Strengthening Dialogue on Leadership, Inclusion, and Organizational Culture at Aalto University
Strengthening Dialogue on Leadership, Inclusion, and Organizational Culture at Aalto University
Important conversations on leadership, diversity, and organizational culture continue to shape the future of global working life. At the CEMS Global Leadership course at Aalto University School of Business, students recently had the opportunity to engage with these themes through guest lectures delivered by Essi P. and Yumi Oishi from Rovio Entertainment.
The sessions explored how organizations can turn diversity, inclusion, and communication strategies into meaningful everyday practices. Yumi Oishi, Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Rovio, shared perspectives on how DEI work can be approached as an ongoing process of progress and development rather than perfection. Essi P. highlighted the role of communication and organizational culture in supporting innovation and helping organizations navigate increasingly global and complex environments.
A particularly meaningful aspect of the event was the collaboration between academia and industry made possible through the work of TAIMI researcher Hilla Back. By bringing experienced professionals into the classroom, Hilla continues to create valuable opportunities for students to connect academic learning with practical industry perspectives. Her efforts help foster thoughtful discussions where leadership, emotional intelligence, inclusion, and organizational development can be explored in an open and reflective environment.
The lecture also marked an exciting step in strengthening research collaboration between the TAIMI project and Rovio Entertainment. These kinds of partnerships demonstrate how research, education, and industry can work together to better understand the challenges and opportunities shaping modern organizations.
At TAIMI, we believe that creating spaces for dialogue between students, researchers, and practitioners is essential for developing more inclusive, emotionally intelligent, and future-oriented leadership practices. Through these collaborations, students gain not only theoretical knowledge, but also insight into how organizational values and strategies are translated into everyday working life.
The event stands as another inspiring example of how research-informed teaching and industry engagement can enrich higher education and support the next generation of global leaders.