In what ways should the current students take the changes in the business world into consideration in their studies?
I still believe that one should follow his/her heart in choosing the topic of studies. Yet, I think that some of the skills and competences are fundamental in whatever walk of life you choose. These are intercultural and interpersonal competences, analytical and argumentation skills, cognitive abilities to process and synthesize information. The business world has been and will be changing fast, so one needs to develop meta-skills and meta-competences (our strategy colleagues might call these dynamic capabilities 😉) to keep pace and stay afloat.
What kind of knowledge and skills are emphasized in the future working life in your opinion?
Once again, I think the technical competence is important yet much more fundamental and valuable is the ability to organize, motivate, lead and steer, or manage, if you like. The working life becomes more and more complex, social, dispersed, unstructured and voluntary. To be able to manage it and manage others in these conditions effectively is a very valuable and rare skill.
You are a member of the Alumni Advisory Board at the School of Business. What does being an alumnus mean to you?
I am very proud of being a member of the Alumni Advisory Board, it is a great honor. As I said above, I spent a few years away from the School of Business observing from across the street - from Hanken - how it has been developing in the first years of its Aalto history. And I was very happy to be back in 2014 and join the School on its journey of integrating into Aalto University and reinventing itself under a new name and in a new location. I feel committed to our School and to the people who work here. I am happy to contribute in whatever way I can to co-creating the success story of Aalto University School of Business together with other employees, alumni and students.
Is there something else that you would like to say?
Stay ahead, stay cool, stay Kauppis!