Mari Kiviniemi

Kiviniemi, in 2010

Mari Johanna Kiviniemi (born 27 September 1968) is a Finnish politician, who served as the prime minister of Finland from 2010 to 2011. She is also currently serving as the Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD since 25 August 2014, of which she is responsible for advancing the OECD's Better Life Initiative.

Quotes

• When improving gender equality, it is of utmost importance that the whole of society works for it. But it is also essential that we, women, make our demands and put our foot down decisively.
• Don’t hesitate to take risks. It is often needed if you want to achieve something. Remember also that it is ok to fail, and that you can learn a lot from your mistakes.
• Equality is not simply an option: it has to be achieved and efforts must not stop until it is so.
  • taken from an interview from the UK's Permanent Delegation to the OECD, 6 March 2015
• Public administration and services hold a key position in achieving inclusive growth. It must be possible to offer citizens an opportunity to build the future they want, and the administration must be lighter, more transparent and more innovative than before.
• The economy must grow, but economic growth is not a value in itself; it is primarily a way of increasing the well-being of people and their participation in the functioning of the society.
  • taken from a press release from Finland's Ministry of Finance