“It was a marvelous experience. We’ll miss Saturday mornings at Aalto EE. Mind-blowing revelations in a group setting, and new marvelous friends.”
“My fellow students were the absolute highlight of the entire program. At a recent alumni get-together, we discussed how extraordinary it is to make such close friendships as an adult. We supported and encouraged each other every single step of the way.”
“We became a close group, and many lifelong friendships were formed. Whenever I want to brainstorm, discuss something, or ask for help, I know I can always pick up my phone and contact anyone from our cohort.”
These testimonies are just a few examples of the friendships and connections formed in Aalto’s MBA programs. Most participants are aware of the importance of developing and expanding their networks during their studies – but it’s also an opportunity to find new, lifelong friends.
This was the case for Jussi Ropo, Ville Mäkelä, Sami Supply, and Tatu Rauhamäki. They got to know each other after their Aalto Executive MBA studies began in 2021.
During their studies, the four of them started getting together after the modules. They would discuss the module content over dinner or beer, Mäkelä recalls, and they got to know each other quite well.
Ropo, Mäkelä, Supply, Rauhamäki, and the fifth member of the group, Milla Nummenpää (who was unable to join the filming), ended up doing the Business Strategy Project as part of the EMBA studies together.
“That’s probably where we finally got to know each other and bonded,” said Ropo.
As a result, their friendship, meetings, and messaging have continued even after finishing their studies.
Different backgrounds were a big advantage
While working on the project, the group noticed that their working methods matched and working together went well. A big advantage was that the friends came from very different backgrounds.
Ropo works as the CFO of the human resources company Barona, andMäkelä is the CEO and Partner at the management consulting company Tamora Oy. Supply is a professional in the field of arts and culture, Rauhamäki is the Director of Industrial Policy and Public Affairs at Service Sector Employers Palta, and Nummenpää is an entrepreneur and communication professional.
Therefore, the group had a wide range of expertise from different industries, including the public and private sectors, and the members complemented each other and each other’s expertise.
“We were pretty much on the same wavelength and had the same expectations for the whole thing,” adds Supply.
Ropo points out that although many people are aware that a diverse network is valuable, they often end up spending time mainly with like-minded people.
“The good thing about the EMBA was that the participants came from very different backgrounds.”
The four friends recall the coaching sessions that were part of the studies. Having a fellow participant look at the situation at hand as a leader from another industry and organization was valuable. They could discuss challenges more freely and confidently than at one’s own workplace.
Supply pointed out that “If you bounce ideas with your colleagues, you can’t always be completely open about everything.”
Rauhamäki said that it is often said about the EMBA that the human networks the program brings are its greatest asset.
“It is quite easy to grasp that and agree with the statement.”
You can watch the entire conversation in the video above or on Youtube.
