Bridging Cultures & Creating Magic
Sharissa Holopainen embraces her bicultural identity to thrive in international film production—bridging cultures, solving puzzles, and empowering others
What happens when you drop out of business school, bomb your first acting class, and stumble into filmmaking with a short film assignment? For Sharissa Holopainen, it was the start of a bold journey into the world of international film production.
In this episode of She Lights the Way, Sharissa shares how embracing her Finnish-American identity became her greatest gift—allowing her to bridge cultures, translate creative visions, and build collaborative teams across the globe.
Listening to Her Inner Voice
Not long after starting college, Sharissa realized she was on a path that wasn't hers. She made a life-changing decision to listen to her intuition. Instead of following the safer business route, Sharissa pivoted toward film, trusting that the "wrong" path would lead her to the right one.
“I had this aha moment of, this just doesn’t feel right. I’ve always had this dream of doing something in the arts and I’m doing something that’s so *not* that. I just had this visceral reaction of, okay, I need to try this now or I’m never gonna do it.”
Turning Failure into Discovery
Sharissa's early dreams of acting didn't pan out the way she had hoped—and yet, that "failure" cracked open the door to her true calling. Sharissa openly admits she was a "horrible actor," but through that failure, she discovered her passion for film production and storytelling. It was through a school project that she found the thrill of writing, producing, and directing. In trying something she "failed" at, she found the foundation for everything that would come next.
The Puzzle of Production
Today, Sharissa thrives as a film production manager, orchestrating the business and creative sides of filmmaking with incredible precision. She likens production to an ever-shifting puzzle—a mix of art, logistics, diplomacy, and problem-solving, with no two days ever the same. She loves the ever-changing challenges in production management—coordinating diverse teams, budgets, schedules, and putting out fires creatively.
Owning Her Difference
For much of her childhood, Sharissa resisted her Finnish-American heritage, wanting to fit in. But over time, she realized her dual identity wasn't a hindrance—it was a strength. And she has learned that there’s no one "right" path—success lies in finding and leaning into what makes you different. Today, Sharissa bridges American and Nordic film industries, leveraging her deep understanding of both cultures to facilitate cross-cultural productions. What once felt isolating now feels empowering.
“Finding what makes you different — and using that to your full advantage — is one of my biggest lessons.”
Building Bridges, Not Walls
Sharissa believes in the transformative power of collaboration, especially across cultures. She intentionally chose U.C. Irvine (UCI) over USC because UCI emphasized collaboration over competition, echoing her belief that "you can't make movies alone". She points out that by setting clear expectations and embracing different working styles, production teams can turn cultural diversity into their biggest strength. Her work on Code Name Onika and The Summer Book was personally meaningful—both projects had predominantly women-led production teams, creating collaborative, empowering environments.
“Most people can adapt to anything. They just need to know what they’re adapting to.”
As Sharissa grows into leadership, she carries forward the spirit of lifting others up. She believes in recognizing each person's unique spark and giving them room to thrive — a leadership philosophy that transforms teams, productions, and lives.
Her story reminds us that our "wrong turns," our failures, and our differences aren't things to hide — they're things to cherish. They're the very elements that shape us into who we are meant to become. Her journey invites all of us to ask: What part of myself have I been pushing away that might actually be my greatest gift?
Learn more about Sharissa Holopainen’s work and connect with her on LinkedIn.
