Alumnus Mikko Jääskeläinen: Studying at the School of Business has opened many professional doors

Who are you? What have you studied at the School of Business, and when did you graduate?

My name is Mikko Jääskeläinen, and I studied at the Aalto University School of Business from 2008 to 2014. I did my bachelor’s degree in Finance, and I graduated with a master's degree from the Creative Sustainability programme.

How did you become interested in studying at the School of Business?  What was your study experience like?   

Before coming to the School of Business, I studied economics for one year at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, where it was possible to apply through a certificate-based process rather than an entrance examination. 

However, I still wanted to build a career in Finland, so I decided to apply to study at the Helsinki School of Economics, as it was called at the time. Luckily, I got in, since in addition to the useful degree programme, I met several of my current closest friends at the School of Business. 

How did studying at the School of Business prepare you for working life?

In general, studying at the School of Business has opened many professional doors for me. As individual examples, I would highlight case study exercises, group projects and cross-disciplinary courses, which prepared me for working with different people and on varying tasks. Taking courses in Finance also helped me learn how to use Excel, which has had a lot of practical benefits in different job positions. 

The last thing I want to mention was my experience as an exchange student in Lima, Peru. It was a real leap into the unknown for me, as both the continent and the language were unfamiliar. Experiences like student exchange programmes build character and help with tackling challenges in professional settings as well.

What has your career path been like?

During my studies, among other positions, I worked in sales at aTalent Recruiting and at Pöyry as a management consulting trainee for the energy sector. After my studies, I wanted to familiarise myself with other industries besides the energy sector, which led me to a management consulting position at Deloitte. At Deloitte, I participated in projects with various industries, but I was particularly excited about transport and real estate infrastructure projects where I was able to carry out impact assessments. This led me to a job as a Senior Advisor in the field of urban economy at the City of Helsinki’s land use general planning services and from there, a job as a Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Transport and Communications.