Alum Elina Valtonen: ‘Study broadly everything that interests you’

Who are you? What did you study at the School of Business and when did you graduate?

I am Elina Valtonen, and I studied at the Helsinki School of Economics (now Aalto University School of Business) from 2001 to 2005. My major was financial economics.

You first studied at the Helsinki University of Technology (TKK, now part of Aalto University). Why did you decide to also study business studies?

I didn't really understand anything about economics as an engineering student, and I was interested in economics. The School of Business offered better courses in that field than TKK. My brother and I made a bet on who would get into the School of Business, and we split the entrance exam books between us.

I got in and at the same time changed my major at TKK to computer science (initially, my major was information networks). This way, my studies had as little overlap as possible, and I was able to study everything that interested me. I graduated as a Master of Science in Engineering in 2004 and as a Master of Science in Economics in 2005.

What was student life like for you?

I worked a lot alongside my studies, but I also made sure to prioritize partying to some extent.

What advice would you give to yourself if you were studying now?

I would do the same as I did 20–25 years ago: study a wide range of things that interest me. I would also boldly step out of my comfort zone. That's where you learn the most.

You can't know in advance what you will be good at or which field will ultimately captivate you. However, it is still important to try to do the things you have decided to do, as well as possible.

After graduation I have completed postgraduate studies in systems analysis and some applied mathematics courses. I try to keep learning new things, but unfortunately, in my current life situation, there's not much time left for studying.

What kind of work did you dream of as a child?

I dreamed of all kinds of things, but the idea was to make the world a better place. As a child, I was concerned about the ozone layer depletion and the sustainability of the planet, which influenced my dreams.

What has your career path been like?

In Parliament, I have served as vice chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee and in the Defence Committee, Finance Committee and Grand Committee. I have chaired the Finnish delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and served as deputy member of the Finnish Delegation to the Council of Europe.

Before entering politics, I worked abroad in the private sector in various countries, including for ten years in the financial sector in Copenhagen and London. As a former computer programmer, I have been involved in setting up several growth companies.

You are currently working as the Minister for Foreign Affairs. How do you feel that a degree in business studies is beneficial in this role?

Economics and security cannot be separated from one another. Democracy must remain competitive in the future as well.