30.11.2024
Fiskars Group President and CEO Nathalie Ahlström named Åbo Akademi University Alumnus of the Year
Nathalie Ahlström (MSc. (Tech.), Åbo Akademi University), President and CEO of Fiskars Group, has been named the Åbo Akademi University Alumnus of the Year for 2024.
The honour was presented in a ceremony held at Academill, Åbo Akademi University in Vaasa on Saturday, November 30.
Ms. Ahlström has headed Fiskars Group since 2020. Fiskars Group employs approximately 7,000 people and reported net sales of EUR 1.13 billion in 2023. The company operates globally and its design-driven brands include, for example, Fiskars, Georg Jensen, Gerber, Iittala, Moomin Arabia, Royal Copenhagen, Waterford and Wedgwood.
Ahlström has had a successful international career, holding several executive positions, in which she has overseen business development, growth and innovation. Prior to her current position, she served as Executive Vice President with Fazer Confectionery from 2018 to 2020. She has also held key positions in Amcor, Huhtamäki and Pöyry. Ahlström is also an outspoken advocate of value-based leadership style, and she is also known for being results-driven.
During her studies at Åbo Akademi University, Ahlström focused on paper chemistry and industrial management. She was also active in the student association Kemistklubben, which she chaired, among other things. She has continued to maintain contact with her alma mater.
“Despite living abroad for so many years, Nathalie Ahlström has maintained strong ties with Finland and actively engaged with Åbo Akademi University, particularly as an ambassador for the subject Industrial Management. Her impressive career in both Finnish industry and the global arena makes her an inspiring role model for our students. Nathalie is a very deserving choice for Alumnus of the Year,” says Patrik Henelius, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Åbo Akademi University.
“It’s a great honour to receive the award as the Alumnus of the Year. My studies at Åbo Akademi University provided me with strong analytical skills, which have helped me to come up with solutions quickly and drive strategic development in the companies I’ve worked for during my career. My education also gave me the courage to take risks and challenge myself in new ways. I would also like to underscore the importance of keeping in touch with academia and actively maintaining its networks, which contributes to both personal growth and gaining new perspectives in professional life. In addition, lifelong friendships are often formed during studies,” explains Ahlström.
Women underrepresented at top corporate levels
About 55% of recent graduates from universities in Finland are women. Despite this, women are severely underrepresented in financial decision-making, especially at the highest level of corporations.
According to statistics from the Finland Chamber of Commerce, last year, 9% of the managing directors of corporations listed on the Finnish stock exchange were women. Although this is roughly on a par with the EU average, it is lower than in the other Nordic countries and the UK. With regard to the top 25 companies on the Helsinki Stock Exchange (OMXH25), women only account for 4% of all managing directors.
At the same time, the proportion of women on the boards of Finnish listed companies is steadily increasing, reaching 33% last year, which is a new record.
The proportion of women studying STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects in universities is still low, accounting for approximately one-third of all students in these fields. At the same time, STEM is precisely where a large percentage of the jobs of the future will be found.
“Diversity in gender, nationality, socio-economic background, culture and other perspectives is crucial to the business sector when it comes to fostering innovation and inspiring us all to set and achieve higher goals,” says Ahlström.
Contact:
Marko Joas, Dean, Vice-Rector, Societal and International Cooperation, Åbo Akademi University
+358 40 072 6125
marko.joas@abo.fi
Fiskars Group media contacts
+358 40 553 3151
press@fiskars.com
Press photos:
Nathalie Ahlström: image 1, image 2, image 3. Photo credit: Fiskars Group.
Product images: Fiskars Group media bank.
