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Minna Halme: At first, sustainability wasn’t taken seriously

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In this Walk in my shoes video, Professor Minna Halme shares how it felt to be one of the pioneers in the field of sustainability management. She was told to do a doctoral thesis on a different topic if she wants a job in the future.
Minna Halme, photo by Hayley Le
Later, Minna Halme has also been a senior female mentor to an interdisciplinary group of women, who are in the early stages of their assistant professorships. The video is edited from a Radical Creatives documentary. Photo: Hayley Le.

Interview: Emilia Hernesniemi
Cinematography: Iiris Sjöblad
Editing: Eero Tiilikainen

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Mashrura Musharraf, photo by by Jaakko Kahilaniemi

Mashrura Musharraf: You don’t get to see a lot of women like me in academic leadership positions

'I think my shoes are quite unique, and so is my path. You don’t get to see a lot of women like me, a non-white female from Bangladesh, in academic leadership positions. Especially in a male-dominated field like marine technology.'

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Mikko Kosonen, photo by Mikko Kosonen.

Mikko Kosonen: Empathy is needed to communicate across disciplines

'When you disagree or feel defensive, it’s important to really try to hear what the other person is saying. That requires empathy. If disciplines have different languages, it’s easy to talk past each other.'

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Mantė Žygelytė, photo by Linda Lehtovirta.

Mantė Žygelytė: Some things are more about the journey than the goal

'The tiny reminders made me question myself: what am I doing here? What is my purpose here? Back then, the office was not ready to welcome me. It was scary to admit openly that I don’t feel included, and I needed someone to recognize that and stand behind me.'

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Walk in my shoes

Inspired by the saying that you should walk a mile in someone’s shoes to understand them, the ‘Walk in my shoes’ series aims to share some of the experiences, thoughts, perspectives and challenges faced by members of the Aalto community.

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Walk in my shoes, illustration by Anna Muchenikova.
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Researchers working in a laboratory.
Cooperation, Studies, University Published:

Join a Unite! matchmaking event on forging new consortia for Horizon Europe applications

Calling researchers and industry partners to connect at a virtual matchmaking session designed to spark project collaborations for Horizon Europe funding. Registration deadline, 12 March.
Three people having a discussion at a table with laptops. Text: Visiting Professorships at TU Graz, October 1, 2026 - January 31, 2027.
Cooperation, Research & Art, Studies, University Published:

Apply Now: Unite! Visiting Professorships at TU Graz

TU Graz, Austria, invites experienced postdoctoral researchers to apply for two fully funded visiting professorships. The deadline for expressions of interest is 20 February 2026, and the positions will begin on 1 October 2026.
A blue figure holds two red, abstract creatures against a yellow background.
Aalto Magazine Published:

Five things everyone should know about creativity

Creativity is not the preserve of artists or a rare innate talent but a human capacity we all share – and one that can be measured, developed, and led for. The two-year Creative Leap project explored how creativity shows up in everyday life and work and how it connects to companies’ financial results. Here are five key takeaways.
A person in a dark suit stands by a large window overlooking a seashore. A blue sofa is in the foreground.
Aalto Magazine Published:

How an Aalto alum uses data to help replace fossil fuels

Yuri Kroyan, an energy industry associate, develops advanced statistical models to describe and predict how the world can move away from fossil fuels.
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