Who we are
Marjolein Brasz, Director and Co-founder of the Braz Foundation
Marjolein Brasz’s mission in life is to stimulate and facilitate people to use their fullest potential! She is particularly interested in improving fellow women’s lives across the globe. Marjolein has a broad international experience; having studied in Rotterdam, Mexico and Venezuela. She worked in a variety of commercial positions within the energy and petrochemical industry (Shell, ExxonMobil) before setting up her own relief work initiatives in post-tsunami Sri Lanka (2005). Marjolein's main focus is on self-sufficiency and empowerment through economic independence. With a degree in Business (Erasmus) and certificates in Humanitarian Aid and Conflict Management (Wageningen University) she is convinced that the Braz vision on poverty reduction is both effective as well as sustainable. 'Braz is a young and lean organization where go-getters are invited to join and contribute'.Timo Vänttinen, Director and Co-founder of the Braz Foundation
Timo Vänttinen is an IT industry entrepreneur with genuinely
international background. He has worked in Finland, United Kingdom,
Japan and Bangladesh and traveled widely in other countries. His
background is with Nokia Corporation and since 2006 Vänttinen has been
key shareholder of Japanese BJIT Group and the CEO of BJIT Ltd, the
biggest software export company in Bangladesh.
After having worked extensively in developing markets,Timo is convinced that there is urgency and need for types of programs like Braz Foundation that can make a rapid positive social change worldwide.
Mikko V. Parta, Director and Co-founder of the Braz Foundation
Mikko believes that “To have a chance to improve society is the ultimate fulfillment in life”
Mikko V. Parta is an experienced entrepreneur with highly successful track record in providing both, market entry services, as well as, management consulting globally. His previous corporate roles include General Manager in Nokia's service business for Latin America, as well as Regional Senior Consultant at Ericsson in the Asia-Pacific.
His talent is currently sought by the best of the best in the social media universe for training, coaching and strategic and operational market entry advisory services. He recently presented a keynote address at Poland's largest conference on “Technological disruptions and technical discontinuities: How to be number one”, immediately following Steve Wozniak's address, co-founder of Apple.
In social media, Mikko coined phrase web 3.0. While web 2.0 provides a superficial means for users on the Internet to communicate which each other, web 3.0 stands for social media with social responsibility. It is way to enjoy and have fun online while contributing to other people’s lives in a much deeper way and in the end providing enormous positive impact on a global scale.
Merel van de Hoef
If we take care of the cause, the effect will take care of itself....
Merel believes that empowerment is key to erase poverty. After her studies International Relations in Groningen and Salamanca (Spain), with internships in South America at the United Nations and the Dutch Embassy and a master thesis on empowerment of developing countries in international negotiations, she decided to travel the world. She was the initiator of a Tsunami relief plan for victims in Tamil Nadu, India, where she helped to empower fishermen by providing new boats, engines and nets. Through the weblog of a national Radio and TV channel donors could experience how every euro was spent. She worked at the Foreign Department of the Ministry of Finance and in the financial sector, but wasalways active in the non-profit sector as well, a.o. as a photographer and columnist at several NGO’s. She believes in Braz because finally cause and effect are brought together by means of an online social community.
Taneli Tikka. (CEO).
Mr. Tikka is one of the most well-known Finnish technology serial entrepreneurs, and a regularly seen key note speaker in Finnish and International events]. Tikka is the former CEO of IRC-Galleria (2006-2007) and he was instrumental in the acquisition of IRC-Galleria by Sulake Corporation, the company behind Habbo Hotel, world’s largest virtual world for teenagers. Previously Tikka has been CEO in several technology companies, notably at Magenta Sites, COO of Dopplr, social networking site Nokia acquired in September 2009.