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Ashish Thapliyal: It’s amazing how small interactions can shape your career in unexpected ways

Ashish Thapliyal, a Doctoral Researcher at Aalto University, reflects on his unique educational journey and the valuable experiences he gained while studying at Aalto and Industrial Engineering and Management.
Ashish Thapliyal in a dark blue shirt stands in front of an Aalto University entrance with brick wall and glass door.
Photos: Saghar Sedighi Khavidak.

Why did you choose Aalto for your education? 

I come from India, where I earned my undergraduate degree in computer science. After that, I worked for Nokia in Bangalore. At some point, I felt the need for a change and considered pursuing further studies. I applied to several universities abroad, particularly in Europe, because I was also looking for a cost-effective option.

Aalto University’s Radio Communication program in Communication Engineering program caught my attention, and I was excited to explore Finland. Just as I was preparing to move with my wife, Nokia gave me the opportunity to continue working while studying. I decided to take this challenge and relocated to Finland, balancing my work and studies. 

After completing my first master's, I was promoted to Product Management role and hence wanted to dive deeper into the world of management. I felt the need to understand leadership from an academic perspective, so I pursued a second master’s degree in Strategy at Aalto’s Department of Industrial Engineering and Management (DIEM). During my courses and particularly during my MSc thesis, what fascinated me the most was the contrast between what leaders were saying and what they were actually doing. This discrepancy sparked my interest in exploring human behavior, happiness, and well-being in my studies, ultimately leading me to pursue a third Master's degree in Behavioral Science at the London School of Economics, where I studied human behavior, happiness and well-being. Now, as a doctoral researcher at Aalto University, I am focused on further investigating these areas. 

How did IEM prepare you for your career and professional life? 

I am a Computer Science engineer working as a Product Manager. Before coming to Aalto, I didn’t know much about industrial engineering and management. But once I joined, I realized it was the perfect fit for me—a combination of technical and business knowledge. The program broadened my views on how to approach different problems from different perspectives and gave me new lenses to solve them. 

What really helped me was being able to apply what I learned directly at work. I was working full-time while studying, and the ability to immediately use the concepts from the classroom in real-life situations was invaluable. The professors were always available for discussions and guidance whenever I needed help, making my learning experience even richer.

Ashish Thapliyal in a dark jumper stands indoors with a snowy urban campus scene through the window behind.

Don’t get boxed into a narrow mindset—explore different possibilities, stay curious, and follow what interests you.

Ashish Thapliyal

When you think about the Prodeko guild, what comes to mind first? 

Since I was working full-time during my studies, I didn’t have the chance to get deeply involved with Prodeko, the guild of Industrial Engineering and Management, in the same way as many full-time students do. However, I’ve stayed connected with the Prodeko alumni community, which has been incredibly helpful. The alumni network is vast and rich, offering a great platform for networking and learning from others who have gone down similar paths. The regular newsletters and events have kept me informed and connected with what’s happening in the field. 

Can you share a memorable experience you had with a professor or course that had a significant impact on you? 

One course that really left an impact on me was a strategy process course taught by Professor Timo Vuori. During the course, we had in-depth discussions about decision-making and people strategy in multinational organizations. A particular paper which was a mandatory reading for the course by Professor Daniel Kahneman and Professor Gary Klein on human decision making was remarkable enough to push me further in studying human behavior and decision making. Years later, when I was considering pursuing a PhD, I reached out to Professor Vuori, referencing the paper from his class that had stuck with me. That connection ultimately led to my PhD opportunity at Aalto. It’s amazing how small interactions like that can shape your career in unexpected ways. 

What advice would you give to current and potential students? 

One thing that has helped me a lot is understanding that there is no one path that everyone has to follow for success. The world is complex, and there are countless opportunities you can take to make your life meaningful. Aalto offers a supportive environment where you can shape your career in countless ways. 

So, don’t get boxed into a narrow mindset—explore different possibilities, stay curious, and follow what interests you. Whether it’s in your studies, career, or life in general, remember that there’s always more than one way to achieve what you want. Embrace the complexity and be open to the different paths available to you. 

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Aalto University / students doing teamwork / photography Unto Rautio

Master's Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management: The program for you?

The Master’s Programme in Industrial Engineering and Management (IEM) educates engineers who are capable of developing and leading technology-based businesses with an entrepreneurial mindset. The distinctive feature of IEM at Aalto University is that it combines classical industrial engineering, which emphasizes understanding and developing operational processes and complex systems, with a focus on strategic and entrepreneurial leadership.

Study at Aalto
Aalto-yliopisto / Prodekon logo

Prodeko (external link)

The Guild of Industrial Engineering and Management Prodeko is the student organisation of IEM students at Aalto.

Siavash Khajavi wearing glasses and a light blue shirt, standing indoors with a window in the background.

A community where personal connections and career paths intertwine

Assistant professor of operations management Siavash Khajavi explains how studying Industrial Engineering and Management helps students develop hard skills through rigorous studies and soft skills through countless interactions and collaboration.

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