“Listening and meeting people matters”
Having built a long career in the retail sector, Sampo Päällysaho decided to update his skills through Open University, as retail management increasingly requires understanding of different topics.
Alumni stories: Management and International Business
On this page you can read stories of alumni graduated from the School of Business Management and International Business program. The newest publications are placed first in the page.
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.
Henri Yoki: When my children ask what their dad is doing, I answer that I am solving the climate crisis
Henri Yoki, M.Sc. in both tech and business, founded his first company while studying international business at the School of Business. Today, he is the Founder and CEO of a company focusing on green energy transition. There, he gets to widely apply everything he learned during his career and studies.
The shared School of Business and KY history feels very important, says CEO Emma Aer
The Aer family has been a part of the student population of the School of Business for four generations
Alumnus Michael Hanf: Finland provides a great place to live and work
‘Helsinki caught my attention as it was different from the typical locations my fellow students selected.’ says Michael Hanf who came to do exchange studies at the then Helsinki School of Economics in the end of 1990s. After that he has been working in Finland and Germany and currently is the co-founder of Taival Advisory, helping clients to consider sustainability and circularity in their strategic decision making.
Alumnus Tomi Nyman: Sales business is consultative and creative problem solving
Tomi Nyman, who works as National Manager at Hilti, says that social skills and mentality for continuous learning are the most important skills in today’s working life. That’s why the understanding of how I learn is the single most important lesson learnt at university. Nyman’s study combination, Management as a major and Finance as a minor, is especially useful in his current position.
Alumni Ambassador Niklas Huotari: I like that there is always an opportunity to learn more
‘It’s worth following your own interests and enthusiasm, because then there’s a better chance of really becoming good at something.’ says Niklas Huotari, a new School of Business Alumni Ambassador and the CEO of aTalent Recruiting.
Alumna Wen Hui-Tu: If you are interested in working in the gaming industry, don't be hesitant if you don't have any programming background
‘I had never imagined myself working for a mobile game company until I started exploring this industry while writing my Master’s thesis,’ tells our alumna Wen-Hui Tu, who combined Management studies with more quantitative courses through Information and Service Management minor, and now works as an App Store Optimization Specialist at Next Games.
Alumna Tiina Palmunen: Presentation, cooperation and teamwork skills are crucial in working life
Our alumna Tiina Palmunen became interested in Kesko’s trainee program when she met with an HR representative of that company at Aalto Summer Job Day. At her current position as HR Specialist at Employee Responsibility at Kesko, she works with diversity and inclusion matters.
School of Business Alumni Advisory Board member's story: Alexei Koveshnikov
Alexei Koveshnikov, who is our alumnus and Associate Professor in Management and Organization at the School of Business, became also a member of our School’s Alumni Advisory Board in fall 2020. He encourages students to obtain meta-skills and meta-competences, which are invaluable in today’s business life.
School of Business Alumni Advisory Board member's story: Norbert Juhász
The School of Business Alumni Advisory Board member Norbert Juhász studied in International Business and CEMS MIM master’s programmes. Aalto student community, business case competitions with fellow students and the possibility to study and live completely in English in Finland are very memorable to him. “Being an alumnus means being part of a community and being part of a shared history with that community.”
Alumna Julia Österlund: Responsibility and success boost courage, and failure helps you grow
School of Business alumna Julia Österlund studied two different majors at school and thinks that the diverse studies benefit her in her current job: ‘It is also great that I can combine everything I have studied at school - marketing, communications, information technology and calculus.’
Alumna Anne Tolonen: In an international career courage and hard work will pay off
Our alumna Anne Tolonen always knew she would go to work abroad after studies. After spending over 5 years abroad in different management positions, she has learnt to appreciate inspiring and caring leadership manners.
Alumnus Jesús Manuel Castro Félix: It is important to develop skills that help working with all kinds of people
Good communication and continuous learning were the most important takeaways for the MIB alumnus.
Alumna Essi Raitala: Business studies create an excellent basis for a diplomatic career
Diverse career opportunities and varying tasks got our alumna Essi Raitala interested in a career in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Currently, she is on her first posting at the Embassy of Finland in Nairobi.
Alumna Katariina Koskelainen: I would describe the work of a consultant as creative problem-solving
Katariina Koskelainen studied in the School of Business during the years 2008–2013, leadership and management as her major. She works currently as a Senior Consultant at CIVITTA. We asked Katariina to share her insights on working as a consultant and how to pursue a consulting career.
Kirsikka Lehto-Asikainen
The Ambassador of Finland to Israel, Kirsikka Lehto-Asikainen, is an alumna of the School of Business. As a student, she set her sights on becoming a citizen of the world and she has stayed the course ever since.
Alumni Ambassador Mia Sirkiä: You should always navigate according to your own passion and interests
“For me, choosing the major subject was very difficult, as I did not want to delimit any options at the time when I was interested in many things”, reflects Mia Sirkiä, the School of Business Alumni Ambassador. She encourages students in similar situations: ”Think about your own interests and navigate according to those. True passion will lead to prosperity!”
Alumni Ambassador Miikka Huhta: The Aalto University Mentoring Programme benefited me a lot
“I applied to the Aalto University Mentoring Program, and I’m glad I did, since it benefited me a lot!” says the School of Business Alumni Ambassador Miikka Huhta. He emphasizes that the Mentoring Program is a good chance to get peer support from the other mentees.
Alumni Ambassador Oskar Vahervuori: Student activities affected significantly me becoming the person who I am today
“In the 1980s, the studies and academic life were separate from the business world, which was a disappointment for me. Now, the times have luckily changed and it is great to follow the dynamics of different Aalto University units. There are so many good things going on at the campus, and it seems to me like they have Slush every day”, says our alumnus Oskar Vahervuori.
Alumnus Niklas Karvonen: Working abroad is about the balance between my own doing, my values and different working methods in a specific country
Several different experiences and occasions from Aalto University have affected the employment of the School of Business alumnus Niklas Karvonen, who worked as a Business Design Manager at 16Lab in Tokyo in 2018-2019.
Currently Karvonen is working at a Tokyo-based coding bootcamp Code Chrysalis as a Marketing and Community Lead (2020).
Alumna Anna Pakkala: I wish that even more young people would see entrepreneurship as a considerable career path
Anna Pakkala was the 2018 Head of Sustainability at Slush. At the moment, Pakkala is working as a Brand Manager at Compensate (2020).
Alumni Ambassador Juuso Leivonen: Hobbies and working at a student union have marked a strong start to my career
The Secretary General of the Association of Business Schools Finland, our alumnus Juuso Leivonen created a job out of his study-time activities at the student association.
Alumni Ambassador Elisa Liekkilä: My major helped me focus on the things that really interested me
Our alumna Elisa Liekkilä takes part in the School’s ARENA Career Fair on November 14 as the company representative of Tieto. “At the ARENA Career Fair, one can search for inspiration, knowledge, support and advice by getting to know different companies”, says Liekkilä.
Alumni Ambassador Terttu Sopanen: The studies have given me a good basis to deepen my knowledge
Terttu Sopanen, a Senior Consultant at Brunnen Communications and a School of Business alumna is glad to be working in the field of communication: "We help our customers to be more impressive and to make results that are more visible."
Alumni Ambassador Tatu Mäkilä: I can warmly recommend entrepreneurship, if you are interested in taking small risks
Entrepreneur, our alumnus Tatu Mäkilä wants to support fresh entrepreneurs and help students to reach for their dreams.
"To me, being an alumnus means giving back, and thus, I am very pleased to help", says Mäkilä."
Alumni Ambassador Susanna Hyppönen: You can always change the direction and make new choices later on in your career
“Developing the resilience to adapt to possible changes and being ready to continue learning also after the graduation are huge assets in the working life”, reminds our alumna Susanna Hyppönen.
Alumni Ambassador Mikko Kosonen: Knowing people widely from different sectors benefits you in the future
President of Sitra and School of Business alumnus Mikko Kosonen challenges students to plan their studies well. ”Tackling different challenges demands cooperation between the public and private sector, and it is no more enough to know only your own field well”, advises Kosonen.
Alumni Ambassador Emilia Rantala: The Aalto on Waves trip was a turning point in my life
Our alumna Emilia Rantala became accidentally part of one of the very first Aalto-level study projects at the newly formed university. Aalto on Waves took her from Lisbon over the Atlantic Ocean all the way to Brazil, and brought along a broad network and many new friendships.
Alumni Ambassador Minna Rissanen: Aalto University enables countless study combinations, and that is how everyone can find their own thing
Ambitious Minna Rissanen has gained a huge advantage from the interdisciplinary programs at Aalto University, and encourages current students to take on new subjects, also outside their own degree.
Alumni Ambassador Sirpa Widomski: The studies in the School of Business have strengthened my abilities and self-confidence
Aalto University School of Business alumna Sirpa Widomski appreciates the broad expertise and networking opportunities granted for the students in the Aalto University.
Alum Maria Lehto: My hobbies have had a big influence in my career and through them I have had my first leadership experiences
Maria Lehto has had an exciting career path to her current position as an Engagement Specialist at School of Business Premium Partner company, Konecranes. Even though the path didn’t always feel so straightforward, all experiences have played a part in her professional development. She would like to encourage young students to follow their own areas of interest and trust that it will lead them to the right direction in the end.
Explore study options
International Management, Master of Science (Economics and Business Administration)
The programme prepares students to operate responsibly and successfully in influential decision-maker positions in a globalized environment.
Strategic management in a changing world, Master of Science (Economics and Business Administration)
Strategic Management in a Changing World is a unique Master’s programme that teaches students how to develop effective strategy in a rapidly changing world. Graduates are analytical decision-makers who can identify valuable business opportunities by evaluating of complex global megatrends such as sustainability, digitalization, and globalization. To action these new opportunities, the programme teaches students how to bring an entrepreneurial mindset into their organizations.
Department of Management Studies
The Department of Management Studies offers a dynamic environment for scholarship and learning.
School of Business alumni stories
For School of Business alumni