Business Development Manager Nora Airas is an experienced leader in driving commercial development.
“Elisa has been my professional home for 13 years, shaping a career that now spans nearly three decades. I truly enjoy my work, and the best part is undoubtedly the opportunity to keep learning something new almost every day,” she says.
“Data analytics and artificial intelligence have played a key role in my previous positions as well. Their potential became even more intriguing when I transitioned into consumer business development. That’s when I decided to deepen my expertise through Aalto EE’s Data, Analytics, and AI for Professionals program, DAAP,” Airas explains.
The program consists of four three-day modules. Participants can complete them all or simply select the ones that best suit their needs.
“The program was excellent. Aalto EE’s instructors are top academic researchers, and it was a pleasure to learn from them. Not only were they highly knowledgeable, but they were also extremely passionate about their fields,” Airas says.
“Their enthusiasm wasn’t hype – quite the opposite. The program helped demystify many topics. One key takeaway from DAAP was how the definition of AI evolves over time. When something ceases to be particularly difficult or complex, it is no longer considered artificial intelligence,” she points out.
Gaining a clearer picture of what’s possible
Airas explains that her main goal was to gain fresh perspectives for business leadership.
“Organizations can now access and utilize data analytics in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago. What’s particularly exciting is how much better we can now predict the future. There’s also a growing appreciation for learning from the past and using that knowledge to build something new. This simply isn’t possible without a solid foundation of facts,” she states.
“Thanks to the DAAP program, I now have a clearer picture of what’s possible with data analytics and AI, and where these technologies stand on a global scale,” Airas continues.
Practical insights to drive results
Airas emphasizes that each DAAP module provided concrete ideas for her work.
“From my employer’s perspective, the most tangible benefit of DAAP is that I now ask tough questions and challenge assumptions more boldly – most importantly, to uncover real opportunities for leveraging data analytics and AI to drive business development,” Airas says.
Airas found the Real-World Impact of AI Applications module particularly valuable.
“In this module, we delved into many topics that are highly relevant to my work, such as the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, ethical challenges related to AI use, and sustainability. Business leaders need to be able to take a stance on these issues and make long-term decisions,” she underlines.
“I recently applied insights from this module when advising a new business of ours on ethical and responsibility considerations. We had a very rewarding discussion, and my colleagues said it sparked many new ideas for them,” Airas mentions.
The learning environment fostered open dialogue
Airas says she is pleased to recommend the Data, Analytics, and AI for Professionals program. She emphasizes that the training is suitable for anyone interested, regardless of their area of expertise.
“When comparing training programs, I wondered whether DAAP was the right fit for me – after all, my background is entirely commercial. After a discussion with Aalto EE’s program director, I was convinced I should join. If you’re looking to deepen your understanding of data analytics and artificial intelligence technologies, DAAP is the right choice,” she affirms.
The diverse backgrounds of the participants enriched discussions in all DAAP modules.
“Aalto EE’s instructors were very skilled at facilitating interaction. They successfully created an environment where participants from very different professional roles felt comfortable sharing their insights,” Airas remarks.
“Many participants had strong technological expertise, while others contributed valuable business perspectives. This diversity added depth to the discussions. In every session, we explored the opportunities of data analytics and AI from multiple viewpoints and learned a great deal from one another,” she explains.
The positive DAAP learning experience motivated Airas to also participate in Aalto EE’s one-day Leading the AI Transformation Process course.
“It was an excellent complement to the DAAP program. If you get the opportunity to participate, I highly recommend it as well,” Airas says.