Under the leadership of Salomo Vilen, Carboreal grows with roots in the earth and eyes on the future

Salomo Vilen, CEO of Carboreal, is a man whose work combines deep roots with high ambitions. An organic farmer and forest bioenergy entrepreneur from Jokikylä, Sievi, he is one of the founders of Carboreal—one of those inventive, Gyro Gearloose–type minds who built a sustainable, growing and future-relevant business around a big idea.

Salomo’s leadership style is known as Management by Pirulauta. It means leading by doing, speaking plainly and maintaining a friendly but firm grip. He’s not afraid to pick up a shovel, plant trees, or defend climate action on international stages. Salomo is used to working when the weather and situation demand it—and doing the job right.

“Farmers don’t just put food on the table—they can also be on the front lines of climate action,” Salomo reminds us. He knows what he’s talking about—the effects of climate change are already visible and tangible in the fields. He rejects extremes and blind ideology. “Combating climate change is a good servant, but a poor master,” he says. What’s needed is common sense, not a Soviet-style system built on bans.

Salomo’s thinking is grounded in hands-on experience and down-to-earth wisdom. At Carboreal, he also plays a key role as a developer—helping to create a new, impactful way of working that is built to last for generations. The company’s motto, "Roots in the ground," is no coincidence: Salomo’s roots are firmly in the soil, but his gaze is set high.

Climate action is a shared commitment in the Vilen family. His brothers Aleksi and Pirkka each work in their own fields to advance sustainable development and their parents and siblings are also part of the effort. The work ethic learned on the family farm shows in everything they do—not just in how much they work, but in how wisely and effectively they do it and in their readiness to innovate when needed. Hard work alone isn’t always enough and a pine tree won’t break no matter how hard you bang your head against it. That’s why Salomo has a message for policymakers, borrowing from The Unknown Soldier: “Spare our leaders from breaking the backbone of Finland’s economy by banging their heads against the wrong kind of climate policies.”

Salomo doesn’t seek big titles or the spotlight. He does his work, speaks when needed and stands firmly behind his words. Sometimes that means stepping onto a stage—like on Embuske’s EVS Live show or at the EarthX event in Dallas. But his heart remains where the soil smells rich and the work is done by hand.

Carboreal grows under Salomo’s leadership—not on hype, but through hard work, invention and persistence. Just as a farmer should.