Professional Speaking

Why does boredom feel so unbearable? Is boredom simply the absence of stimulation — or does it reveal something deeper about how we live? This meetup explores boredom not as a minor inconvenience, but as a philosophical problem connected to meaning, desire, work, technology, loneliness, and the search for fulfillment. In a world full of entertainment and constant distraction, why do so many people still feel restless and unsatisfied? Together we will discuss questions such as: * Is boredom a personal problem or a social one? * Can a meaningful life still contain boredom? * Why do comfort and entertainment often fail to satisfy us? * Does boredom push us toward growth — or toward escape? * What does boredom reveal about modern life? No philosophical background is needed. The goal is open, thoughtful discussion rather than academic debate. Come curious, reflective, skeptical — or simply bored. Description by ChatGPT

Learning Finnish in Finland can be difficult because Finns tend to switch to English. That is one of the reasons people like our Finnish language café: you get to practice Finnish with Finns :) The events are completely free and there is always a native speaker to facilitate the conversation and to help find the right words. The coffee is good too ☕😋🇦🇹 Tervetuloa! When? ⏰ Usually Tuesday to Friday from 15:00 - 16:00 Where? 📍 In a cozy Viennese coffee house: The Good Coffee Company, Eerikinkatu 33, Helsinki The Good Coffee Company A Taste of Vienna 🇦🇹 Eerikinkatu 33, 00180 Helsinki Please visit our Facebook page for updates and changes: https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodCoffeeCompany/events

Pay the **5 € board gaming fee** to the bar at the counter when you arrive. You must be at least 18 years old to enter [Arkade](https://www.arkade.fi/). We play in English and the game rules are taught before starting play, unless everyone is already familiar with the game. No previous experience with board gaming required. Despite our RSVP numbers here on Meetup, we almost always have at least 20 people participating weekly. The venue has a great board game library, the host and other players usually bring their own games too: our selection varies weekly. We're a very casual group so you're welcome to arrive early or late and join whatever game is starting up, there is no attendance tracking, or welcoming process. The bar has alcoholic drinks, mocktails, and soft drinks available as well as some snack foods. They've been okay with people ordering food to the bar with meal delivery services. If you are feeling sick, please stay home.

Here’s an opportunity to learn Swedish over a good cup of coffee or tea ☕😋🇦🇹 for free! The events are free and there is always a native speaker to facilitate the conversation and to help find the right words. In addition, we offer free (yes, free) coffee, tea, and biscuits to participants! På svenska, men på olika sätt Att prata med folk på café kan vara både nöje och utmaning. Hos oss serverar vi kaffe med mycket glädje och inspiration. Tillsammans lyssnar, pratar, läser, berättar eller skriver vi nyfiket och glatt oavsett om du har den finlandssvenska kulturen redan i blodet eller vill bekanta dig med den. Vi erbjuder deltagarna gratis kaffe eller te med lite tilltugg. When? ⏰ Usually Thursdays at 16:00 Where? 📍 In a cozy Viennese café: The Good Coffee Company, Eerikinkatu 33, Helsinki Välkommen! **The Good Coffee Company** **A Taste of Vienna 🇦🇹** Eerikinkatu 33, 00180 Helsinki Please visit our Facebook Page for updates and changes: **[https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodCoffeeCompany/events](https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodCoffeeCompany/events)**

**CSI: provisioning strategies** Storage solutions & constraints, what CSI can deliver and how it affects applications running in k8s. Specifically we can talk about Ceph, it's k8s management (rook), and CephFS vs. RBD storage. Snapshots, thin provisioning, data redundancy (replicated vs. erasurecoded). **CNI: how to plan own IPAM implementation** IP address management strategies, how it works in different CNIs and how it affects kubernetes cluster and application architecture.

**This event is aimed at mid- to senior-level women in cybersecurity. Sign up through the waiting list and we will review all sign ups and send confirmation emails manually.Signing up on Meetup does not guarantee a spot. Confirmation emails means a spot secured.** This event brings together mid‑senior women in cyber to explore how our thinking evolves over time: the shift from execution to perspective, from technical depth to strategic influence, and from learning the rules to understanding when they must be bent. Please note that we can accommodate dietary restrictions for those who get a spot by 22.05.2026. However, due to some constraints, we may not be able to make special food arrangements for those who get a spot after this date. We appreciate your understanding. **Agenda** 17.00-18.00: Doors open, dinner and drinks will be served 18:00-19.00:Talk by Laura Kankaala - “FAFO (F\*\*\* Around and Find Out)” From 19.00: Open discussion and networking Our speaker, Laura Kankaala will share insights shaped by real world experience, including: • How mindset and priorities change after several years in the field • Mistakes that became turning points • Balancing expertise with influence • What she wish she had known earlier in her career • How seasoned professionals build authority and perspective **Laura Kankaala** works as Head of Threat Intelligence at F-Secure. She specialises in understanding the latest scams, hacks, malware and fraudulent behaviours in cyber crime and current threats that affect everyday internet users. Her background primarily lies in offensive security - ethical hacking. She's also known for her appearance in Finnish hacking TV documentary Team Whack. After the talk, we’ll continue the conversation at the tables with open, honest, experience driven discussions among peers who understand the weight and complexity of this work. This evening is designed to recognise and celebrate the women who are shaping security, not just implementing it. We see you. We value your expertise. And we hope you’ll join us for a gathering built for women like you. **We have a no-show policy** If you are not able to participate and do not cancel, you will not be allowed to participate in upcoming W4CFI events for the next six months. **Photos and social media** Please note that pictures from the event will be shared in our social media channels. You can opt-out from being photographed at the event.

Step away from everyday noise and reconnect with yourself through the **calming world of MANDALA.** Mandala is a therapeutic art form that encourages **relaxation, focus, mindfulness, and creativity**. This **beginner-friendly** guided workshop is designed for small-group experience. **Only 10 spots available. Free event. No prior art experience is needed.** Basic materials will be provided. You’re also welcome to bring your own colored pens. Join us for a cozy afternoon of slow art, mindful creativity, and relaxed conversations in a warm café setting.

Tervetuloa mukaan Sahaja Jooga -meditaatiotilaisuuksiin suomeksi! Tilaisuudet ovat maksuttomia, ja voit tulla paikalle ilman ennakkoilmoittautumista. Istumme yleensä tuoleilla tai lattialla tyynyillä, joten mattoa ei tarvitse ottaa mukaan, ja voit pukeutua tavallisiin vaatteisiin. Meditaatio tarkoittaa mielen hiljaisuutta tai ajatuksetonta tietoisuutta. Olet läsnä tässä hetkessä, mutta mielesi ei ole täynnä menneisyyden tai tulevaisuuden ajatuksia. Tässä tilassa tunnet rauhaa ja iloa, jotka ovat nykyhetken olennaisia elementtejä. Säännöllisellä meditaatioharjoituksella tämän tilan voi saada vakiintumaan meissä. Ryhmää johtavat vapaaehtoiset, joilla on kokemusta ja jotka voivat ohjata sinut alkuun. Annamme lyhyen johdatuksen meditaatioon, minkä jälkeen teemme meditaatioharjoituksia. Annamme myös vinkkejä meditaation harjoittamiseen kotona. Tervetuloa! Tämä video auttaa sinua löytämään Kamppi Sahaja Jooga -keskuksen: https://vimeo.com/199566137 Lisätietoa Sahaja Jooga -meditaatiosta: www.discoversahajayoga.org (englanniksi) www.jooga.org (suomeksi) www.sahajayoga.ru (venäjäksi) www.sahajayoga.es (espanjaksi) Ohjattuja verkkomeditaatioita, jotka tukevat meditaatioharjoitustasi kotona: www.wemeditate.com

You're more than welcome to join us and meet some new friends! Let the evening unfold and people shape the course of the night 😎 Come share your best (or worst) comedic mishaps, stories, and gossip in a relaxed, conversational meetup at **Kallio Bar** (right next to Street Bar) in Hakaniemi, Helsinki. Beers from **€5** 🍺, wine bottles **€25** 🍾 — and there will very likely be extra discounts 😉 Hope to see you there!

Hello sporty population! Join us for badminton and meet people from around the world! Everyone is welcome, whether you’re a beginner or already experienced. **IMPORTANT**: Spots are limited, so please reserve yours in advance. Only registered participants can join to ensure fair access for everyone. If you mark “going” but do not attend, or fail to cancel at least 1 day before(By 9pm Saturday), you may be suspended from the next two sessions. 📍 Location: Talihalli Huopalahti ⏰ Time: 11:00–12:30 🏸 Courts: 9, 10, and 11 You can meet us at the entrance a little before 11:00 or come directly to the courts (**please do not enter before our booking starts**). Who can join? • Open to everyone, regardless of background or gender • No badminton skills needed – beginners are welcome • **Age limit: 16+** Event is free, but please bring your rackets and indoor shoes, or you can borrow a racket from the hall for free if needed. We are committed to making our events and activities accessible to those who need them most. Therefore, **individuals with a refugee background are welcome to attend free of charge without prior registration.** If you plan to join, simply send a message to Alaa to let us know you’re coming. This approach is intentional. Many refugees and newcomers face practical, cultural, and psychological barriers that can make formal registration difficult or discouraging. By removing this requirement, we aim to create a more inclusive, low-threshold environment where participation feels safe, simple, and welcoming. Our events are designed to support the mental health and well-being of refugees and immigrants, while also encouraging dialogue that challenges cross-cultural stigmas and stereotypes. We believe open access is an important step in building trust, increasing participation, and creating meaningful connections across communities. After badminton, we'll enjoy Talihalli's sauna and maybe go to a local restaurant to grab some lunch after the game. Warm welcome! 📞 Questions / Contact: Alaa – 040 5656096 Arun - 050 3206169 If you want to be part of the MIITTI community, follow us on our other platforms: WhatsApp: Join our Whatsapp community network to join your favourite group and stay connected with the other members! When you participate in one of our groups or events, just ask the group facilitator to add you to the community! [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/miitti1) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/miitti1) [Website](https://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/en/projekti/miitti)

THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY! Welcome to pay a visit to BTCHEL HUB every Friday from 10am to 6pm, as we launch a new meetup concept: BTCHEL Fridays! BTCHEL Fridays is when the community hub has open doors for anyone to pay a visit, when the active Helsinki bitcoiner scene gathers together under one roof. The BTCHEL Hub is a versatile physical space for workshops, meetups, parties, movie nights, game nights and of course, co-working office where all the members are building together! Join us every friday at your convince! Coffee is on the house ☕️ You'll find us from google maps! Learn more about us from BTCHEL.com

PADEL WITH MIITTI 🎾 IMPORTANT: Spots are extremely limited, and you only get to play if you are registered on the list of attendees! If you have reserved a spot, but cannot attend after all, please cancel your spot as soon as you can so that someone on the waitlist gets to attend instead! Want to try something new or keep improving your padel game? Join our weekly MIITTI Padel Sessions. Whether you’ve never played before or already enjoy the game, everyone is welcome to come along, no matter your level. We have two courts reserved next to each other (courts 1+3), and we’ll alternate between them so everyone gets a chance to play and meet different people. ⏰ WHEN: Saturday 30th of May at 14.00–15.00 📍WHERE: Arena Center Myllypuro, Alakiventie 2, 00900 Helsinki 🎒 **Equipment**: Bring your own racket or rent one from the hall for 8€. Participation is free, but spots are limited, so again, please make sure to reserve your place. Come play, meet new people, and enjoy a relaxed and friendly Saturday afternoon together. If you want to be part of the MIITTI community, follow us on our other platforms: IG: [instagram.com/miitti1](http://instagram.com/miitti1) FB: [facebook.com/miitti1](http://facebook.com/miitti1) Web: [lapinlahdenlahde.fi/en/projekti/miitti/](http://lapinlahdenlahde.fi/en/projekti/miitti/) Whatsapp: Join our Whatsapp community network to join your favourite group and stay connected with the other members! When you participate in one of our groups or events, just ask the group facilitator to add you to the community!

QA or the Highway is a one-day, affordable, regional, professional conference featuring real-world experience and thought leadership in the QA and testing industry. This is a ticketed event please register here: https://www.qaorthehwy.com/ Featured Keynote Speakers: **Matthew-Hope Eland** **(Wizard at Leading EDJE)** \- An AI Specialist and Wizard at Leading EDJE who is known to teach software engineering\, AI\, and data science concepts in the most ridiculous ways possible\. Matt has used machine learning to settle debates over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie\, reinforcement learning to drive the behavior of digital squirrels\, data analytics to suggest improvements to his favorite TV show\, and AI agents to play board games and create an AI agent with the personality of a dog\. Matt is the author of "Data Science in \.NET with Polyglot Notebooks" and "Refactoring with C\#" as well as several LinkedIn Learning courses\. Matt helps organize the Central Ohio \.NET Developer Group\, runs several blogs and a YouTube channel\, has a Master’s of Science in Data Analytics\, and is a current Microsoft MVP in AI and \.NET\. **Tatyana Arbouzova** **(CEO at Innovate QA)** \- Tatyana Arbouzova is an engineering and business leader with a strong background in Quality Engineering across multiple industries\, including Big Tech\, Healthcare\, and Entertainment\. She has held leadership roles at world\-class companies such as Microsoft\, VMware\, Disney\, and The Pokémon Company International\, where she focused on building quality\-driven cultures and scaling teams to deliver high\-impact products\. With decades of experience\, Tatyana has helped organizations transform their quality practices so teams can deliver software efficiently\, confidently\, and with measurable business outcomes\. Today\, Tatyana advises software companies on adopting AI to optimize quality practices and improve how software is delivered at scale\. She is also a passionate community builder and the founder of Innovate QA\, a thriving Seattle\-based community and conference for quality professionals\.

The topic for June is "Roadtrip" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** Like it or not, AI agents are now capable of turning a quickly written paragraph of requirements into a pull request that is ready to be integrated into real-world production applications and it's now our responsibility to make sure AI doesn't go rogue and take down prod - or corrupt our data by misunderstanding the requirements or our existing schemas. In this session we'll explore strategies to protect our codebases through unit and integration testing, documentation, and code review along with additional ways of providing context and guard rails to our AI agents as they carry out the work we've assigned them to do. By the time we're done, you'll have a firm grasp of the problem and understand some helpful options for protecting your codebase from vibe coding mishaps getting YOLOed into prod. **YouTube Link** https://youtube.com/live/BltmWMH1zG0?feature=share

Join Voice Over Pros Of Ohio for an exciting morning of networking, and exploring opportunities in the world of voice acting. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, this event is perfect for expanding your network, learning how to start a VO business, and for honing your skills. Connect with fellow voice actors and VO experts, that will help you succeed in your voice over business. This event will feature discussions on professional development, entrepreneurship in the voice over industry, with tips for navigating the world of voice acting. Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn from others, collaborate with like-minded individuals, and take your voice over career to the next level. Join us Saturday, May 30, from 10am - 12pm and learn how to start or grow your voice over business. Let your voice be heard! The $10 fee covers refreshments and door prizes.

PLEASE NOTE!!! This event will be In-Person for our very 1st Improving collab! If you know the [Columbus Unity group](https://www.meetup.com/columbus-unity-user-group/) location, we'll be at the same place. This is our 1st event and are doing a soft launch with limited attendance. 1st come 1st serve. If you want to be there and we fill up, please email me at [info@thecogg.com](mailto:info@thecogg.com) and I'll be in touch. All street parking is free on Sundays but you can also pay to park in any of the local garages. See image of [parking map here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Mr9_LFIggbs-0_Zd3AJTGNqEhgMf2TzQ/view?usp=sharing). \-\-\- On the last Sunday of the month, we're having our usual end-of-the-month social gathering with our GameDev Meetup meeting. There will be announcements and presentations followed by some social networking Let's continue the conversations with good vibes and friends. All are welcomed from all ages and backgrounds to this public event. If we can, we'll be streaming or uploading the video later via our COGG YouTube channel here: [https://www.youtube.com/@TheCOGG/streams](https://www.youtube.com/@TheCOGG/streams) (Also please do subscribe if you have not done so!) No game development experience required! If you are interested in doing a 20 minute game development related presentation, please fill out our form online here: [https://goo.gl/forms/lVdTJZiNJewlPJuj1](https://goo.gl/forms/lVdTJZiNJewlPJuj1) Or e-mail us at info@thecogg.com with the following: Your Name, Company/Affiliation, Name of Your Game/Topic, Description, Tech Needs, and Your Contact. Be sure to check out our Discord for real time news updates: [https://discord.gg/NrBhuNQ](https://discord.gg/NrBhuNQ)

**The Behavior Gap: Where Products Win or Lose** Teams today have more data than ever, and yet many still struggle to understand why customers adopt, engage with, or abandon their products. Teams sprint, ship faster, and chase more signals… all while metrics stall and confidence drops. The missing piece isn’t more data. It’s often the behavioral insight between the metrics, explaining why the numbers move in the first place. Dashboards can tell you what customers did, but understanding why they did it (and how to influence what they do next) requires a deeper blend of insights. This session is about closing that gap. Drawing from real-world experience designing and scaling products as [ZoCo Design](https://zocodesign.com/)’s CEO, [Lacey](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/) will share how to cut through the noise and identify the insights that actually change behavior—moving people, and moving metrics. You’ll learn: * Why understanding customer behavior is a quant and qual challenge * How to spot the signals that actually predict behavior change * Where AI accelerates insight, and where it creates distraction * How to get meaningfully closer to customers, without adding more tools This talk reframes how to evaluate performance and identify what levers actually improve it, helping your team to make smarter bets with greater confidence. Every meaningful outcome is driven by behavior change. And when you know how to design for behavior, you stop guessing, and start building things that work. **About Our Speaker** [Lacey Picazo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/) is the Founder and CEO of ZoCo, a healthcare product studio that turns complex, high-stakes ideas into products that drive real-world adoption. She partners with healthcare organizations to uncover critical care delivery insights, focus product strategy through behavior design, and build solutions that patients and providers actually use. Thanks to our 2026 sponsors: [Clarivoy](https://www.clarivoy.com), [What Box Consulting Group](https://www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com), [Conductrics](https://www.conductrics.com), and [Piwik PRO](https://piwik.pro) More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)