FLIARA Ambassador Archives

Anca Veronica Marcu: Breaking Barriers and Building Futures in Rural Romania

In the heart of Transylvania lies Cojocna, a small commune of 4,300 people with a long multicultural history. It is here that Anca Veronica Marcu, the daughter of this village, is reshaping the way local leadership is understood—not just in her community, but across Romania’s rural landscape. “I think that innovation is really important,” she […]

Anca Veronica Marcu: Breaking Barriers and Building Futures in Rural Romania Read More »

Patricia Marina Toma: The Artist Who Turned a Village into a Canvas of Hope

When Patricia Marina Toma introduces herself, she doesn’t start with titles or awards. Instead, she speaks of Marin — the small village in northwest Romania where she was born in 1997 and where her life’s work continues to unfold. “I am a photographer and documentary filmmaker,” she says softly, “but most of all, I have

Patricia Marina Toma: The Artist Who Turned a Village into a Canvas of Hope Read More »

Malin Axelsson: Pioneering a Greener Future from the Heart of Småland

Tucked away in the serene forests of southern Sweden, Ödevata Gårdshotell stands as a living, breathing tribute to transformation. Once an abandoned facility with a layered past—having served as everything from a refugee camp to a penitentiary—this historic site has become a haven of sustainability, innovation, and rural reinvention. At the helm of this inspiring

Malin Axelsson: Pioneering a Greener Future from the Heart of Småland Read More »

Fields of Creativity: The Innovation Journey of Sonja Jokiranta

In the quiet village of Tiistenjoki, nestled in the Finnish municipality of Lapua, a former dancer and psychotherapist has built something extraordinary. Sonja Jokiranta, founder of Fields of Creativity (Luovuuden Lakeus), has transformed her lifelong dream of living in the countryside into a social enterprise that is reshaping lives, families, and even perceptions of what

Fields of Creativity: The Innovation Journey of Sonja Jokiranta Read More »

Isabel Sánchez Tejado: Redefining Rural Tourism with a Generative Vision

When Isabel Sánchez Tejado left behind a three-decade career in multinational corporations such as IBM and Price Waterhouse, she didn’t imagine her next chapter would be written in the quiet landscapes of Spain’s Sierra de Gredos. Yet, it was precisely there—amid mountains, traditions, and a community grappling with depopulation—that she found her purpose: to prove

Isabel Sánchez Tejado: Redefining Rural Tourism with a Generative Vision Read More »

Iva Zadražilová: Cultivating Change, Rooted in Tradition

In the rolling countryside of the Czech Republic, where the meadows brush against fields of grain and the sound of sheep bells echoes through the valleys, stands a farm that is far more than a patch of land. It is the heart of an innovation story led by a woman whose determination and vision have

Iva Zadražilová: Cultivating Change, Rooted in Tradition Read More »

From Discarded Nets to New Futures: The Story of Sarah Khoudja and CuCilento

In the sun-soaked hills of southern Italy, among olive groves and the scent of the sea, French-born innovator Sarah Khoudja has built a quiet revolution. Three years ago, after leaving behind a demanding career in Brussels as a project manager, Sarah chose a slower, more purposeful life. The result was CuCilento, a workshop where discarded

From Discarded Nets to New Futures: The Story of Sarah Khoudja and CuCilento Read More »

Anja Frey: Redefining Calf Rearing Through Innovation and Persistence

When Anja Frey speaks about her work, her voice carries a mix of determination and warmth. A farmer, value chain manager, and passionate advocate for animal welfare, she has spent more than two decades reshaping the way calves are raised on dairy farms. Today, she leads a pioneering effort in southern Germany that combines sustainable

Anja Frey: Redefining Calf Rearing Through Innovation and Persistence Read More »

Cultivating Change: How Alžbeta Nagyová is Redefining Green Farming in Czechia

In the shadow of the Ostrava-Karviná coal mine basin, where heavy industry once defined the rhythm of life, a different kind of transformation is quietly taking root. On 11 hectares of gleaming high-tech greenhouses in Dolní Lutyně, Bezdínek Ltd. is growing not only tomatoes, cucumbers, and honey but also a new vision for sustainable living

Cultivating Change: How Alžbeta Nagyová is Redefining Green Farming in Czechia Read More »

Rooted in the Forest: The Innovation Journey of Rita Porkka

In the quiet expanse of Northern Ostrobothnia in Finland, where birch forests whisper with the wind and rivers carve ancient paths, Rita Porkka has built more than a business—she has created a movement. As the CEO and founder of Naturest Ltd, Rita has turned her lifelong love of nature into a force for education, well-being,

Rooted in the Forest: The Innovation Journey of Rita Porkka Read More »

FLIARA Ambassador