News

Oops: Lo and behold, my sojourn abroad lasted 16 years!

School of Business Dean Timo Korkeamäki once thought he’d never move away from his home turf.
Timo Korkeamäki, AUM-kuva: Jaakko Kahilaniemi

I’m an Ostrobothnian by birth, from the town of Vähäkyrö. This little municipality next to Vaasa was a good place to grow up. I thought I’d never move away when I was still in high school, the people there were so down to earth and the environment nice and stable.

I was serious about athletics and achieved some national-level success in the shot put.

After the army, I spent a year doing odd jobs and another in commercial school. But then I started to feel like going to university. I was interested in business and also liked foreign languages. I applied to several universities on the other side of the water, in Sweden, and managed to secure a place at Umeå University studying economics. My world started to broaden.

An athletics scholarship took me to Brigham Young University in Utah for a one-year exchange. The Mormon church’s school had hosted several Finnish athletes earlier, and I was encouraged to go after hearing recommendations from people I knew. Surprisingly, I found myself a Finnish girlfriend while there, and have now been married to her for 27 years.

We returned to Umeå together to complete my economics studies. It was 1991–92, Finland was in the midst of a very deep recession and the job situation looked unpromising. We decided to flee these hard times to America, this time to finalise my girlfriend’s studies.

Timo Korkeamäki, kuva: Jaakko Kahilaniemi
Photos: Jaakko Kahilaniemi.

I’m an Ostrobothnian by birth, from the town of Vähäkyrö. This little municipality next to Vaasa was a good place to grow up. I thought I’d never move away when I was still in high school, the people there were so down to earth and the environment nice and stable.

I was serious about athletics and achieved some national-level success in the shot put.

After the army, I spent a year doing odd jobs and another in commercial school. But then I started to feel like going to university. I was interested in business and also liked foreign languages. I applied to several universities on the other side of the water, in Sweden, and managed to secure a place at Umeå University studying economics. My world started to broaden.

An athletics scholarship took me to Brigham Young University in Utah for a one-year exchange. The Mormon church’s school had hosted several Finnish athletes earlier, and I was encouraged to go after hearing recommendations from people I knew. Surprisingly, I found myself a Finnish girlfriend while there, and have now been married to her for 27 years.

We returned to Umeå together to complete my economics studies. It was 1991–92, Finland was in the midst of a very deep recession and the job situation looked unpromising. We decided to flee these hard times to America, this time to finalise my girlfriend’s studies.

This article is published in the Aalto University Magazine issue 26, April 2020.

  • Published:
  • Updated:

Read more news

Kampuksen uudet ulkokalusteet
Campus, Studies Published:

Vote for the best idea! How do we spend 14 000 euros on student wellbeing?

In autumn 2024, students were asked to come up with ideas on how the university should spend 14 000 euros to improve student wellbeing on campus. Now it's time to vote for the best idea to be implemented during spring 2025.
Otakaari 4
University Published:

Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering is the new name of the Department of Mechanical Engineering

The name change was confirmed as part of the update to the School of Engineering bylaws.
A lit motorway crossing the sea, with buildings and sky visible
Cooperation, Press releases, Research & Art, University Published:

Finland is strongly investing in AI and establishing an ELLIS Institute to accelerate research and attract talent

Public and private sector investment are coming together to launch ELLIS Institute Finland.
Kasvokuva Tero Ojanperästä
Appointments Published:

Tero Ojanperä appointed to the Aalto University Board

Board member Mariana Amatullo will continue for a new term