This year's MBA scholarship application period, organized in collaboration with koulutus.fi, was from April 30 to June 13, 2021. One hundred people applied for the scholarship, two of whom advanced to the last round of interviews.
“We were looking for someone with an impressive personal story and solid expertise. In the selection, we emphasized motivation and the ability to self-reflect. We also emphasized the commitment to the key themes of responsibility and sustainable development for the Aalto MBA program,” says Katri Koivula, Associate Director, Degree Programs at Aalto EE.
Kaisa Kannuksela holds a master's degree in social sciences and works as the Head of International HR at the Finnish Red Cross. She has ten years of experience in the field of humanitarian aid and fifteen years of experience in volunteering. Important values for Kannuksela are responsibility, defending the disadvantaged, and climate and environmental issues.
“I have always been actively looking for opportunities to make a difference in social issues. In the NGO sector, I have found my own place where I can work according to my values. It feels great that I can now start my MBA studies and later transfer the lessons I have gained to practice,” Kannuksela says.
For a few years now, she has been exploring options and looking for programs that, on the one hand, would provide business skills, leadership skills and networking opportunities, but on the other hand would be in line with her personal values.
“At this point of my career, I want to complete a full degree rather than shorter courses. I have come across Aalto University Executive Education on several occasions, and I have heard many good things about the Aalto MBA program from a former colleague of mine,” says Kannuksela.
The scholarship committee consisted of Dr. Pekka Mattila, Group Managing Director of Aalto EE and Professor of Practice at Aalto University School of Business; Katri Koivula, Associate Director of Aalto EE's degree programs; Anne Nylund, Program Director of Aalto MBA; Max Lundberg, Managing Director of koulutus.fi, and Emma Niemi, Communication Manager at koulutus.fi.
Further information on the MBA scholarship and the selection process:
Katri Koivula
Associate Director, Degree Programs
Aalto University Executive Education Ltd
Tel. +358 50 4680 282
katri.koivula@aaltoee.fi
Aalto University Executive Education Ltd
Aalto University Executive Education Ltd offers thought provoking leadership development services (Aalto EE), professional development services for specialists and managers (Aalto PRO), creative solutions covering the whole life cycle of entrepreneurship (Aalto ENT), and finance sector specific skills and knowledge (Finva). Aalto University brings to our offering a multidisciplinary approach, together with innovative learning methods; this provides a unique combination of practical expertise with the latest research.
Aalto University Executive Education’s strengths lie in its global operating model and diverse offering. In addition to Finland and Singapore, Aalto University Executive Education Ltd offers education programs worldwide. As a part of Aalto University, it holds three respected business university accreditations – AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS – which places it among the top 0.5% of institutions in the world.