Stories from alumni and students
Support for the transition to working life and insights into one's own skills
Participants of the latest mentoring programme Inka Vettenranta and Marek HudeÄek share their mentoring experiences.
School of Science Alumnus of the Year Matti Aksela: itâs 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 â 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 Nesteâs renewable business and advanced chemical engineering research and education at Aalto University.
School of Engineering Alum of the Year Mika Viljanmaa: Thereâs 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 â 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
âIn doctoral studies, you need to be able to define the problem yourself and solve it,â says Aalto Universityâs 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: âIf youâre interested in game design, thereâs no place like thisâ
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: âI want to do things that I can direct my passion towardsâ
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: âThe idea of always having your life with you and being able to move from place to place spoke to me.â
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 wouldnât 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 MyllymÀki: 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 MyllymÀki 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.
