In 2015, co-founders P. Blake Renda and Julie W. Koester were huddled around a kitchen table in Naples, Florida, sketching plans for a different marketing agency. They had a bold vision: a one-stop firm blending rigorous business strategy with full-service, white glove business marketing services under one roof. Fast-forward to today, and that kitchen-table startup—Dragon Horse Agency—has grown into a multi-award-winning international firm with offices in Florida and California.

Over 40 Nordic and Baltic artists transformed the Estonian House into a living, breathing expression of identity, heritage, and hope. For the first time, artists and audiences from across eight nations came together under one roof to share stories, sounds, and traditions in perfect harmony. From immersive forest installations to a soaring concert finale, the evening brought the entire diaspora together like never before. It wasn’t just a performance—it was a deeply felt reunion, and a turning point in the cultural presence of Nordic and Baltic voices in New York.

In the windswept Baltic isles of Estonia, a young girl learned skincare secrets passed down through generations. Decades later, that girl – Eha Urbsalu – is a New York City entrepreneur bottling those very Viking beauty secrets for the world. With an international career spanning beauty pageants, fashion runways, and even Hollywood film sets, Urbsalu has never lost sight of her Estonian heritage. Today, as the founder of Viking Beauty Secrets, she blends the natural wisdom of her homeland with modern, organic skincare innovation. Her story is one of cultural pride, female entrepreneurial grit, and a mission to prove that clean, sustainable beauty rooted in tradition can captivate a global audience.

A Journey from Estonian Roots to International Acclaim - Kristi Roosmaa, an award-winning actress, singer, and producer, has carved a distinguished path from her early days in Estonia to the vibrant stages of New York City. Her multifaceted career is a testament to her unwavering dedication to the arts and her ability to seamlessly blend cultural heritage with contemporary performance.

In the ever-expanding digital realm, creative professionals have more opportunities than ever to showcase their work and connect with a global audience. But in a crowded landscape, authenticity becomes the key to truly resonating with followers, clients, and collaborators. How can creatives build a personal brand that not only highlights their skill set but also reflects their real selves?

‍Creative professionals in New York City and beyond are discovering that talent alone is not enough – success in today’s arts landscape also demands a savvy digital strategy. In an era where Broadway dancers livestream rehearsals, musicians drop AI-augmented tracks online, and visual artists sell works via Instagram, the intersection of artistry and technology has become the new arena for career growth.

In a recent Forbes Technology Council article, Ashutosh Synghal—VP of Engineering at Midcentury Labs—made a bold assertion: the future of artificial intelligence depends on data marketplaces. “The rise of data marketplaces signals a fundamental shift in how businesses approach data ownership, exchange and monetization,” Synghal writes.

On a windswept Baltic island in 2022, locals gathered at a medieval castle to honor Louis Kahn – a native of Saaremaa, Estonia, who became one of the twentieth century’s most influential architects. It was at Kuressaare Castle, looming large in Kahn’s early childhood, that his imagination was sparked; fittingly, the final design of his life stands on another island half a world away, at New York’s Roosevelt Island.

Eero Saarinen’s TWA Flight Center soared from a Finnish-American vision to an enduring New York landmark. This piece shows how a modest Nordic community shaped a celebrated piece of design history and left a lasting mark on the city’s architecture.

Immersive Earth Day Showcase by the Nordic Artists of New York Organization Highlights Nordic & Baltic Creativity in New York City