What should someone starting an MBA expect? Why is the MBA relevant today? How will the degree change in the years ahead? Kerttu Kuokkanen, the Business Unit Director of MBA Programmes at Aalto University Executive Education and Professional Development, answers these big questions and more.

Here’s what she had to say:

Tell us about yourself and your career to date.

I’ve spent my entire career in executive education working closely with MBA and EMBA programmes, designing customised learning solutions for organisations, building international partnerships, and developing Aalto University’s Lifewide Learning offering.

What has kept me passionate all these years is the unique position we hold at the intersection of the academic and business worlds. I feel privileged to contribute to environments where learning genuinely transforms people, organisations, and sometimes even whole sectors. Seeing the joy of discovery, the growth of confidence, and the concrete impact our participants create through their studies makes this work deeply meaningful to me.

What should people expect when they start an MBA?

In the Aalto MBA Programmes, participants typically come in with solid professional experience and a desire to deepen their understanding of business and leadership. They are looking for ways to broaden their perspective, strengthen their strategic thinking, and better navigate the complex challenges their organisations face.

Candidates can expect to gain in-depth knowledge across core business areas and a far clearer view of how these areas interconnect. They should also be ready to contribute actively by sharing insights from their own background and learning from the diverse experiences of others in the cohort.

An MBA is an investment in every sense: financially, but also in time, energy, and personal commitment. The real impact comes through applying the learning directly in the workplace, experimenting with new approaches, and engaging deeply with peers and faculty.

One of the most unexpected benefits for many participants is the strength of the network they build. They enter the programme hoping to expand their network, but often leave with lifelong mentors and friends. This social capital becomes a lasting source of advice, collaboration, and support long after graduation.

Finally, the MBA is also a powerful developmental journey. Those who embrace vulnerability, curiosity, and the willingness to rethink assumptions often experience a profound transformation, emerging with greater confidence, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Please share something that your MBA programme does particularly well

One of the true strengths of the Aalto MBA Programmes is the intentional and structured approach we take to personal and professional development. Our programmes offer a comprehensive self-development process that supports participants in reflecting on their leadership, understanding their strengths, and identifying meaningful areas for growth.

Throughout the programme, participants set personal learning goals and revisit them as their understanding evolves. With coaching, feedback, and facilitated reflection embedded into the self-development process, they gain both the mindsets and practical tools needed not only to lead teams and organisations, but to lead themselves.

Built on principles of Nordic leadership, including trust, openness, and low hierarchy, the overall learning environment encourages participants to challenge their existing ways of thinking and to engage in honest, constructive dialogue. This atmosphere of psychological safety enables people to stretch themselves, experiment, and genuinely support each other’s growth.

This combination of academic rigour, personal insight, and collaborative culture is something we do exceptionally well, and the self-development process is often what alumni highlight as the most transformative part of their journey.

Why do MBA programmes remain relevant today?

In a world defined by constant change, the ability to lead yourself and others has never been more essential. MBA programmes provide a rare, structured space for developing these capabilities, a space where participants can pause, reflect, and intentionally build the skills required to navigate complexity.

They also offer a safe environment for creativity, experimentation, and even practising failure, which is a luxury that everyday work rarely allows. As leadership demands become more dynamic, human-centred, and interdisciplinary, MBA programmes continue to offer frameworks, confidence, and perspective that remain highly relevant for modern leaders.

What hopes do you have for your MBA graduates?

My deepest hope is that our graduates experience real transformation — that they emerge as stronger leaders who can inspire people, build successful and responsible businesses, lead their organisations to transform, and contribute to society in meaningful ways.

I hope they build rewarding, purpose-driven careers and have the courage to shape positive change wherever they go. Ultimately, I believe in the idea of a better world through better leadership, and I hope our graduates will carry that mindset with them long after their studies.

As technology, digital transformation, and AI continue to advance, the human side of leadership will become even more critical. MBA programmes will increasingly focus on fostering creativity, imagination, and innovation — capabilities that machines cannot replicate.

I see entrepreneurship, sustainability, and responsible business taking on an even larger role, as leaders are expected not only to drive financial results but also to shape solutions to global challenges.

In short, the MBA of the future will combine technological fluency with deeply human leadership, preparing individuals to thrive in a world where adaptability, ethics, and creativity matter more than ever.

For additional insights, trends and perspectives, visit the conversation on MBA Programmes and Leadership.