Laura Pulkkinen, Head of Growth at Sooma Medical, has worked in health tech startups throughout her career. Her calendar as a growth leader is rarely open, but nevertheless, she found the time to complete an MBA alongside her work.
Laura says the Aalto MBA exceeded her expectations. Her journey included many memorable experiences, like winning the semifinal with Aalto EE’s six-member team in the world’s largest Venture Capital Investment Competition, VCIC. In the global finals, Laura’s team placed fifth out of 70 teams and was recognized as the best team in Europe.
For Laura, the most positive surprise in the Aalto MBA was, without a doubt, the group itself.
“I had thought the MBA would be a challenge I’d tackle alone while working. But instead, I became part of an exceptionally remarkable group. You can’t overstate how important the other participants were. The camaraderie we shared was an unexpected and wonderful experience in adulthood,” she emphasizes.
I became part of an exceptionally remarkable group. You can’t overstate how important the other participants were."
“Our MBA group was full of amazing professionals with diverse experience across various industries. We had incredibly engaging discussions that really supported the learning process. In many modules, I learned almost as much from the other participants as from Aalto EE’s top-notch instructors.”
Aalto MBA was an obvious choice
As Head of Growth at Sooma, Laura is responsible for sales and marketing and plays a key role in several expansion projects.
“Sooma’s brain stimulation treatment alleviates depression symptoms, improves access to mental health care, and helps ease the burden on healthcare systems. It’s also a safe and effective treatment for chronic pain,” she explains.
“We just received research approval in the United States, which is a huge win for our company – once the study concludes, we can apply to the FDA for marketing authorization,” she adds.
Laura admits that working in a startup doesn’t leave much time for career planning – her days are simply too full. The idea of pursuing an MBA came to her a few years ago during her summer vacation.
“I studied finance at university in the UK and have learned a great deal through my work, but most of that has been in the context of health tech. During my summer vacation, I started thinking that studying while working might be the perfect way to gain new perspectives and fresh ideas,” she says.
“Aalto EE has the best MBA program in Finland, so of course I opted for it. Aalto was an obvious choice,” she underlines.
Hands-on learning
Laura says every module brought insights she could apply directly at work.
“In the startup world, you work in small teams. Roles are broad and can shift almost daily. I gained new alternatives and possibilities for my day-to-day work from every module – whether the theme was strategy, marketing, finance, or leading people,” she says.
She especially appreciated how hands-on the teaching was.
“In addition to their academic expertise, the instructors had deep real-world business experience. We learned a lot of essential business theory, and nearly every concept was brought to life with engaging practical examples and stories. We also had excellent guest speakers from industry.”
The practical approach really deepened and enriched the learning."
“The practical approach really deepened and enriched the learning. Finance is a great example: even though I studied finance at university, I gained a lot of new insights from Aalto EE’s finance studies, because the MBA took such a practical approach,” Laura points out.
When it comes to her own work, she says the Self-Leadership and Communication modules had the biggest impact.
“Not to downplay any of the other modules – I use ideas from them frequently – but these two modules gave me insights I now apply every single day. The most important skills a leader can have are the ability to communicate and to influence.”
“The Personal and Professional Development Process was marvelous as well. As part of it, we kept journals to reflect on our learning and growth as leaders. The Aalto MBA would have been excellent without it, but that element of self-reflection really took the experience to the next level,” she says.
A rewarding Business Project and 10+ for Aalto EE staff
Laura has especially fond memories of the Aalto MBA Business Project.
“I landed my top pick: working on a project for the Finnish Refugee Council. They had a real, urgent challenge – but as a non-profit organization, they didn’t have the funds or resources to solve it.”
I’d give the Aalto EE team a solid 10+ for how they handled the practical arrangements."
“I’m really proud of the project we delivered. Our four-person team did great work. And I just heard that they’ve decided to put our proposal into action. That felt incredibly rewarding,” she shares.
Along with unforgettable moments, strong class spirit, and hands-on learning, Laura highlights one more key element that made the Aalto MBA an exceptional experience: the Aalto EE staff.
“I’d give the Aalto EE team a solid 10+ for how they handled the practical arrangements. They made sure everyone always knew what was happening and what was coming next. The program was beautifully structured, the breaks were well thought out, and the in-class days felt like pure luxury: all we had to do was focus on learning, the staff took care of everything else,” she says.
“Obviously, enjoying the in-class sessions also required the right mindset from us participants. There were times when it took considerable effort to switch off from work and concentrate solely on learning. If you’re considering MBA studies, I have two key tips. The first is easy: choose the Aalto MBA. The second is harder, but it’s doable: turn off your phone and computer and make the most of those incredible in-class days.”