Anna Lahtinen

Academic degree: Doctor (Business Administration).

Special expertise: Human-driven Artificial Intelligence (AI), AI in the workplace, AI in business, AI transformation, development of AI-based products and services, AI in equal and fair working life, innovation management, RDI project management.

Dr. Anna Lahtinen serves as a Senior Researcher at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki, Finland. Founder and coordinator of the Research Group on “Human-driven AI” in Haaga-Helia. 

With a specialization in the transformative effects of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on work life, businesses, and careers, Dr. Lahtinen experience spans over two decades in industry, entrepreneurship, innovation ecosystems, and academia, both in Finland and internationally. She has been at the forefront of supporting the adoption of AI in businesses and organizations.

She has led several research, development, and innovation projects aimed at implementing AI, supporting over 150 companies and organizations in leveraging AI technologies and developing related skills. Over the past few years, Lahtinen’s publications total over 80 works (2021-2024), including 15 peer-reviewed scientific articles, professional journal and book chapters, conference proceedings, audiovisual materials, and books. Her earlier research focused on women entrepreneurship and the constructs of psychological contract. 

An internationally recognized scholar, Dr. Lahtinen is the recipient of the “Academic Paper Most Relevant to Entrepreneurs Award” from the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Her recent publications include “Guide to Empowering SMEs with AI” and the “AI in Finland” video interview series, where Finnish influencers, industry leaders, and public figures share their experiences with AI.

Publications:

• Aunimo, L., Kauttonen, J., Lahtinen, A., Lagstedt, A., Alamäki, A. (2023). Factors Affecting the Adoption of AI by Organizations - From the Perspective of Knowledge Workers. In: Camarinha-Matos, L.M., Boucher, X., Ortiz, A. (eds) Collaborative Networks in Digitalization and Society 5.0. PRO-VE 2023. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol 688. Springer, Cham. 
• Lahtinen, A. (2022). Innovation Ecosystems as a Source of Renewal for Innovative Enterprises. In Agarwal, R., Patterson, E., Pugalia, S. & Green, R. (Eds.) “Innovation”, Routledge Series on Ideas in Business and Management.
• Lahtinen, A. & Humala, I. (Eds.) (2023). Guide to Empowering SMEs with AI Haaga-Helian Publications 10/2023. Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences. Helsinki. 
• Lahtinen, A. & Humala, I. (2022). New frontiers in AI research and development: Supporting the role of knowledge workers in integrating AI for sustainable organization development. In Brandt, T., Kuusisto-Ek, H., Unkari-Virtanen, L., Ketonen-Oksi, S. & Wikström, T. (Eds.) ”3UAS Conference: Leadership and Entrepreneurship – Part 4”, ISBN 978-952-7474-23-5.
• Lahtinen, A. & Kallasvaara, H. (2023). AI in Finland: From Relatable Stories Towards AI Ecosystems. The European Business Review. Published on March 3, 2023. 
• Paunescu, C., Lahtinen, A., Stukalina, J. (2022). Fostering Research with Societal Impact in Higher Education Institutions: A Review and Conceptualization. In Paunescu, C., Lepik, K.-L., Spencer, N. (Eds.) “Social Innovation in Higher Education – Landscape, Practices, and Opportunities”. Springer Publications. 153-179.
• Petriika-Lindroos, I., & Lahtinen, A. (2023). Artificial Intelligence aiding HR in knowledge-based organizations. eSignals. Published on February 7, 2023.
• Pichler, A. & Lahtinen, A. (2024). Digital Native or Digital Naïve? Rethinking Digital Literacy. eSignals. Published on March 12, 2024. 

Projects:

• 2023-2025 – AI-Smart SME: Transformative power of utilizing AI for SMEs and their employees. Funding: The Finnish Work Environment Fund.
• 2024-2025 – AIE – AI as a promoter of equality. Funding: The Finnish Work Environment Fund.
• 2021-2023 – AI-TIE - Technology Innovation Ecosystems for Competitiveness of SMEs, and its sister project AI-TIE Southern Finland. Funding: European Regional Development Fund and Uusimaa Regional Council; additionally, the AI-TIE Southern Finland was funded by Kymenlaakso Regional Council.
• 2022-2023 - Harnessing the opportunities of AI by co-development: an e-workbook for support function experts and their supervisors, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences. Funding: The Finnish Work Environment Fund.
• 2021-2024 – Digital Job Onboarding, with Haaga-Helia as a co-implementor in an international consortium: FH-JOANNEUM (Austria), Jugend am WERK (Austria), Synthesis (Cyprus), DEX Innovation Centre (Czech Republic), Fondazione Fenice Onlus (Italy). Funding: Erasmus+.
• 2021-2022 – AI is Coming – support, skills, and collaboration are the way forward, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences. Funding: The Finnish Work Environment Fund.