Bridging Research, Education, and Industry at Aalto University
Bridging Research, Education, and Industry at Aalto University
Meaningful dialogue between academia and industry continues to play an important role in shaping future leadership practices. At the CEMS Global Leadership course at Aalto University School of Business, students recently had the opportunity to engage with practical insights from the field of executive search through a guest lecture delivered by Sebastian Lindqvist, Partner at IMS Talent.
The session focused on Executive Search: Identifying Leadership Potential, exploring how organizations assess leadership capabilities, when executive search processes are used, and how companies work to promote fairness, equality, and reduced bias in leadership recruitment.
A key part of making these exchanges possible has been the work of TAIMI researcher Hilla Back, whose efforts in bringing leading industry experts into the classroom help create valuable connections between research, education, and professional practice. By inviting practitioners such as Sebastian Lindqvist to engage directly with students, Hilla contributes to learning environments where academic perspectives and real-world experiences meaningfully complement one another.
The lecture also highlighted the importance of open discussion and critical reflection around leadership, careers, and organizational decision-making. Students actively participated by sharing perspectives and asking thoughtful questions about the future of leadership and recruitment practices.
At TAIMI, we believe that these collaborations are essential for developing more fair, evidence-based, and inclusive approaches to identifying future leaders. Bringing together researchers, students, and industry professionals helps strengthen understanding of the challenges organizations face while preparing the next generation of leaders to navigate increasingly complex working environments.
The event stands as another excellent example of how research-informed teaching and industry collaboration can enrich higher education and create impactful learning experiences for students.