66 Notable Alumni of Aalto University [Sorted List]

Renny Harlin

Born in: Finland
Years: 1959-.. (age 67)
Enrolled in Aalto University: Studied in 1978-1981
Occupations: film directorfilm screenwriterproducerdirectormanufacturer
Biography: Renny Harlin is a Finnish filmmaker who has worked in America, Europe, and Asia. He is known for directing films such as Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger, Deep Blue Sea and Cutthroat Island, the latter of has the distinction of being one of the biggest box office bombs of all time.

Elina Valtonen

Born in: Finland
Years: 1981-.. (age 45)
Enrolled in Aalto University: Studied in 2005
Occupations: politicianbanker
Biography: Elina Maria Valtonen is a Finnish politician who has served as Minister for Foreign Affairs under Prime Minister Petteri Orpo since 2023. A member of the National Coalition Party (NCP), she has represented the constituency of Uusimaa in the Parliament of Finland since 2014. In the 2021 municipal election she won the second-highest number of votes in Helsinki and was elected a member of its city council.

Jorma Ollila

Born in: Finland
Years: 1950-.. (age 76)
Occupations: business executiveentrepreneurmerchantbusinesspersoneconomist
Biography: Jorma Jaakko Ollila is a Finnish businessman who was chairman of Royal Dutch Shell from 1 June 2006 to May 2015, and at Nokia Corporation chairman from 1999 to 2012 and CEO from 1992 to 2006. He has been a director of Otava Books and Magazines Group Ltd. since 1996 and UPM-Kymmene since 1997, and an advisory partner at Perella Weinberg Partners, a New York–based boutique investment bank founded by Joseph R. Perella and Peter Weinberg in 2006.

Dome Karukoski

Born in: Cyprus
Years: 1976-.. (age 50)
Enrolled in Aalto University: Studied in 2005
Occupations: film actorscreenwriterfilm director
Biography: Thomas August George Dome Karukoski is a Finnish film director. He has won over 30 festival awards and having directed six feature films that became blockbusters in his home country and also received international recognition.

Mauri Kunnas

Born in: Finland
Years: 1950-.. (age 76)
Occupations: cartoonistchildren's writerfilm directorillustratorvoice actor
Biography: Mauri Tapio Kunnas is a Finnish cartoonist and children's author.

Harri Heliövaara

Born in: Finland
Years: 1989-.. (age 37)
Occupations: tennis player
Biography: Harri Heliövaara is a Finnish professional tennis player. He has been ranked by the ATP as high as world No. 3 in doubles, achieved on 31 March 2025. He also attained his career-high singles ranking of No. 194 in December 2011. Heliövaara is a three-time Grand Slam champion in both doubles, at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships and at the 2025 Australian Open with Henry Patten and in mixed doubles at the 2023 US Open with Anna Danilina. He has won 12 titles on the ATP Tour.

Timo Sarpaneva

Born in: Finland
Years: 1926-2006 (aged 80)
Occupations: sculptordesignerglass artist
Biography: Timo Tapani Sarpaneva was an influential Finnish designer, sculptor, and educator best known in the art world for innovative work in glass, which often merged attributes of display art objects with utilitarian designations. While glass remained his most commonly addressed medium, he worked with metal, wood, textiles, and porcelain (china). Sarpaneva has entered homes around the world through his industrial design of upscale, artistically conceived items, including cast-iron cookware and porcelain dinnerware. His work was among the key components that helped to launch Finland's reputation as a trailblazer of design.

Eero Aarnio

Born in: Finland
Years: 1932-.. (age 94)
Occupations: designerarchitectfurniture designer
Biography: Eero Aarnio is a Finnish designer, noted for his innovative furniture designs in the 1960s, such as his plastic and fibreglass chairs. He was born in Helsinki.

Armi Ratia

Born in: Finland
Years: 1912-1979 (aged 67)
Occupations: businesspersondesigner
Biography: Armi Maria Ratia née Airaksinen was a Finnish businesswoman, she was the co-founder of the Finnish textile and clothing company Marimekko Ltd. She is among Finland's most famous female entrepreneurs. She was born in Pälkjärvi in Ladoga Karelia. For a detailed biographical article in the context of her Marimekko company, see The National Biography of Finland entry.

Kaj Chydenius

Born in: Finland
Years: 1939-2024 (aged 85)
Enrolled in Aalto University: Studied in 1957
Occupations: singercomposerpolitician
Biography: Kaj Oskar Chydenius was a Finnish musician and composer, probably best known for his left-wing political songs interpreted by various artists.

Esa Saarinen

Born in: Finland
Years: 1953-.. (age 73)
Occupations: musicianuniversity teachernon-fiction writerphilosopherbusiness coach
Biography: Esa Jouni Olavi Saarinen is a Finnish philosopher who was a professor of applied philosophy at Aalto University and co-director of the Systems Intelligence Research Group, until his retirement in 2021.

Linda Liukas

Born in: Finland
Years: 1986-.. (age 40)
Enrolled in Aalto University: Studied in 2009
Occupations: teacherillustratororatorchildren's writerprogrammer
Biography: Linda Liukas is a Finnish children's book author, illustrator and an instructor for beginner programmers. In 2014, her Hello Ruby coding book for children raised $380,000 on Kickstarter becoming the platform's most highly funded children's book.

Maija Isola

Born in: Finland
Years: 1927-2001 (aged 74)
Occupations: textile artisttextile designerpainterdesignerfashion designer
Biography: Maija Sofia Isola was a Finnish designer of printed textiles, and the creator of over 500 patterns, including Unikko ("Poppy"). The bold, colourful prints she created as the head designer of Marimekko made the Finnish company famous in the 1960s. She also had a successful career as a visual artist.

Klaus Härö

Born in: Finland
Years: 1971-.. (age 55)
Enrolled in Aalto University: Studied screenwriting and film direction
Occupations: film directorscreenwriter
Biography: Klaus Härö is a Finnish film director. In 2004, he won Finland's State Prize for Art.

Kaj Franck

Born in: Russia
Years: 1911-1989 (aged 78)
Occupations: textile artistuniversity teacherdesignerglass artistvisual artist
Biography: Kaj Gabriel Franck was one of the leading figures of Finnish design and an influential figure in design and applied arts between 1940 and 1980.

Johanna Vuoksenmaa

Born in: Finland
Years: 1965-.. (age 61)
Occupations: screenwritertelevision directorfilm directorlyricistphotographer
Biography: Johanna Vuoksenmaa is a Finnish television and film director and screenwriter who has also worked as a photographer, installation artist and a teacher. Her films have been shown at numerous film festivals around the world and she has won many Finnish film and television awards for directing and screenwriting. As a director and screenwriter, Vuoksenmaa prefers the comedy genre because to her comedy means relief, forgiveness and defense. She does not use casting agencies but prefers to cast actors to her films herself, since she thinks that it creates a level of trust between the actor and the director.

Mārtiņš Staķis

Born in: Latvia
Years: 1979-.. (age 47)
Occupations: businesspersonpolitician
Biography: Mārtiņš Staķis is a Latvian politician and businessman, Mayor of Riga from 2020 to 2023. He served as a deputy of the 13th Saeima, the Latvian parliament, until he resigned on 5 June 2020. On 29 August 2020, Staķis was elected to the Riga City Council, and on 2 October, elected Mayor of Riga.

Sirpa Pietikäinen

Born in: Finland
Years: 1959-.. (age 67)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Sirpa Pietikäinen is a Finnish politician and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Finland. She is a former member of the National Coalition Party, part of the European People's Party.

Pertti Salolainen

Born in: Finland
Years: 1940-.. (age 86)
Enrolled in Aalto University: Studied in 1969
Occupations: diplomatpoliticianjournalist
Biography: Pertti Edvard Salolainen CBE is a Finnish politician. He has served as MP from the National Coalition Party (1970–1996, 2007–2019) and party chairman (1991–1994) and Minister (1987–1995).

Sari Multala

Born in: Finland
Years: 1978-.. (age 48)
Enrolled in Aalto University: Studied in 2005
Occupations: sailorpolitician
Biography: Sari Multala is a Finnish Olympic sailor, politician, member of Parliament of Finland and cabinet minister.

Oiva Toikka

Born in: Finland
Years: 1931-2019 (aged 88)
Occupations: ceramicistglassblowerdesignerglass artist
Biography: Oiva Kalervo Toikka was a Finnish glass designer, best known for his designs for Iittala.

Markku Pölönen

Born in: Finland
Years: 1957-.. (age 69)
Enrolled in Aalto University: Studied in 1979-1982
Occupations: film directorscreenwriter
Biography: Markku Tapani Pölönen is a Finnish film director, screenwriter, and editor; and the owner of film production company Suomen Filmiteollisuus. Pölönen's best known work is the 2004 film Dog Nail Clipper — written and directed by Pölönen — which was honoured in five categories at the 2005 Jussi Awards (Finland's premier film awards) including Best Direction and Best Script and which film critic Jay Weissberg from Variety called Pölönen's "most mature work to date". Pölönen has received numerous additional Jussi awards, including best picture and best screenplay for Onnen Maa (1994); best picture and best director for Kivenpyörittäjän kylä (1995); and best picture, best director, and best screenplay for A Summer by the River (1999) Pölönen has also been nominated for two other Jussis that he did not win. Finally, many of Pölönen's films have earned best actor and best actress awards, as well.

Kaisa Korhonen

Born in: Finland
Years: 1941-2024 (aged 83)
Enrolled in Aalto University: Studied in 1961-1965
Occupations: actorplaywrightwritertheatrical directorfilm director
Biography: Kaisa Korhonen was a Finnish theatre director, actor, singer and dramaturge. She was a central figure in the Finnish leftist music scene of the 1960s and 1970s, appearing both as a solo artist, and with KOM-teatteri. After her singing career, Korhonen became an accomplished director and teacher of theatre directing.

Teuvo Kohonen

Born in: Finland
Years: 1934-2021 (aged 87)
Occupations: computer scientistengineeruniversity teacher
Biography: Teuvo Kalevi Kohonen was a Finnish computer scientist. He was professor emeritus of the Academy of Finland.

Satu Hassi

Born in: Finland
Years: 1951-.. (age 75)
Occupations: university teacherwriterpolitician
Biography: Satu Maijastiina Hassi is a Finnish politician, and former Member of the European Parliament for the Green League. She served as the Minister of Environment and Development Co-Operation in Paavo Lipponen's second cabinet between 15 April 1999 and 31 May 2002. In accordance with her party's position on the issue, she quit the cabinet in protest of the government's decision to build a fifth nuclear power plant in Finland. Hassi served as the leader of her party between 1999 and 2001. She was a member of the national parliament from 1991 to 2004; she left the parliament when she was elected to the European Parliament as the sole Finnish Green representative in the 2004 election.

Heidi Blomstedt

Born in: Finland
Years: 1911-1982 (aged 71)
Occupations: ceramicistdesigner
Biography: Heidi Kristina Blomstedt was a Finnish designer.

Ilmari Tapiovaara

Born in: Finland
Years: 1914-1999 (aged 85)
Occupations: designerfurniture designer
Biography: Yrjö Ilmari Tapiovaara was a Finnish designer noted for his furnishings and textiles.

Matti Alahuhta

Born in: Finland
Years: 1952-.. (age 74)
Occupations: businesspersonmanager
Biography: Matti Juhani Alahuhta is a Finnish businessman. He was the President & CEO of KONE Corporation (2005–2014). Earlier he worked 26 years at Nokia Corporation and was Member of Nokia's Executive Board from 1993 to 2004. He is Chairman of the Board of DevCo Partners Oy. He is also Member of the Board of Directors of Kone (2003-) and Volvo (2014-).

Atte Harjanne

Born in: Finland
Years: 1984-.. (age 42)
Occupations: climatologistpolitician
Biography: Atte Erik Harjanne is a Finnish politician currently serving in the Parliament of Finland for the Green League at the Helsinki constituency.

Piia-Noora Kauppi

Born in: Finland
Years: 1975-.. (age 51)
Occupations: juristpolitician
Biography: Piia-Noora Kauppi is a Finnish former politician who currently serves as the managing director of the Federation of Finnish Financial Services. She served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) of the European People's Party from 1999 to 2008.

Jussi Pajunen

Born in: Finland
Years: 1954-.. (age 72)
Occupations: civil servantpolitician
Biography: Jussi Ilmari Pajunen is a Finnish politician of the National Coalition Party and former city manager of Helsinki.

Rut Bryk

Born in: Sweden
Years: 1916-1999 (aged 83)
Occupations: ceramicistdesignertextile artist
Biography: Linnea Rut Bryk was a Finnish ceramist. Through her printmaking, textile design and ceramics, she successfully blurred the lines between art, craft and design. She is considered a key reformer of modern Finnish ceramic art.

Emma Terho

Born in: United States
Years: 1981-.. (age 45)
Occupations: ice hockey playersports executivefinancial adviser
Biography: Emma Kristiina Laaksonen Terho is a Finnish ice hockey executive, retired defenceman and the current Chair of the IOC Athletes' Commission. She previously served as general manager of Kiekko-Espoo Naiset in the Naisten Liiga. At the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano she became the youngest Winter Olympian to medal for Finland, winning a bronze medal at the age of 16 years 54 days.

Eero Nelimarkka

Born in: Finland
Years: 1891-1977 (aged 86)
Occupations: painter
Biography: Eero Aleksander Nelimarkka was a Finnish painter. He is best known for depicting the plain landscapes of Ostrobothnia but he also produced portraits of notable Finns and family members.

Pia Kauma

Born in: Finland
Years: 1966-.. (age 60)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Pia Liisa Kauma is a Finnish politician, who serves as a Member of the Finnish parliament. She also serves as a member of the City Council of Espoo, representing the National Coalition Party. Kauma is also a member of the Finnish delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and currently serves as the president of the organization.

Lenita Toivakka

Born in: Finland
Years: 1961-.. (age 65)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Lenita Anneli Toivakka is a Finnish politician and a member of National Coalition Party.

Birger Kaipiainen

Born in: Finland
Years: 1915-1988 (aged 73)
Occupations: ceramicistdesigner
Biography: Birger Johannes Kaipiainen was a Finnish ceramist and designer. He is one of the most successful and well-known ceramic artists in Finland.

Ulla Procopé

Born in: Finland
Years: 1921-1968 (aged 47)
Occupations: ceramicistdesigner
Biography: Ulrika Eleonora Matilda Procopé-Nyman (1921–1968) was a Finnish designer of ceramics. Procopé was one of the most prolific Finnish ceramic designers of the Golden Age of Finnish Design. Her designs were produced at large scale by the Arabia company in Finland.

Helena Tynell

Born in: Finland
Years: 1918-2016 (aged 98)
Occupations: designer
Biography: Hellin Helena Tynell was a notable Finnish glass designer who has been described as a pioneer of Finnish glass art.

Ismo Sajakorpi

Born in: Finland
Years: 1944-.. (age 82)
Enrolled in Aalto University: Studied in 1965-1969
Occupations: screenwritertelevision directortheatrical directorplaywrightentertainer
Biography: Ismo Sajakorpi is a Finnish television writer, screen writer and television director.

Jalmari Ruokokoski

Born in: Russia
Years: 1886-1936 (aged 50)
Occupations: painter
Biography: Joel Jalmari Ruokokoski, known as Jali was a Finnish Expressionist painter. Although most of his works were landscapes and still-lifes, he is probably best known for a series of portraits (including numerous self-portraits) painted mostly during the 1910s. Although Ruokokoski never officially joined the November Group, (Marraskuun ryhmä), he participated in the galleries set up by the group.

Viola Gråsten

Born in: Finland
Years: 1910-1994 (aged 84)
Enrolled in Aalto University: Studied in 1932-1936
Occupations: designertextile designertextile artist
Biography: Viola Hildegard Gråsten was a Swedish textile designer.

Taneli Tikka

Born in: Finland
Years: 1978-.. (age 48)
Occupations: bloggerbusinessperson
Biography: Taneli Tikka is a Finnish technology serial entrepreneur, and a keynote speaker in Finnish and International events.

Gunnel Nyman

Born in: Finland
Years: 1909-1948 (aged 39)
Occupations: glass artistdesigner
Biography: Gunnel Nyman was a Finnish glass and metal artist, and one of the founders of modern Finnish glass design. She was also a proponent of early mass-produced glassware. Nyman's glassware is exhibited in museums internationally.

Kaija Aarikka

Born in: Finland
Years: 1929-2014 (aged 85)
Occupations: designertextile artist
Biography: Kaija Helena Aarikka-Ruokonen was a Finnish designer and entrepreneur.

Birger Carlstedt

Born in: Finland
Years: 1907-1975 (aged 68)
Occupations: painter
Biography: John Birger Jarl Carlstedt was a Finnish painter and a pioneer of Modern Art in Finland. His painting style went through various changes, with influences from Impressionism, Expressionism, Futurism and abstract art.

Heikki Orvola

Born in: Finland
Years: 1943-.. (age 83)
Occupations: glassblowerdesigner
Biography: Heikki Orvola is a Finnish designer and planner. He started his career as a designer in the 1960s. In 1968, he started to work at the Nuutajärvi glassworks. In 1972, he designed the Aurora set of glasses for Iittala. With Fujiwo Ishimoto he designed the Illusia tableware for Arabia Ceramics Factory.

Mike Pohjola

Born in: Finland
Years: 1978-.. (age 48)
Occupations: screenwriterrole-playing game designerwriter
Biography: Mikko "Mike" Pohjola is a Finnish playwright, novelist, and game designer. He is the author of Sinä vuonna 1928, 1827, Maailman hauskin, Myrskyn aika, Star Wreck Roleplaying Game, Tähti, Kadonneet kyyneleet, Ihmisen poika, and Age of the Tempest. He is also the narrative designer and main writer of the Agemonia board game.

Lisa Johansson-Pape

Born in: Finland
Years: 1907-1989 (aged 82)
Occupations: designer
Biography: Carin Lisa Johansson-Pape née Johansson was a Finnish designer, best known for her work in lighting. She was the most significant Finnish lighting designer in the second half of the 1900s. Her priorities were first about the functions then the design.

Jarmo Lampela

Born in: Finland
Years: 1964-.. (age 62)
Enrolled in Aalto University: Studied in 1987-1992
Occupations: film directorscreenwriter
Biography: Jarmo Lampela is a Finnish film director and screenwriter. He has directed more than 15 films since 1988. His 2003 film Eila was entered into the 25th Moscow International Film Festival. In 2013 he is scheduled to direct a new film Werther.

Ukri Merikanto

Born in: Finland
Years: 1950-2010 (aged 60)
Occupations: sculptorvisual artistteacher
Biography: Ukri Uolevi Merikanto was a Finnish sculptor.

Dora Jung

Born in: Finland
Years: 1906-1980 (aged 74)
Occupations: designertextile artist
Biography: Dora Elisabet Jung HonRDI FRSA was textile artist, craftswoman, and industrial designer from Finland. Her career lasted five decades. She designed products and works of art made out of linen which can be found in homes, churches, and public buildings. She was known for her expertise in designing woven damask fabrics with abstract motifs.

Wilhelm Wahlforss

Born in: Finland
Years: 1891-1969 (aged 78)
Occupations: entrepreneurengineer
Biography: Emil Wilhelm Wahlforss was a Finnish engineer, industrialist and vuorineuvos.

Michael Schilkin

Born in: Russia
Years: 1900-1962 (aged 62)
Occupations: visual artistsculptordesignerceramicist
Biography: Michael Schilkin was a Russian-born ceramist who is best known for having worked in the art department of Arabia.

Åke Hellman

Born in: Finland
Years: 1915-2017 (aged 102)
Enrolled in Aalto University: Studied in 1934-1938
Occupations: painter
Biography: Åke Fredrik Hellman was a Swedish-speaking Finnish still life and portrait artist and art professor. He worked as art teacher at the University of Helsinki. In 1963, he received the order of the Lion of Finland.

Kaj Arnö

Born in: Finland
Years: 1963-.. (age 63)
Occupations: programmercolumnistbusinessperson
Biography: Kaj Sigurd Ademar Arnö is a Finland-Swedish IT-entrepreneur and columnist. He is since 2016 (also) a German citizen and has lived in Germany since 2006. He is the former Vice President of the MySQL Community at MySQL AB, Sun Microsystems and Oracle Corporation, founder of MariaDB Corporation Ab and the current CEO of the MariaDB Foundation.

Kari Huhtamo

Born in: Finland
Years: 1943-2023 (aged 80)
Enrolled in Aalto University: Studied in 1961-1963
Occupations: visual artistsculptor
Biography: Kari Huhtamo was a Finnish sculptor.

Michaela Pejzlová

Born in: Czech Republic
Years: 1997-.. (age 29)
Occupations: ice hockey player
Biography: Michaela "Míša" Pejzlová is a Czech ice hockey player and member of the Czech national team. She is signed with the Hockey Club Ambrì-Piotta Girls (HCAP Girls) of the Swiss Women's League (SWHL A) for the 2024–25 season. Her collegiate career was played with the Clarkson Golden Knights of ECAC Hockey, with whom she twice won the NCAA Championship.

Kirsti Ilvessalo

Born in: Finland
Years: 1920-2019 (aged 99)
Occupations: designertextile artist
Biography: Kirsti Ilvessalo was a Finnish textile artist, best known for her ryijy. She received awards at the Triennale di Milano (1951, 1954, 1960), and the Order of the Lion of Finland (1979).

Yrjö Sotamaa

Years: 1942-.. (age 84)
Enrolled in Aalto University: Studied in 1983
Occupations: interior designeruniversity teacher
Biography: Yrjö Kalervo Sotamaa is a Finnish designer and design strategist. Sotamaa is Professor Emeritus of Design Innovation in the Aalto University School of Art, Design and Architecture and President Emeritus of the University of Art and Design Helsinki (TAIK). He served as the president of TAIK from 1986 until 2008. He earned his MA in Interior Architecture and Furniture Design from TAIK, where he studied with Kaj Franck and Antti Nurmesniemi.

Kyllikki Salmenhaara

Born in: Finland
Years: 1915-1981 (aged 66)
Occupations: visual artistceramicist
Biography: Kyllikki Salmenhaara was a Finnish ceramicist, and one of the leading ceramic artists and designers of the post-war period internationally.

Raija Jokinen

Years: 1960-.. (age 66)
Occupations: visual artisttextile artist
Biography: Raija Jokinen is a Finnish visual artist and textile designer. Jokinen lives and works in Helsinki and Sipoo.

Henry Ericsson

Born in: Finland
Years: 1898-1933 (aged 35)
Occupations: designerpaintergraphic artist
Biography: Carl August Henry Ericsson, was a Finnish graphic artist and decorative painter.

Ulla Puolanne

Born in: Finland
Years: 1931-2015 (aged 84)
Occupations: politician
Biography: Ulla Kaija Puolanne was a Finnish politician who served as Deputy Minister of Finance from 1987 to 1991. Born in Lahti, she graduated from the Helsinki School of Economics in 1954 and afterwards worked in finance in an engineering office. Puolanne first got involved in politics in 1969 when she was elected to Lahti City Council. Six years later she was elected to the Parliament of Finland in the 1975 elections as a member of the National Coalition Party. She served as a member of Parliament until 1991, and was primarily part of the Banking and Finance Committees.

Jaakko Honko

Born in: Finland
Years: 1922-2006 (aged 84)
Occupations: professoreconomist
Biography: Jaakko Honko was a Finnish business economist, Professor at the Helsinki School of Economics, and its rector for many years.

Bertel Bertel-Nordström

Born in: Finland
Years: 1884-1967 (aged 83)
Occupations: painter
Biography: Engelbert Bertel-Nordström was a Swedish painter. His work was part of the painting event in the art competition at the 1936 Summer Olympics.