---
title: "Juha Korpela - Data Modeling & Conceptual Modeling Expert | Context and Chaos"
url: "https://atlan.com/context-and-chaos/experts/juha-korpela/"
description: "Juha Korpela is an independent data consultant at Datakor Consulting, co-founder of Helsinki Data Week, and author of the Common Sense Data newsletter. Follow his work on Context & Chaos."
keywords: "Juha Korpela, data modeling, conceptual modeling, information architecture, data governance, data mesh, semantic modeling, knowledge graphs, Helsinki"
---

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Context & Chaos expert profile: **Juha Korpela**, Data Modeling Expert & Independent Consultant / Datakor Consulting.

Juha Korpela is an independent data consultant at Datakor Consulting with approximately 15 years of experience in data modeling, information architecture, and data governance. He began his career at Statistics Finland before moving through consulting and corporate roles, and served as Chief Product Officer at Ellie Technologies (Ellie.ai) before founding Datakor Consulting in late 2023. He co-founded Helsinki Data Week, an annual Nordic data community conference, and co-hosts the Helsinki Data Mafia podcast on the Common Sense Data Substack.

## Expertise and background

- **Expertise in:** Conceptual Data Modeling, Logical Data Modeling, Information Architecture, Data Product Management, Data Governance, Data Mesh, Semantic Modeling
- **Specialty:** Conceptual & Logical Data Modeling Expert
- **Experience:** 15+ years in data modeling, information architecture, and data product management
- **Notable work:** Founder, Datakor Consulting; Former CPO, Ellie Technologies (Ellie.ai); Co-founder, Helsinki Data Week; Co-host, Helsinki Data Mafia podcast

## Resources

- C&C Issue: [Conceptual Modeling Is the Context Engineering Nobody Is Doing](https://atlan.com/context-and-chaos/issue/conceptual-modeling-is-the-context-engineering-nobody-is-doing/)
- Article: [Building Semantics with Conceptual Models](https://commonsensedata.substack.com/p/building-semantics-with-conceptual). How conceptual data models create the shared semantic layer that enterprise AI systems need - and why most organizations skip this step, then wonder why their AI does not understand their business.
- Article: [Semantic Linking - The Aboutness of Data](https://commonsensedata.substack.com/p/semantic-linking-the-aboutness-of). Juha examines how semantic linking - making explicit what data is about, not just what it contains - is the key difference between a data catalog and a genuine context layer.
- Talk: [Data Modeling in the Age of Data Mesh](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvpawxgWIpQ). How data mesh architectures change the requirements for data modeling - and why conceptual models become more important, not less, when data ownership is distributed across domains.
- All issues: [the full Context & Chaos library](https://atlan.com/context-and-chaos/)

## Connect with Juha Korpela

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jkorpela/
- X / Twitter: https://x.com/juha_korpela
- Substack: https://commonsensedata.substack.com/
- Personal site: https://www.datakor.fi/

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