The School of Business alumni day is a new forum for social discussion

04.06.2014

Homecoming Day 22 August brings together the leading professionals in the field to discuss and network.

The School of Business has strong ties with the Finnish society and economic life, and has been taking part in the development of the society for over a hundred years. Homecoming Day starts a new tradition when the alumni are invited back to home campus.

Over 40 leading perspectives on competitiveness

The biggest alumni event in the School of Business provides the most recent knowledge in the business field, inspiring perspectives, valuable contacts as well as reunions with old friends. The theme of the first Homecoming Day is Competitiveness, and it will be discussed from different perspectives, i.e. from large and small companies’ as well as communities’ and individual’s point of view without forgetting the national perspective.

'The current crisis is partly even worse than the 1990s recession, as productivity has stopped in an unprecedented way and ideas for speeding it up are running short – the “recipe” for economic growth is missing. Achieving new growth requires exceptional effort and creativity', says the School of Business Professor Matti Pohjola.

The event begins with the main seminar, where different points of view to national competitiveness are provided by President of Metsä Group Kari Jordan, Professor Matti Pohjola, Professor Sixten Korkman, Slush conference Head Organizer Miki Kuusi, pension insurance company Varma CEO Risto Murto and Ellun Kanat CEO Kirsi Piha among others.

In versatile parallel sessions the Competitiveness theme is tackled from 14 different perspectives with over 30 speakers. The discussed topics will include regional entrepreneur culture, financial crisis, beliefs and blind spots of the actors in the financial industry, digitalization of services, multi-channel service concepts in retail, and management systems as a source of competitive advantage.

The leading experts of the School of Business are actively taking part in the program. The most recent knowledge in the field is provided by professors Jyrki Wallenius, Arto Lindblom, Lasse Mitronen, Kristiina Mäkelä, Markku Kaustia, Ewald Kibler, and Virpi Tuunainen among others.

Arriving guest speakers include Nokia CFO Timo Ihamuotila, Accenture CEO Olli-Pekka Lumijärvi, the State Pension Fund CEO Timo Löyttyniemi, Finnish Commerce Federation CEO Juhani Pekkala, and the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy CEO Petri Rouvinen among others.

After the programme alumni can network at the cocktail party.

Homecoming Day for alumni Friday 22 August 2014 at 12:30pm – 19:30pm at the School of Business (Runeberginkatu 14-16, Helsinki). Entrance ticket 50€. sign up at http://homecomingday.biz.aalto.fi/ilmoittaudu/

Further information: http://homecomingday.biz.aalto.fi/

Homecoming Day is targeted at all Aalto University School of Business and its predecessor’s alumni and former staff. The School of Business alumni network has already over 13 000 members.

Alumni: CEO Mika Ihamuotila

Mika Ihamuotila is the leader of Marimekko, a fashion brand known worldwide for its simplistic colourful print patterns. Ihamuotila is determined to inspire people and sees the benefits of hiring multi-talented workers, with education from diverse fields.

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