to campaign for a single climate action. Nevertheless, they need to be addressed immediately. This way we are also able to combat the climate crisis effectively. This fight is now ongoing in different parts of the world simultaneously, so it pays off to build close-knit collaboration as early as possible. Not just within your own company and your customers, but also with competitors and people who disagree with you.”


Learn more about Arto and the inspiring work of Måndag: where creativity, marketing, journalism, activism and action meet and merge. ➡https://www.mandag.fi/⬅

Looking for your next personal growth step and building stronger partnerships between the African continent and the Nordics? Welcome to Remode! 🌍

Stefan Carrizo