Meet Your Community – from walrus to alumnus

The sound of lively conversation filled the Undergraduate Centre's lower lobby at Otakaari 1 when nearly 200 walruses arrived at the Meet Your Community (MYC) event on Wednesday 8 March. The core purpose of the event now held for the third time for School of Business walruses was to help new students get acquainted with the School of Business community from the very beginning of their studies.

'From day one, walruses become a part of our community. We hope that they will maintain contact with their own school even after the completion of their studies when they are alumni. An active alumni community is a great resource for the School of Business, and we want to contribute to its development. This event is also part of this work,' said Jonna Söderholm, Head of the External Relations at the School of Business.

The event was hosted by Katariina Ollari, a student at the School of Business. At the event, School of Business alumni shared experiences they had had during their studies and told the audience about the benefits of the major subject or specialisation area they had selected for example, in terms of gaining employment.

Before the afternoon's panel discussion, Tanja Makkonen from the School of Business's Career Services gave information to the audience on how well and where School of Business graduates generally gained employment, the expected income level of new School of Business graduates and their first job title.

The panel discussion was rewarding as alumni Pasi Torppa from the subject of Accounting, Maarit Vilen from Financing, Miikka Huhta from Management and Katariina Helaniemi and Juha Aarvala from Marketing received numerous good questions from students to discuss. If the discussion could be summarised in just a few themes, they would be:

"Do not hesitate to select a solution that looks like you."
"Whatever you choose, remember to maintain a lively approach and the ability to learn new things."
"Do not underestimate any work."
"Build a good network for yourself and get to know one another across the borders of major subjects."
"Aalto offers a genuinely interdisciplinary option – please utilise it."
"Take part in exchanges if possible. This is always worthwhile."

The School of Business's professors were also present to enlighten walruses on how and why they have ended up as professors in their own area of expertise. At the end of the event, during coffee, walruses received valuable advice from professors, study coordinators and alumni on how to succeed in their studies.