Tell us something about your background
I have a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Supply Chain. Then I worked for five years, four of them in two shipping companies, Maersk and Messinaline, and one year as a marketing specialist for Cloud Provider. While working, I attended a course in Digital Marketing and Web development and a one-year Master in Auditing and Sustainability. I am from Italy and I love sports and fitness in general. Currently I am working for a Swedish Startup called "Arfve" of which I am Sustainability Leader and part of the AI development team.
How and why did you choose UlysseusAI Joint Master Degree?
I was constantly looking for some interesting courses, but I was never fully convinced, until I found this Artificial Intelligence for Business Transformation Master which sparked a big curiosity and a projection in my mind of the professional possibilities that such cutting-edge topic could have opened. I believe that the academic experience is way more than just a learning path and the networking and multicultural side is as crucial as the content. So, this degree's offer, an international and multi-university experience, precisely exalt the network side making it a unique academic experience. Everything has started in Helsinki at Haaga-Helia, to then proceed to MCI Innsbruck and the third semester has just started in Spain at the University of Seville.
What has it been like to study across multiple countries and universities?
Transitions between different countries is never easy, nevertheless it carries a lot of energy and motivation. At the beginning understanding cultural and system differences is also challenging but this is a great way to acquire flexibility and adaptability skills. These differences reflect in the teaching methods and lecturers as well, but what was common in all the three universities by most of lecturers is the shared passion and the great belief in the Ulysseus alliance.
Did anything in particular surprise you during your studies?
What surprised me the most is how easy is to get used and attached to a different house, a different city and a different country. In all the places, I have collected great memories with good people, and I have fully dived in each local tradition enjoying all of them.
Another remarkable aspect of this programme is the extraordinary commitment shown by several lecturers in shaping Ulysseus European University. Beyond their regular academic responsibilities, they are investing significant time, energy, and personal effort to help build a truly European University. Their dedication reflects a deep belief in the value of international collaboration and long-term impact that initiatives like Ulysseus can have in terms of skills development, innovation, and shared academic experience.
Is there any particular memory from your multi-country studies that you would like to share?
A great experience has been our AI Community Event at the AI Innovation Hub in Haaga-Helia, where we had the chance to plan and deliver an event with remarkable speakers with the help of the local Ulysseus organization. Another unforgettable experience has been the celebration of Vappu in Finland, where I experienced a strong sense of Finnish community, with literally everyone wearing their traditional student cap and all the streets flooded with people. Then obviously saunas and ice bath; from complete distant and almost scared, I started enjoying that routine which I recognized as really beneficial. In Innsbruck, instead, I still can't believe the chance of going to ski with the tram and the whole student vibe around the city is incredible.
What kind of support has this joint degree given you for your future and working life?
The transversal, interpersonal, and communication skills developed through close collaboration within a highly multicultural and international cohort are invaluable. Working so intensively with people from diverse academic, cultural, and professional backgrounds has significantly strengthened my ability to communicate, adapt, and collaborate in complex environments.
At the same time, the programme focuses on a highly topical and competitive field at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and business which is an area where much of today’s strategic and economic competition is taking place.
Since AI technologies are constantly changing and I have not yet fully re-entered the job market, it is still difficult for me to assess how this qualification is currently perceived by companies and recruiters and per extension how this qualification will affect my professional career and only time will reveal answers to that. Nevertheless, I have genuinely valued every stage of this journey, and I am convinced that the personal growth it has fostered, both human and intellectual, will remain more significant and lasting than any purely technical gain.
Your greetings to prospective students
I can see only a big value from joining the UlysseusAI Joint Master or any other Ulysseus degree. The multicultural possibilities that they offer alongside with the valuable academic path among the different consortium partners offer and experience that will be remembered forever. As Europeans, we often forget how lucky we are to have these types of possibilities; opportunities that can open minds and foster specific human values, recently too often endangered in many countries.
As an advice, I want to suggest to embrace this and other similar programmes without hesitation. The challenges are often bigger in our mind before starting than what they actually are when we live them.
