Mikael's journey has led him through Finland, Lithuania, and France – where he now lives in the city of Toulouse. Known as the European capital of aviation, Toulouse is home to Mikael’s current workplace: a subsidiary of the aerospace giant Airbus, where he helps businesses navigate complex challenges in the aviation industry.
When did you first become interested in aviation?
– Aviation has always been a clear path for me, I’ve always been so fascinated by planes and the whole industry around them, there is some sort of charm that I can’t even explain. It all started as a kid when I took a flight as an Unaccompanied Minor from Turin to Sardinia, to go visit my grandparents. It was around 15 years ago, but I still remember every moment of it! After getting off that plane, I was sure that aviation would have become a big part of my life, and I worked hard for it. It wasn’t easy, as in my hometown there’s just a non-functioning airport, but the whole path paid off.
– Beyond work and studies, aviation is my lifelong passion: during my free time I love to go to the airport and do some planespotting, and sometimes I also travel for fun, to try out new airlines or new products.
How did you end up studying aviation in Finland?
– There are not many Aviation Business programmes in Europe, but the Haaga-Helia one was the one that appealed to me the most. I was very much looking forward to going to study in an aviation programme abroad, and the idea of studying in Haaga-Helia and moving to Finland was tempting.
– So, after high school, I moved to Porvoo and I studied in Haaga-Helia’s Aviation Business programme between 2020 and 2023. Before applying, I spent a weekend in Helsinki and Porvoo with my best friend, I visited the cities and the beautiful Porvoo campus, I also had the chance to talk to some teachers, and it was love at first sight!
Do you still remember the entrance exams?
– I remember I was a bit stressed – I think that’s quite normal – but extremely motivated to do my best. For the written part, I did revise some maths and logics in the weeks prior to the exam, and it went very smoothly. The oral part of the examination was more like an open conversation, where I was very at ease and I was able to show my motivation and willingness to study in the programme. When I got my results, I couldn’t be happier. I was ready to start a new chapter in my life!
What was it like to studying at Haaga-Helia?
– I started my studies in January 2020, just two months before everything closed down! Despite that, I managed to build strong relationships and friendships with my classmates and many other students of my campus, thanks to the events, the students associations, and my activities as a Tutor for new students.
How did your studies differ from what you were used to?
– One of the main aspects of the studies in Haaga-Helia is the presence of a lot of group work. To be honest, at the beginning of my studies I was a bit scared of it, because it differed a lot from the Italian school system, which tends to be quite individualistic. However, it’s been a huge learning opportunity, as the ability to work in diverse teams is one of the most requested skills in any type of work. It also gives you the chance to listen to other people, other points of view, and see things differently.
– Another important thing that characterized my studies was the fact that my class wasn’t too big, that helps a lot for building strong relationships among students, and it also gives the chance to get more tailored guidance from teachers.
Was it easy to combine studies with work, hobbies, or social life?
– Blended teaching has its ups and downs, but for sure its biggest advantage is the flexibility it allows you, and I felt like in Haaga-Helia it’s really possible to balance your work and studies together nicely. I was able to combine my work shifts with my studies quite well, without sacrificing my hobbies or my social life. Of course, that requires a lot of organization and precision.
What kind of support did your studies give you for your future and working life?
– I would say the biggest takeaway from my studies was the chance to grow a big network of people and companies. Thanks to the many projects with different stakeholders, I got to know a lot of aviation professionals within world airlines, airports and a wide range of players in the aviation industry. The first-hand experience really makes you understand how the industry works, outside of the books and the exams, it does make you ready for the work life.
– Currently I work as a business consultant. My job consists of helping airlines deploy softwares supporting their operations and crew planning. It’s a very cool job because I get to work with many different airlines, approaching a lot of various business processes and ways of working, and getting to know professionals from all over the world. It’s a big exchange and I get to learn more and more every day. As I mentioned before, the interculturality and the project-based approach of my studies are helping me a lot in my daily work.
Was there any specific memory that you remember from your studies?
– One of the projects we had during my studies was a research project about how to improve the customer experience for Passengers with Reduced Mobility in world airports. We had very good outcomes with this project, and we helped a British startup to develop solutions for this matter. In the months after the project, I was following up on the progress of this startup, and I was so proud because it all started thanks to our research project; we were able to make an impact.
What positively surprised you about Finland or Finnish culture?
– Finland was a pleasant surprise for me, I loved every minute of my 3,5 years of Finnish life and I still consider my years living in Porvoo and Helsinki as the happiest of my life. Finland is a beautiful country, and Helsinki is definitely my favorite city in the world. There’s everything: the city vibe, the nature, the sea… For me, it’s the perfect size, not too big and not too small. Also, during university years it’s definitely an ideal place: there’s plenty of events, advantages and discounts as a student, you can get really the best out of it.
– Finnish culture is very unique, I wasn’t expecting it to be that different from other countries. We all know the cliche of Finnish people being very cold and reserved, and that might seem true at the very beginning, but once you get to know the Finns, you’ll realize you can make friends for life with them.
What advice would you give to someone considering moving to Finland?
– First of all, my biggest advice is to be curious and interested in the country and the culture. That’s quite universal advice, but it really makes the difference when moving to a new country. Being open towards what’s new and unknown, learn the cultural differences and embrace them, that’s something super enriching.
For the studies, my biggest advice is to be motivated, curious, and take the best out of every experience; you will see the result on the long term and the effort will pay off for sure!
