Learning from the Creative Process – Laura Köönikkä, Founder of Confidants
In this inspiring and deeply thoughtful conversation, I speak with Laura Köönikkä, founder and CEO of Confidants, about the journey that shaped her unique path between the art world and the business world.
Laura shares how her first encounter with art came through the nanny who cared for her as a very young child. It was through this early exposure that she began to understand something powerful: art was not just a hobby or decoration — it was a profession. Seeing art as a real and viable career from such a young age planted a seed of awareness that stayed with her.
As a child, Laura explored many creative avenues herself — from music to theatre groups — immersing herself in artistic expression. Yet even while she enjoyed these experiences, she intuitively knew she did not want to become a professional artist. Instead, her curiosity shifted toward understanding art more deeply. This clarity unfolded when she began studying art history, where she developed a strong intellectual and contextual appreciation for art. Working on exhibitions gave her invaluable insight into how contemporary artists think, work, and build their creative processes in real time. Alongside her work in the art field, Laura trained as a qualified coach, and this is where her path took an especially compelling turn. Through coaching — particularly her work with musicians and creatives — she began to recognise something profound: creatives possess qualities that the business world urgently needs to understand. The courage to create, the resilience required to continue despite uncertainty, the discipline behind mastery, and the vulnerability involved in sharing one's work — these are powerful lessons for leadership and entrepreneurship.
We speak about how learning from someone who has dedicated their life to the creative process can be incredibly motivating. Artists live in constant dialogue with uncertainty, experimentation, and reinvention. Their mindset can strengthen our own courage and help us move toward our goals with greater authenticity and boldness.
A central theme of our discussion is the value of bringing people together. Laura speaks passionately about creating spaces where meaningful, real-life connections can happen. In a world that is increasingly digital, she reminds us that in-person encounters allow us to truly listen, exchange perspectives, and grow through shared experience. There is something irreplaceable about human connection — about learning directly from one another’s stories.This conversation felt especially meaningful to me because Laura and I share a deep belief in the importance of artists’ voices. We both feel strongly that artists’ stories matter — not only within the art world, but in society as a whole. Their ways of seeing, questioning, and approaching life offer insights that can expand our thinking far beyond creative fields.
It was a warm, energising, and inspiring discussion — one that highlights how art, business, and human connection are far more intertwined than we often realise.