Design Your Future event connects students and partner companies

Design Your Future is an annual event aimed at Business Administration students, where students face an important question: which specialization should they choose? Haaga-Helia’s partner companies were also present to meet students, recruit talent, discuss possible career paths, and offer guidance on navigating the challenges of working life.

The value of the event came above all from people: open conversations, moments of insight, and a shared desire to build the best possible foundations for students’ future career success.

Unique work experience for students

Recruitment and networking events provide an excellent platform for reaching motivated students and informing them about internship opportunities. At the same time, they offer a low-threshold opportunity to discuss the content of internships, get to know what the experience is like, and hear about learning opportunities directly from current interns.

At the Design Your Future event, student interns from Haaga-Helia’s partner organization Nordic Business Forum (NBF), were present. NBF recruits and trains hundreds of students every year as interns for Europe’s largest business and leadership conference event.

Visibility and employer brand development

Two representatives from Danske Bank were present at the event: Pauliina Holappa, and Joonas Juvani, Customer Advisors. According to Holappa and Juvani, networking events play a key role in reaching students at the right moment.

– Partner collaboration with Haaga-Helia enables us to gain visibility and connect with students in various networking and recruitment events. This helps us increase brand awareness and strengthen our employer image among students, says Holappa.

– Participating in networking events is an important way for us to show that Danske Bank is an active employer that wants to be accessible and engage in conversations with students, adds Juvani.

Information and guidance for students

Tradenomiliitto is a professional union and an active partner organization of Haaga-Helia. Student and Youth Affairs Specialist, and Executive Director of the Tradenomi Student Union, Waltteri Kolkka, why did Tradenomiliitto want to participate in the Design Your Future event?

– At Tradenomiliitto, we have a lot of up-to-date research data to support the working lives of business administration professionals, and we want to make that information available to business administration students here at the event. We also want to support them on their career paths, for example through our legal services, Kolkka explains.

Tradenomiliitto resolves thousands of its members' employment law–related issues every year through its legal services. At the Design Your Future event, employment lawyer Jere Vuorio is also present to advise young people on complex employment situations.

– I’m here answering students' questions related to working life, particularly on employment law matters. We advise students, for example, on contracts and salary-related issues, says Vuorio.

Recruitment in the student target audience

Haaga-Helia’s partner, Trainers' House, actively recruits students for the role of B2B marketer. Events like this significantly increase the visibility of recruitment opportunities among students. According to Recruitment Coordinator Venla Lundén, having a presence on campuses is an important part of connecting with students. 

– Visiting campuses enables genuine dialogue with students. We are able to talk about career opportunities and answer students’ questions directly, Lundén says.

At Trainers’ House, there is a clear career path from entry-level positions to more demanding roles. Lundén’s own career has also progressed along this path within the company. 

– At Trainers’ House, it’s possible to build a career path from entry-level roles to more demanding positions. I personally started in this same B2B marketer role, progressed to a Senior Marketer position, and from there moved into this Recruitment Coordinator role, Lundén adds. 

– The Design Your Future event has had a social, relaxed and informative atmosphere, Lundén describes.

The event was organized by the lecturers and administrative staff of the Haaga-Helia Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programme. Thank you to all the organizers, partners, and participants, you made the event meaningful.

Would you also like to develop your employer brand, recruit students, or reach the student audience at the right moment? Contact: [email protected]. 

Article image: Caro Vehmas, atmosphere from the Design Your Future event on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.