9.4.2025
Leadership in times of change – the Alumni Meeting 2025 highlighted current labour market issues
How do you balance good leadership with financial responsibility in a changing world? This was the common thread when Arcada, Hanken, University of Helsinki, Åland University of Applied Sciences, Novia University of Applied Sciences and Åbo Akademi University gathered nearly 500 alumni and friends for the annual virtual alumni meet on Wednesday 2 April 2025.
The event was broadcast from Aurum in Turku and could be followed both online and on site. Also new this year were the Watch Parties organised in Helsinki, Vaasa and Mariehamn, which offered the opportunity to participate remotely in the company of others. The focus was on how organisations can navigate challenging times – between economic realities and the need for a sustainable working life for employees.
The moderator of the alumni meeting was Martin Nordell (alumnus of Åbo Akademi University), Partner and Portfolio Director at Delta Wines Finland and Professor of Working Life at Åbo Akademi University, who guided the participants through the day’s themes. Nordell opened the alumni meeting with a short speech and welcomed the audience on site as well as the remote participants from the US, Norway, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland.
‘The theme of the day, leadership in the eye of the storm, was established already in August last year, and I dare say that this is very topical right now, everywhere in the world, and also in our everyday life at Åbo Akademi University,’ said Nordell.
The opening fireside chat, entitled ‘In the eye of the storm: Market challenges vs. employee reality’, brought together Sara Lindström (Åbo Akademi University alumna), Special Researcher and Project Manager at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, and Penna Urrila (University of Helsinki alumnus), Chief Economist at the Confederation of Finnish Industries.
Together they highlighted perspectives from both work environment research and business economics.
‘The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health carries out regular surveys to map the well-being of workers, which has been declining ever since the pandemic, but now we are finally seeing some signs that this may be turning around,’ said Lindström.
The discussion also touched on the general sense of uncertainty and anxiety that is now prevalent, mainly due to the global situation but also to problems in the workplace.
‘Responsible management must build and plan for certain scenarios, and be prepared for them to quickly become obsolete, in order to be able to change course and guide their organisation if necessary,’ said Urrila.
This was followed by a panel discussion entitled ‘Navigating the storm: How to balance between economy and health in the world of work?’ with representatives from different industries and alumni backgrounds. The panel consisted of Stefanie Brandt-Tallqvist (Hanken alumna), Designer in Strategy and Corporate Culture at Eezy Flow, Johanna Ilonen (Novia alumna), Senior Manager in Process and Tool Development at Wärtsilä, Emma Kunttu (Arcada alumna), Country HR Manager at Thomson Reuters and Jan-Tore Thörnroos (Åland University alumnus), Captain and Leader at Viking Line.
The panel began by answering a question submitted by Kajsa Rantonen, Board member in charge of at the Student Union of Hanken School of Economics (SHS, on how to find jobs for recent graduates in the labour market that match their education and salary expectations.
Stefanie Brandt-Tallqvist noted that there are some concerns for newcomers to the labour market, including the threat of AI technology eating up the jobs and tasks that would primarily belong to younger employees.
‘But then there are companies that choose to go against the grain, and I think that as long as you manage to find them, and can identify in yourself what you bring to the company, there is a way in,’ said Brandt-Tallqvist.
At the same time, it’s important to realise that your first job will hardly be your last or only job.
‘You may need to lower the bar in terms of expectations of your first job. After graduating, I thought to myself that I would never have to study again, but at work you learn something almost every day, which is also interesting, and that’s how you can develop and advance,’ Ilonen said.
The panelists also touched on issues of different corporate cultures and leadership styles, which can vary greatly depending on the country, but that also in a multicultural organisation, something unique can emerge when everyone is allowed to contribute.
‘When I and other managers from Finland came in to manage Swedish staff, there were some obstacles in the beginning, we were used to different leadership styles, and in retrospect, my conclusion is that the more inclusive leadership they have in Sweden is something we in Finland can learn from,’ said Thörnroos.
‘There are differences between the Nordic countries, but there are also major differences if you compare the Nordic countries with the USA, for example,’ said Kunttu. ‘The Finnish leadership style is perhaps even more direct, but I think we’re getting closer to the other Nordic countries.’
Nordell concluded the day with some reflections on the importance of leadership that dares to stand firm in the storm – and that sees the people behind the numbers.
‘Leadership is about communication, openness and dialogue. It’s about taking people into account, remembering your fellow human beings as fellow human beings.’
The Alumni Meeting recording is available on YouTube until 17 April 2025.
