News
Alum Tuomas Paananen: 'Many paths lead back to studies'
Tuomas Paananen, originally from Vihti, knew from a young age that he wanted to be an entrepreneur.
65 years of class reunions
The class of '52 that began their studies at the Helsinki School of Economics 73 years ago has been meeting regularly for decades.
President Ilkka Niemel盲 to alumni: 'At Aalto, we dare to dream - and we dare to do'
Aalto Alumni Weekend brought together 1 400 alumni.
Alum Nina Zhao: Curiosity has taken me far
Nina Zhao has graduated from the master's program in Global Management, and she currently works at EY People Advisory Services in New York.
Support for the transition to working life and insights into one's own skills
Participants of the latest mentoring programme Inka Vettenranta and Marek Hude膷ek share their mentoring experiences.
School of Science Alumnus of the Year Matti Aksela: it鈥檚 always worth learning something new
Aksela mentors international students through the Aalto International Talent programme and hopes to see even greater diversity in the technology sector.
School of Electrical Engineering Alum of the Year 2025 Ville Voipio shares his insights on the importance of adaptability
Three themes guide Ville Voipio's career: digitalisation, sustainability and economic well-being. He received the Alum of the Year award at the Alumni Weekend event on 25 October 2025.
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.
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.
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.
Turning Research into Impact: Insights from the Inventors Program Panel
Aalto University鈥檚 Inventors Program recently hosted a panel discussion bringing together experts from research, entrepreneurship, and industry to share their perspectives on turning scientific ideas into successful ventures.
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
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.
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.
Alum Philipp Hummel: 鈥楳eaningful work revolves around three key aspects鈥
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.
