Susanna Rinta works as Managing Director at her family's company Beup Automation Oy, a technical sales and import company for process industry equipment increasing efficiency and safety in industrial processes.
“I decided to pursue an Aalto MBA when I joined the family business just over three years ago. My prior work experience was from the public sector. I have a master’s degree in forestry and agriculture and I used to work with development cooperation issues at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland,” Rinta explains.
Setting out to work in a field in which she had no prior experience, Rinta says the leap from a public sector career to leading the family business felt considerable.
“The Aalto MBA helped me at a turning point in my career and gave me the knowledge and tools I needed to successfully start leading our family business – and perhaps most importantly, it gave me the confidence to step into these boots,” she asserts.
Rinta names change management, leadership, HR, and finance as the most useful topics for her own professional development.
“The studies provided me with a fresh perspective to leadership in our company, and helped me understand what was missing and what had been done well,” she remarks.
The MBA is not about sitting and listening to lectures. We did not dwell on theory excessively; we had group work and lively discussions on real business challenges."
“As my new job put me in a position to make decisions and implement change, many of the lessons I learned during my studies were promptly put to use at Beup Automation. The HR module, for example, gave me very useful ideas which we immediately implemented,” Rinta adds.
One of the things Rinta says she enjoyed most in the MBA was the high level of interaction, which differed quite considerably from her prior university studies.
“The MBA is not about sitting and listening to lectures. We did not dwell on theory excessively; we had group work and lively discussions on real business challenges,” she points out.
Rinta also praises the Personal Development Process that continues all through the studies.
“Like many MBA students, I had a lot on my plate, with a demanding job and young children. The Personal Development Process included valuable lessons on managing stress levels and handling time-demands, and it reminded me of the importance of taking care of my own wellbeing,” Rinta notes.
“After studying for a while, I made the decision to work four-day weeks and reserve one day a week solely for my studies. It was a good decision and definitely helped me make the most of the opportunity,” she affirms.
I can vouch that MBA is a terrific stepping stone for anyone who is thinking of trying their wings out on a new career."
Rinta describes the Aalto MBA as a rewarding experience that exceeded her expectations. The biggest positive surprise for her was the unique support network she gained from fellow MBA students.
“I am happy to recommend the Aalto MBA. It gives you tremendous perspective, and a great deal of new ideas and useful tools – and from my own experience I can vouch that it is a terrific stepping stone for anyone who is thinking of trying their wings out on a new career,” Rinta concludes.