Who will be the Alum of the Year 2024? – Vote!

I am Jasmin Ngo, a Finnish-born global citizen. I have lived and worked in 7 countries and travelled to nearly 90 countries. I worked in the travel and hospitality industry for years until I accidentally ended up as an entrepreneur after graduating from Haaga-Helia during the pandemic. I am currently a full-time entrepreneur and social media content creator. I produce content for my channels on Tiktok, Instagram and YouTube.

Haaga-Helia gave me a good basis for what I do now. The most important lesson I remember was "Remember to network!" and this I can really agree with.  

As Alum of the Year, I would like to emphasise the importance of creating a life that you enjoy. I would also like to encourage people to be brave and to express themselves without being dependent on others or their approval. When you put yourself on a pedestal and feel good, the people around you feel good too.

My name is Jukka Niittymaa and I am the Head of AI and Innovations at a creative agency called Sherpa. I am also a PhD researcher at the Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics (JSBE), where I study the impact of generative AIs on communication and marketing. I was also the 1st chief editor and introductory author of the book "Tekoälykäs viestintä" and 2nd author of the chapter "Tekoälykäs informaatiovaikuttaminen", published by ProComma Academic in summer 2024. The whole book can be downloaded and read for free on Helda.

I live with my wife and our three cats in the countryside about an hour or so from Helsinki. What time I have to spare from work and dissertation research is spent making music, painting with acrylic paints, making AI graphics, running the YouTube channel "Tekoälyt testissä" ("AIs on test" in English) and playing computer games. I also try to find time for outdoor activities and nature, nothing really recharges my batteries quite as well. 

Before my MBA studies, I had worked in many different kinds of communication and marketing jobs and I was interested in management. Therefore, the Communication Management programme seemed a natural choice, opening doors to many opportunities. In addition, many of the courses in the MBA were professionally useful and I also met some nice new people during my studies. The most significant impact the MBA has had on my current career is that it opened doors to further studies at the Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics. 

When I was in my twenties, I could never have imagined that I would actually study to become a researcher. It's quite amazing, and I couldn't have done it without studying at Haaga-Helia, because the idea of doctoral studies came up when I was doing my MBA.  

I want to emphasise the importance of continuous learning and the importance of curiosity for everyone, at all ages, even in the era of artificial intelligence. Learning something new is very much a matter of choice and a lot depends on what you spend your time on. In today's world, you can still continue learning even if you were more advanced in years. A better time to learn can sometimes come a little later, or if you're looking for something new in your life, learning is a good way to renew yourself. 

For me, age has even helped me to focus better on the important things. When I was younger, my undiagnosed ADHD sometimes made my daily life too colourful and studying often felt very hard. Now that I'm older, I know and am able to better take into account my own strengths and weaknesses, although learning to take them into account is never really over. 

I am Doris Tuohimaa, a community expert, enthusiast and inspirer who returned to Kemi a year ago. While studying at Haaga-Helia, I co-founded the PuskaPromotion cooperative, with which I have been doing hundreds of community projects and common good for 11 years.

In addition to my co-operative, I am a founding member and executive director of the charity Joulupuu ry, collecting over 50 000 gifts and more than half a million euros every year to help children and young people in disadvantaged situations.

I always have several irons in the fire and I'm involved in several organisations and run the shop Noitasiskosten Puoti with my sister. I have my two daughters, my husband and a passion for gardening and music.

Studying in Haaga-Helia's Sales degree programme changed my life! Haaga-Helia was the first place where I was accepted for who I am and my talents came to their full bloom. I cannot thank enough for the amazing teaching, acceptance and support I received from the entire HH community. In particular, the experiences of the Best Seller and European Sales Competition have played an important role in growing and demonstrating my expertise. 

The opportunity to set up my own business during my studies and complete a large part of my study credits in my own company was an opportunity worth its weight in gold. The numerous different places to influence and make a difference, such as HELGA, sports tutoring, the board game club and the Haaga-Helia choir, brought lifelong friends and networks and strengthened my confidence in my own abilities and opportunities to make a difference.  

Community is a theme I love, and one that I would certainly strongly emphasise as Haaga-Helia's Alumna of the Year. Together we are more and we can do greater things than the individual, community also brings security and the possibility to find meaning in one's life. 

It is amazing to see how even a small good deed can have a positive impact on one's immediate surroundings and how one's own resources only grow through working together. The energy, enthusiasm and strength that comes from being part of a group is a life-giving force that should be harnessed as much as possible.