Riikka Hietajärvi, Press Counsellor at Embassy of Finland in the U.S., with Markus Hippi, Press Counsellor at Embassy of Finland in the U.K.
For decades, Finnish diplomats have used the sauna as a unique way to bring together contacts from government, media, think tanks, and business to experience this distinctive part of Finnish culture while discussing current affairs. What started as informal gatherings was later formalized with the founding of the Diplomatic Sauna Society in Washington, DC, in 2008. The society quickly gained popularity, expanding to countries around the world. In this discussion, Press Counsellors Riikka Hietajärvi and Markus Hippi, from the Finnish embassies in the US and the UK, share insights into the powerful role of the Diplomatic Sauna Society and its growing interest across the Atlantic.
