Alumni stories
Group donations for international student exchange
The classes of 1964 and 1974 closed their bank accounts and donated the remaining funds.
Alum Elina Valtonen: ‘Study broadly everything that interests you’
Finland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, and alum of the School of Business majoring in financial economics Elina Valtonen would do the same now as she did 20 years ago while studying: she would study a wide range of subjects that interest her and would also boldly venture into areas outside her comfort zone, as that is where the most learning happens.
The alumni of Aalto University gathered for the first time at alumni events in Vietnam
A total of over 70 alumni and friends of Aalto gathered in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in November for alumni events hosted by Timo Korkeamäki, Dean of the School of Business.
A community where personal connections and career paths intertwine
Assistant professor of operations management Siavash Khajavi explains how studying Industrial Engineering and Management helps students develop hard skills through rigorous studies and soft skills through countless interactions and collaboration.
Alum Maria Kupila: ‘I strongly believe in the power of a multidisciplinary approach’
An IDBM alum Maria Kupila has embraced the multidisciplinary approach in her work in management consulting. She believes combining design thinking, technology and strategic analysis is key to turning future challenges into opportunities.
Guild of Physics bumps into alum in Jyväskylä teachers' room
On their high school tour, the Aalto Guild of Physics ran into Antero Hietamäki in the teachers' room in Jyväskylä. Hietamäki, now the Administrative Head of the Teacher Training School, was a student of engineering physics and mathematics in the 1980s.
Aalto University graduates feel well prepared for working life
Aalto University graduates feel that their degree is valued in the labour market.
Alum Liisa Antola: ‘I would urge people to not only follow their passion but to be more values-led in their career’
Liisa Antola has always pursued an international career, and international exposure during her studies in the School of Business helped her achieve it. Today, she works in a UK-based trade body with DEI matters and aims to build a more equitable working life for everyone in insurance and long-term savings sector.
‘We enjoyed the inspiring atmosphere of the School of Business’!
By donating, Antti and Susanne Suhonen want to support Finland's success in a tough international competition.
What makes an alum and a freshman produce a full-length guild documentary together?
Markus Toivonen, a Bioinformation Technology alum, started his studies in Aalto University in 2015. The idea for the documentary about Inkubio, the guild of bioinformation technology, was born in 2019, when the guild celebrated its 15th anniversary.
Alum, is your contact information up to date?
By keeping your contact details up to date you receive invitations to events and information on self-development and networking opportunities.
Kiia Einola thinks that buildings should support the well-being of us all
Kiia Einola's study journey at Aalto University extends from bachelor's studies all the way to doctoral research. Summer job during her master's studies sparked Kiia's interest in smart building research. She is currently working on her doctoral dissertation in smart building services engineering by collaborating with Helvar, a company specializing in electrical engineering.
Alumni encounters from Seattle to Bangalore
Over the past year, we have met with our alumni in more than 10 cities around the world.
Alum Anton Jantunen: 'In my role, analytical skills, a comprehensive understanding of complex concepts, and the ability to see connections are especially useful.'
Anton Jantunen's journey led him from major consulting firms and startups to working in Nairobi at the UN Sanitation and Hygiene Fund, which aims to improve access to safe sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual health products and services. Jantunen works with innovative financing models for the fund.
Vesa Kemppainen: ‘An important quality in working life is an interest in new things’
Alum story: Art Director at Fiskars Group Vesa Kemppainen believes that creativity and the ability to make creative decisions are important skills in working life.
Alum Ohto Pentikäinen ‘Anyone can come up with problems, but those who can solve them creatively are hot currency in building better business’
Our alum Ohto Pentikäinen has been entrepreneurial since childhood. From establishing a snack kiosk in middle school to officially founding his first company in high school and juggling multiple projects and businesses alongside studies, Ohto emphasizes that entrepreneurship has primarily been a tool for him to solve problems.
Mariana Salgado is the Alumn of the Year of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture
Service design expert speaks for the designers’ role in public policy creation and in helping strengthen participation.
Genuine networking is about meeting people as people
For School of Business alum Jude Kokkonen, people and doing things together is a matter close to his heart
Inspiring encounters in the US with alumni and friends highlighting radical creativity
Inspiring encounters in the US: alumni and friends are important in fostering collaboration and radical creativity
Alum Maija Keskinen: I enjoy learning new things and trying out different roles
Our alum, Maija Keskinen, knew from the start that she wanted to study economics. "Meaningful work to me means being able to serve society and do my part to ensure that decisions made in public administration are based on the highest quality information possible," Keskinen explains.
