From Changing Education Studies to Founding Focus Tiger: Applying Neuroscience in Modern Working Life Full of Distractions and Cognitive Stress

During my master’s studies in the Changing Education program at the University of Helsinki, I fell in love. With neuroscience. And that love made me act.

In this work-life report, I will describe how I founded Focus Tiger, a fast-growing startup operating at the intersection of educational technology (EdTech) and health technology (HealthTech).

I began my CE studies in 2020, as part of the program’s first cohort, with a six-month-old baby and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the possibility of remote study -and the Finnish adult education support, I was able to progress on schedule during the first 1.5 years.

While I appreciated the CE studies as a whole, one of the most influential areas for me was neuroscience, led by Professor and brain researcher Minna Huotilainen. Learning about brain function, attention, motivation, and cognitive load sparked a deep personal interest and ultimately became a central inspiration for my professional path.

Through the perspective of brain research, I began to see the challenges of modern knowledge work in a new light. Increasing levels of stress, difficulties with concentration, and a growing sense of loss of control among professionals appeared not merely as organizational issues, but also as cognitive and neurological challenges.

Although neuroscience has produced extensive research on what the human brain needs to function optimally, this knowledge is rarely reflected in everyday knowledge work practices. Instead, many knowledge workers operate in ways that contradict basic neuroscientific principles, an unsustainable pattern that contributes to rising levels of cognitive stress and burnout (Suutala et al. 2024).

Having worked as a company director prior to my CE studies, I became increasingly frustrated with the ill-being present in modern working life. This frustration sparked a strong desire to help knowledge workers by building a bridge between neuroscience and practice. My goal was to translate neuroscientific insights into practical, easy-to-apply tools for individuals experiencing growing cognitive stress, concentration difficulties, and burnout (Suutala et al. 2024) in an increasingly complex and fast-paced work environment full of distractions.

At the same time, my friend and future co-founder experienced similar frustration from her professional perspective. As a psychologist, she encountered a growing number of knowledge workers seeking help for focus issues, increased stress, and an inability to cope with rising work demands. Some suspected they had ADHD due to their declining concentration, while others worried that their memory problems and scattered thinking might be early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

It did not take long before we combined our expertise and shared passion and founded Focus Tiger, a company that applies insights from neuroscience to help individuals and organizations strengthen focus, resilience, and sustainable productivity.

At Focus Tiger, we identified a clear paradox in the modern workplace. On the one hand, organizations increasingly demand creativity, problem-solving ability, and sustained attention from their employees. On the other hand, the digital and highly fragmented nature of modern work environments constantly disrupts these very capacities. Continuous notifications, multitasking, information overload, and blurred boundaries between work and personal life place significant strain on the human cognitive system. As a result, many professionals experience fatigue, reduced concentration, and a diminished sense of control over their workday.

From a neuroscientific perspective, these challenges are easier to understand. The human brain is not designed for constant task switching or uninterrupted digital stimulation. Cognitive resources such as attention and working memory are limited and require regular recovery periods to function effectively. When individuals are exposed to continuous interruptions and high cognitive load, the brain’s executive functions become strained, leading to decreased productivity, impaired decision-making, and reduced well-being.

Focus Tiger’s approach is based on the idea that focus is one of the most valuable resources in modern work. By understanding how focus operates in the brain, individuals can learn strategies to protect and utilize it more effectively. These strategies include designing work routines that enable uninterrupted concentration, recognizing the importance of recovery and breaks - particularly those involving physical activity - and minimizing cognitive overload caused by multitasking and constant digital distractions.

Another key principle underlying the company’s work is neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to change and adapt through experience. Research in neuroscience shows that cognitive abilities such as focus, self-regulation, and stress management can be strengthened through deliberate practice. This means that individuals are not permanently limited by their current habits. Behaviors related to sleep, physical activity, and phone use - all of which significantly influence brain function, motivation, and focus - can be improved with the right tools and structured training.

With the help of Focus Tiger, a digital tool designed to improve everyday focus through engaging learning modules and practical exercises, it is possible to develop stronger cognitive resilience and more sustainable working habits. By combining neuroscience with practical exercises and behavioral strategies, participants learn how to structure their workdays in ways that support both performance and well-being. The methods extend beyond working hours: users also learn strategies to improve sleep, create mental space, and gain a sense of presence. According to collected impact data, 87% of Focus Tiger users report improved stress management skills, and 96% state that the program helps prevent future burnout.

In addition to thousands of professionals using Focus Tiger to support their work and improve overall quality of life, a specialized social and healthcare (SOTE) version of the program is also used in Finnish healthcare to help reduce ADHD assessment queues. According to the Wellbeing Services County of Southwest Finland, a pilot was conducted in which 100 patients on waiting lists received digital psychosocial support through the Focus Tiger online program (Varsinais-Suomen hyvinvointialue, 2025). The results have been encouraging: among respondents to the final survey, 74% reported an increase in productive working time, and 69% reported improved life satisfaction. A significant proportion of participants no longer felt the need for further clinical assessment. Starting from September

2025, the region plans to provide Focus Tiger online coaching to 300 patients as part of the psychosocial support options within the ADHD treatment pathway.

Reflecting on this journey, it is clear that the Changing Education master’s program played a crucial role in shaping both my thinking and my career direction. The program encouraged curiosity, interdisciplinary exploration, and critical reflection on how knowledge can be applied to real-world challenges. Without this academic environment, I would not have discovered the profound relevance of neuroscience to the modern workplace.

In many ways, founding Focus Tiger represents a continuation of the learning process that began during my studies. The company serves as a platform for applying academic knowledge in practice and for exploring how scientific insights can improve everyday working life. At the same time, entrepreneurship has provided an opportunity to test and refine these ideas in collaboration with organizations and professionals facing real-world challenges.

In conclusion, my studies in the Changing Education program inspired me to pursue a path where neuroscience and working life intersect. By establishing Focus Tiger, I aimed to bring evidence-based insights about the brain into practical use within modern organizations. As work environments continue to evolve and cognitive demands increase in the era of artificial intelligence, understanding the brain’s mechanisms of attention, stress, and learning becomes increasingly important.

I believe that integrating neuroscience into working life can help individuals not only perform better, but also experience greater balance, clarity, and control in their daily work. Indeed, nine out of ten Focus Tiger users report an increased sense of control over their work - an outcome that I find particularly meaningful in these increasingly chaotic times.

Sources:

Suutala, S., Kaltiainen, J., & Hakanen, J. (2024, October 2). Miten Suomi voi? -tutkimus: Työhyvinvoinnin kehittyminen loppuvuoden 2019 ja kesän 2024 välillä [Research report]. Työterveyslaitos. https://www.ttl.fi/sites/default/files/2024-10/miten-suomi-voi-tuloskooste_2.10.2024.pdf

Varsinais-Suomen hyvinvointialue. (2025, August 14). Varhainen psykososiaalinen tuki keskiössä uudessa ADHD-hoitoprosessissa. https://www.varha.fi/fi/ajankohtaista/varhainen-psykososiaalinen-tuki-keskiossa-uudessa-adhd-hoitoprosessissa