people

Otto Tähkäpää

Specialist, Foresight and Training

Who?

Otto Tähkäpää works as a Foresight Specialist for Sitra. He believes that a better planet-sized future is possible, but that we must first be able to imagine it. This requires all of us, which is why Otto considers it important to promote future-oriented thinking and the democratising futures.

What?

Before becoming a futurist, Otto worked as a researcher of environmental and social science history. He feels at home approaching the past and future of human-kind from a birds-eye perspective. Otto came to Sitra from the Futures School, which he founded. He has also worked for Ellun Kanat as an advisor in questions related to the future.

In his work, Otto is especially focused on the development of future-oriented thinking and competencies of individuals of various ages and different types of organisations. Due to his background, he is especially interested in ecologically sustainable future and the futures of learning, education and Bildung.

What else?

Otto likes to spend his leisure time outdoors running, cycling and skiing. He also enjoys good literature and art exhibitions. Otto also engages with the future in his leisure time. He was one of the founders of the event Futures Day and has written a non-fiction book for children on researching futures.