One such story is that of TalTech student Jaan Erik, who spent much of his childhood abroad before deciding to reconnect more closely with Estonia. Growing up between different countries and cultures gave him a global perspective, strong communication skills, and an early interest in entrepreneurship and technology.

Eventually, this journey brought him back to Estonia, where he began his studies at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) to pursue opportunities and challenges in business, innovation, and international cooperation.

Growing Up Between Countries and Cultures

Jaan Erik was born in Estonia but moved abroad with his family at an early age. When he was six years old, the family relocated to the United Kingdom, where he began school. “I learned English within two to three months,” he recalls. “It gave me a strong foundation for international life and for understanding different cultures.”

A year later, the family briefly returned to Estonia before moving on to Sweden. There he spent nearly ten years, attending international schools and building friendships and connections with people from around the world. “While living in Sweden, I had the opportunity to build a global network of people who are now spread across the world,” he says.

Jaan Erik completed his secondary education in Sweden, first at the International School of the Gothenburg Region (ISGR) and later in the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme at Hvitfeldska Gymnasiet in Gothenburg. In the IB programme, he chose four subjects at higher level: economics, mathematics, physics, and psychology—fields that combine analytical thinking with an understanding of society and human behaviour. These choices clearly played an important role in shaping his later academic and professional path.

Early Interest in Technology and Entrepreneurship

The international environment also sparked Jaan Erik’s interest in entrepreneurship. Towards the end of high school, he launched his first small business project—a platform that connected students who wanted to earn pocket money with parents who needed help with various household tasks.

Experiences like this helped him develop strong communication and networking skills that have continued to prove valuable in his career.
Alongside entrepreneurship, he also developed a growing interest in technology and practical solutions. One of his early work experiences involved building low-noise amplifiers used in supercomputers. This experience deepened his interest in technical challenges and innovative solutions.“I am interested in technical problems and solutions that help make the world better,” he says. “I care about things that improve the environment we live in.”

Studying Governance and Innovation at TalTech

After returning to Estonia in 2020, Jaan Erik completed his military service at the Kuperjanov Infantry Battalion, where he finished reserve officer training and received recognition for exemplary service.

Afterwards, he began his studies at Tallinn University of Technology, specialising in Public Administration and Political Science at the Ragnar Nurkse Department of Innovation and Governance. The programme allowed him to explore how governance, innovation, and entrepreneurship function together—areas closely linked to Estonia’s international reputation as a digital state and an entrepreneurial society.

A Strong Connection to Estonia

Despite growing up internationally, Jaan Erik has always felt a strong connection to Estonia. Family ties and a sense of national belonging played an important role in his decision to return. After all, not everyone can say they belong to a nation of only about 1.3 million people worldwide.
“I have always had a strong connection to Estonia, my family, and my national identity,” he says. “Estonia’s strong innovation and business ecosystem and its start-up culture motivated me to come back and follow my dreams.”

For him, the decision was also deeply emotional. “There is something very special about Estonia that is difficult to put into words,” he says. “That feeling has always reassured me that returning was the right decision.”

Opportunities in a Small Country

One of the things that surprised Jaan Erik most about Estonia is the number of opportunities available in such a small country.
“It’s surprising how many opportunities there can be in a country this small,” he says. “The ‘small country effect’ is quite magical.”

In his view, Estonia’s size makes networks exceptionally accessible. “How many phone calls or messages would it take to reach almost anyone in Estonia—maybe even the president—through someone who knows someone?” he asks. “I would say fewer than five people.” This closeness helps ideas and initiatives move forward quickly.

Advice to Estonians Around the World

For people with Estonian roots living abroad, Jaan Erik encourages rediscovering that connection. “I would recommend anyone who has some connection to Estonia to explore it further and think about what steps they could take to reconnect with their roots,” he says. For him, returning to Estonia has strengthened both his sense of identity and his professional ambitions. 

“Being Estonian is an honour,” he adds.

Looking Ahead

Today, Jaan Erik is building an international career while remaining closely connected to Estonia. Recently, he started working at the Swedish Embassy in Tallinn with Business and Trade Promotion, supporting cooperation between Swedish companies and Estonia as well as the Baltic region.

At the same time, he continues to develop his own entrepreneurial projects and business ideas. “Every day is a new opportunity to do the right thing,” he says.

Returning Home and Building the Future

Jaan Erik’s story shows that returning to Estonia can be both personally meaningful and professionally inspiring. Estonia’s entrepreneurial spirit, strong networks, and openness to innovation create an environment where young people with international experience can bring their ideas to life and build something new.

Sometimes returning home is not only about reconnecting with the past—it can also be an opportunity to create something entirely new for the future.