Stories from alumni and students
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: ”The idea of always having your life with you and being able to move from place to place spoke to me.”
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’t 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 Myllymäki: 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 Myllymäki 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’s 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.
Chemical engineering student Ella Haravuori combines bioproduct development and food sciences
Ella Haravuori studies chemical engineering at Aalto University and food sciences at the University of Helsinki. Ella is particularly interested in biobased packaging materials that can replace plastics in food packaging.
Student Anusha Porwal: Studies build a strong foundation for understanding speech and language technologies
Anusha Porwal is studying Signal, Speech and Language Processing as a master's student. The field of speech and language technology is developing rapidly, and her studies at Aalto have provided her with a good foundation for understanding the real challenges and future development of the field.
Work experience helped Hang Le in choosing the right major
Top-tier teaching, flexible studies and an inspiring peer network are software engineer Hang Le’s favourite things about Aalto University’s Computer, Communication and Information Sciences Master’s Programme.
Alum Philipp Hummel: ‘Meaningful work revolves around three key aspects’
Our Global Management alum Philipp Hummel works as a Consultant at Bain & Company. For him, meaningful work revolves around three key aspects: broader positive impact, personal growth, and flexibility.
Alum Niklas Huotari: Five tips to start your career
Alum Niklas Huotari wants to help people succeed in their careers, both through his job and as an active member of the Aalto community.
Alum Janette Malmström: A business strategist guiding companies through change
At Monitor Deloitte, Janette excels not only in project management but also in providing valuable strategic insight to clients.
Summer School Alum Story: 'Working with living materials gives you new perspectives every day'
Students are taking action for a sustainable future with natural materials at the Aalto University Summer School course Nordic Biomaterials.
Creativity supported boxing and vice versa
Eva Wahlström, an Aalto alum who has boxed for 25 years, shared her memories of the people and experiences that were ultimately more important to her than success and medals