A holistic approach is the key to unlock the processes of the world. I believe only sustainable business models guarantee future generations the environment to live in. I am inspired by the development and launch of scalable models. I have 20 years of management and production launch experience from various international companies, wholesale (Studio Moderna), manufacturing (Biohansa) and agriculture (Nutriloop). I have a strong practical background in managing various business units and international teams to achive strategic goals.

In addition to experience from USA as door-to-door book salesman, I also have long-term experience from startup sector. Currently acting as CEO of Shroomwell Biotech, I am also the founder of Biohansa, Parkline and Scandic Organic. I have a BsE Logistics degree from Taltech and specialized agricultural production degree from JKHK.

I am Professor in mycorrhizal studies in the University of Tartu, where I have been working for 15 years as a mycologist, soil ecologist and biogeographer. Since 2023 I am working jointly under the Institute of Technology as a director of the Mycology and Microbiology Center. I have received various research prizes, led >10 Estonian or EU-funded research projects, published >200 research articles and supervised 15 PhD students.

I have reached to a point in my life which started to create itself already 7 years ago. I imagined myself in a small powerful team with great ideas. Our living environment and health have always been important to me and the possibilities with mushrooms are endless. In production my work is to lead processes and people, it is exciting and very versatile. I am always looking for ways to engage and challenge myself with multiple tasks. Like a one-woman-band I had an opportunity to put hands on while designing and furnishing our new office. Previously I have worked in banking as a team leader and project manager, volunteered years organizing local community days (Pelgulinna Päevad), my studies have taken me to Denmark and Netherlands. In 2018 I acquired Urban Governance master’s degree in Tallinn University, that speciality opened up a fresh and wide angle of a better possible living environment, association of human and nature. Very exciting where this journey growing together with Shroomwell will take me.

I am a development specialist at Shroomwell Biotech and I have long-term experience in implementing research and development projects. Previously, I have worked as a project manager in the IQVIA company, where I conducted international pharmaceutical research, in the Roheveski OÜ company, where I helped build an animal and food waste treatment plant and coordinated cooperation with the research and development institutions, and in the Maag Group AS company, where I managed the development projects in the field of cultivation of cultivated mushrooms and also contributed mushroom biomass into the establishment of a production pilot plant. In addition to long-term project management experience, I have a strong knowledge in mycology, microbiology, molecular biology and biotechnology and 10+ years of mushroom cultivation competence.

My main responsibility is to enrich the mushroom culture bank. Besides the culture bank, I also conduct laboratory growth experiments and develop the best mushroom cultures for the company. Previously, I have been engaged in product development activities at OÜ Future Food, helping to develop a vegan alternative to the mycoprotein chicken and fish meat. I also came into contact with product development at the Food and Fermentation Technology Development Center (TFTAK), where I was responsible for conducting sensory tests and data processing.

In 2022, I obtained a bachelor’s degree in applied chemistry, food and genetic technology at Tallinn University of Technology and am currently obtaining a master’s degree in food technology and development as well.
I have always loved the autumn mushroom picking in the forest, because I could stumble upon both – the familiar and unusual looking unknown mushrooms. These unknowns were the most intriguing, which deepened my interest in the world of mushrooms. At the beginning of my studies, I would not have thought that I would start working with mushrooms, but life is a game of coincidences and chances, thanks to which I have found my place in it as well.

As a radical mycologist, I dedicate myself to the mycorrhizal field.
I started as an Erasmus intern at Shroomwell Biotech in 2022 after obtaining a master’s degree from Laş University, specializing in ecological horticulture in life sciences. My research was based on substrate tests for the ecological cultivation of Enoch mushrooms following the principles of circular economy.
After an internship at Shroomwell Biotech optimizing mycelial growth on different media, I moved on to the environmental myco-remediation. My work now focuses on developing the fungal installation schemes to improve the soil structure in different settings, starting from replacing peat and restoring forests after wildfires ending up with reversing heathland and desertification and addressing pollution threats.
I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology as well as a master’s degree in clinical psychology and psychotherapy from the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași.
I had been working as an experience consultant for a few years when I decided to devote myself to mycology after participating in community events at the Breaking Convention in England. This multidisciplinary conference showed me opportunities to explore the fruitful connections between human and fungal dynamics through the lens of complex systems theory.