Stories from alumni and students
From polymer technology to international research centres 鈥 Chemical engineering alum of the year Petri Lehmus
Petri Lehmus, Vice President of Research and Development at Neste Corporation, has been named alum of the year by the School of Chemical Engineering. Throughout his career, he has led international research centres, built the success story of Neste鈥檚 renewable business and advanced chemical engineering research and education at Aalto University.
School of Engineering Alum of the Year Mika Viljanmaa: There鈥檚 no point in developing something useless
Viljanmaa, an award-winning inventor, calls Otaniemi his professional and spiritual home.
'It was never obvious to me that I would pursue studies in a technical field 鈥 but choosing Aalto University turned out to be an excellent decision.'
What is it like to study in the Master's programme in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)?
Harri Paananen, triple alum of Aalto University, moves to NATO from the City of Espoo
鈥業n doctoral studies, you need to be able to define the problem yourself and solve it,鈥 says Aalto University鈥檚 triple alum Harri Paananen. He first applied that mindset in the City of Espoo and now in his new role at NATO.
Alum Maria Pirkkalainen-Barber: Business studies built a bridge for international influencing
Maria Pirkkalainen-Barber has graduated from Aalto University School of Business, majoring in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management.
Alum Salla Lonka implements a culture of experimentation in a home appliance company
Salla Lonka finds it fascinating to examine creative processes from a distance, focusing on efficiency and impact. After completing her master's degree in fashion design, she ended up at a global home appliance company in Stockholm.
Summer School Alum Story: 鈥淚f you鈥檙e interested in game design, there鈥檚 no place like this鈥
Aaron Misra from Mumbai, India, joined the Game Design course by Aalto University Summer School in July 2025.
Alum Maija Itkonen shapes food and businesses: 鈥業 want to do things that I can direct my passion towards鈥
Maija Itkonen, CEO of Onego Bio, is known for popularising the meat alternative Pulled Oats and now also for egg protein made without chickens. She believes business can change the world for the better.
Alum Ella Ahmas: 'Getting a job at the European Commission was a great achievement, and I believe that my younger self would be really proud of me'
Ella Ahmas, who studied in the Master's programme in Management and International Business, found her niche through the experience gained in internships and ended up working for the European Commission in her current role.
Alum Laura Suomalainen: 鈥漈he idea of always having your life with you and being able to move from place to place spoke to me.鈥
Laura Suomalainen had long dreamed of "Vanlife" until the opportunity to go on exchange to Norway set the wheels of her dream in motion. Nowadays she travels across Europe in her own van and works remotely.
"The spark for Chemical engineering was ignited" - An alumni's story from Otaniemi to working life
Juha Malinen, an alumn of the School of Chemical Engineering, warmly recounts his years at Otaniemi, the studies that supported his transition to working life and helped him find his place in building a more sustainable future.
Degree and language skills helped Mariana Salgado into Finnish working life
The professional network has been an important support for Salgado in her career as a service designer
Alum Salla Vainio: An exceptional generalist
Little did a young business student know that the most valuable lessons of her career wouldn鈥檛 come from lectures but from student union work. Over the years, Salla Vainio has found herself in many extraordinary situations in leadership roles around the world.
Growth entrepreneur Teemu Myllym盲ki: I wanted to see where the rabbit hole leads
An entrepreneurial mindset and the lessons learned during doctoral studies at Aalto University have helped Teemu Myllym盲ki to become a founding partner and CEO of Measurlabs, a company selling chemical measurement services.
Alum Sari Ovaska: 'It was clear to me that I wanted to help create better workplaces for others'
Our alum Sari Ovaska broadened her expertise during her study leave, and transitioned from an auditor position to a new career in HR.
Shape your future at Aalto University Summer School
Spending your summer in a Nordic country could be one of your best decisions yet. The alumni of our past summer courses at Aalto University Summer School share how participating in a summer course at Aalto helped them prepare for their future and develop both professionally and personally.
Student Aitor Urruticoechea: The future needs people who look beyond the technological nuances
For Aitor Urruticoechea, studying at Aalto is more than just the program name. What he enjoys the most in his studies is being able to hop around, discover new passions, work with different people, and learn how interconnected everything is.
Alum Otso Sillanaukee: "Master's studies prepared me well for working life"
Otso Sillanaukee, an alum from the Master鈥檚 programme in Creative Sustainability, wants to make a difference in the world for a more sustainable and happier future.
Minna Lukander is the Alumna of the Year of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Architect and CEO of Talli Architecture and Design strives to create functional and meaningful spaces and living environments that promote well-being, community, and a sustainable lifestyle.
Student Lisa Petry: Signals are present in nearly every field of engineering and technology
Lisa Petry, a master's student in the Signal Processing and Data Science major, thinks that the increasing adoption of AI in industries highlights the need for skilled professionals who can work with data and therefore can provide a deeper understanding of the world around us based on given data.
