Team Lead at Slush 2025

What It Was Like Leading Badge Claim at Slush 2025

Slush is known for intensity, speed, and high expectations. You feel that immediately when you step into badge claim, where every attendee’s experience starts. This year, I had the chance to lead that front line.

Our goal was simple on paper: make badge pickup fast, smooth, and welcoming. In reality, that meant rethinking how the whole system works. Together with the team, we redesigned the badge claim concept with a focus on better collaboration between team leads, stronger volunteer training, improved inventory control, and integrating scanning technology to speed things up.

We built a team of around 70 volunteers and group leads, each responsible for their own smaller teams. A big part of the role wasn’t just organizing people, but making sure they felt confident and supported. That started before the event with training and planning, but it really showed during the two event days.

Across those two days, we handled nearly 6,000 attendees. The pressure was constant, especially during peak hours, but the team kept things moving with record-low waiting times. What stood out most wasn’t just efficiency, but attitude. Even when things got hectic or cases got complicated, people stayed calm, helped each other, and kept the energy positive.

A lot of the work happened behind the scenes. Building schedules that actually worked for volunteers, planning material flows so nothing ran out at the wrong time, and making sure communication between different teams stayed clear. Small decisions there made a big difference on the ground.

One thing I’m especially proud of is the culture we built. We put effort into connecting people, from organizing a get-together for group leads to making sure everyone felt part of something bigger than just their shift. When people feel ownership, they step up. And they did.

In the end, badge claim ran smoothly, feedback was strong, and the team delivered at a high level. But more than that, it showed how much you can achieve with the right structure, clear communication, and a motivated group of people working toward the same goal.

A huge thank you to the production team. Rania Said and Joakim Berger. You’re two incredibly hardworking people, and it was a privilege to be part of your team.

A huge thank you to my right hand volunteer Sanni Makkonen, plus my amazing volunteer leads:

Sandun Abeywardhana, Umamaheswari UMASANKAR, Linda Oranya, Hampus Enlund, Anna-Ilona Nikolaeva, Terhi Iik, Joel Sam Johnson and Henri Matikainen. Thank you. You made my job easy by working so hard. (Maybe too easy 😅)

And of course, the 70 volunteers who welcomed thousands of attendees with huge smiles. Badge Claim would not have been possible without all of you.

I’m really proud of what we built together and grateful for every moment of it.