Expressing gratitude to their alma mater

Jaakko Kivinen graduated from Helsinki University of Technology (TKK) as a Master of Science in 1964 and as a PhD in 1977. His donation to Aalto University is his way of passing on the good for generations to come.

‘I received grants for my postgraduate studies from TKK and three foundations. Back then, they really helped me out financially. In a sense, my donation is my way of paying back the debt of gratitude I have to those who made my grants possible,’ Kivinen says.

Kivinen has had a distinguished career in information technology. As an expert in control and automation technology, he is particularly interested in Aalto’s research on robotics.

‘Aalto is developing robots for various tasks, such as serving the elderly in nursing homes. This is a great example of Aalto’s multidisciplinary approach. Technology experts must also be able to understand what it means to be human and how people cope in their old age. You should not isolate yourself to just your own field.’

Four generations of graduates

Emma Aer graduated from the Helsinki School of Economics in 1996 and has since worked in marketing, sales and commerce around the world. Today, she lives in Florida and works as the CEO of Franklin Foods.

‘My studies helped open up my thinking and taught me a lot about problem-solving. I also had lots of great international experiences,’ Aer says.

Aer’s family includes several Kauppis graduates. She met her husband during her studies, and now two of their children have followed in their footsteps.

‘Four generations of my family have walked the halls of my alma mater. I feel happy and proud whenever I think about my time at the School of Economics and everything it has given me. Now I want to give something back and support the international aspirations of the students of the School of Business, since it provided such a solid foundation for my own international career.’

A new home and career in Finland

Aalto University’s IDBM (International Design Business Management) programme provided Ryoji Matsuzaki with the skills he needed to advance his career and discover his strengths. The study programme focuses on product, service and business design, technology, and innovation management.

Studying at Aalto was a valuable experience for Matsuzaki: ‘Half of the studies was something I knew to expect, but the other half was something I didn't even know existed. At the heart of my Aalto experience was finding new ideas, things and people.’ 

Matsuzaki graduated as a Master of Arts (Art and Design) in the spring of 2020. Now, he works at ABB as a senior UX designer. Matsuzaki decided to use his donation to support the School of Arts, Design and Architecture at Aalto. ‘I was given the opportunity to study at Aalto, and then I found a good job in Finland, so now I want to give something back to my alma mater.’