Introducing Gemic

Now that things are nicely underway with the business, I feel it's a good time to update on my latest serious endeavour. I was asked to join a consulting outfit called Gemic as the managing partner earlier this year, and given the other people in the project, I'm very happy about the prospect. Johannes and Sakari are the smartest guys I've worked with. It's also incredibly rewarding to be able to apply hard theoretical, scientific research, problem-solving and pattern recognition methods to the amorphous world of business and human behaviour.

Gemic - name taking root from Emic and Gem, with resulting pronunciation - is a management consulting company concentrating on what we call people-centric problem solving. We apply methods from social sciences, particularly anthropology and social psychology, to business problems that often revolve around product development and innovation. Having worked on a few projects now, it's amazing to see how well this works: instead of trying to come up with ideas in brainstorming sessions or other traditional top-down methods of innovation, going to the field to study people in their everyday life and behaviour is an unfailing source of relevant innovations. Tall order, perhaps, but we have applied it successfully time after time. No wonder there's a bit of a business buzz around ethnographic methods right now.

To add to us being a happy little company (and growing), Sakari just tied the knot yesterday. Hooray!


 

Gigs: Om w/ Pharaoh Overlord, Enslaved, Opeth

Long time since I've done a music post, so here comes the noise. I just bought some club gig tickets for about €150, for experiences immeasurable. First, Finland finally, finally gets to welcome Om (site is down ATM), Southern Lord's finest duo, who beach here November 3rd. With absolute poetic and artistic justice, they are accompanied by Pharaoh Overlord, the uncanniest hypno-heavy-bands ever to come out of the North. To scare you out of it, here's a short video. Otherwise, Tavastia, 03.11.08.



In a move closely matched in evil-unleashing potential, Enslaved, the godfathers of progressive black metal, hit the same stage in mid-December. It has been long since we've had them in Finland, and there's a rather fanatic following around. They're here 14.12., and immediately after them, 15.12., we're seeing Opeth here for the third time this year. They are, of course, a billboard-topping act, but, knocking on wood, they are yet to lose their genius drive. Reminds me, I still haven't checked if you can see me in the front at the Roundhouse in London where they filmed the last DVD material. There's something familiar here...