Finnish-American production manager Sharissa Holopainen gives us an exclusive look into the dynamic, cross-cultural world of film production, describing it as a living puzzle. A short film assignment opened the door to her lifelong passion for storytelling behind the camera after she dropped out of a business program that didn’t feel right and realized acting wasn’t her true calling. Raised between Finland and California, Sharissa once resisted her cultural heritage until she realized it gave her an edge. Today, she thrives at the intersection of international co-productions, helping teams navigate the unspoken cultural nuances that can make or break a shoot. Her ability to foster communication and trust across borders has become her superpower. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more empowering stories from remarkable women. Thank you for listening ❤ See below for transcript, timestamps, to get in touch, and more. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.shelightstheway.com/sharissa-holopainen-interview-transcript EPISODE LINKS: Sharissa’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharissa-holopainen-258401190/ Summer Book: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26940053/ KEY MOMENTS: 00:00 Welcome & introduction 01:00 The creative puzzle of film production 02:00 From business school dropout to storyteller and bridge builder 04:00 Discovering a passion for producing 05:00 Finding her fit at U.C. Irvine 06:00 Pandemic pivot to Finland 08:00 Embracing her identity and unique path 10:00 The power of co-productions 13:00 Communication styles across cultures 15:00 Film projects that changed Sharissa’s life 18:00 The wild beauty of island filmmaking 20:00 Lessons in the journey 21:00 What She Lights the Way means to Sharissa FOLLOW: Website: shelightstheway.com/ Newsletter: www.shelightstheway.com/newsletter LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/she-lights-the-way/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/shelightstheway/ STORIES: https://www.shelightstheway.com/stories PODCAST: Podbean: https://shelightstheway.podbean.com/ RSS: https://bit.ly/SheLightsTheWayRSS Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4091de0 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4h8Kq0N Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3YeCt1m BLOG: https://shelightstheway.substack.com/ CONNECT: Contact us: www.shelightstheway.com/contact Share a story: www.shelightstheway.com/story