The versatile content of the Global Leader program was exactly what Paula Jurvanen needed to take the next step in her career. The newly appointed Managing Director of M&I Forum used AI to embed key lessons from the program into her organization.
Worldwide Events is a global event organizer. Its best-known brands are M&I Forum, focused on B2B networking events, and Private Luxury, which specializes in events for the luxury travel industry. Paula Jurvanen, who has worked at Worldwide Events for 15 years, was appointed Managing Director of M&I Forum at the end of 2025.
Before stepping into her new role, Jurvanen expanded her leadership skills in the Global Leader program.
“When the program began, I was working as Director of Operations. Truth be told, the push to start studying came from above,” Jurvanen says with a laugh.
“Our Chairman of the Board decided that we needed new perspectives. Every member of our Executive Team got a budget and we were told: Here you go, expand your horizons,” Jurvanen reminisces.
She considered MBA or EMBA studies but decided to start with the Global Leader program.
“I have a demanding job and a young child. I looked into every possible program in Finland and concluded that for me, Aalto EE’s Global Leader was the best choice.”
The program appealed to Jurvanen for several reasons: the content was diverse, it had a good selection of elective study modules, and most importantly, you can continue directly in the Aalto EMBA or MBA program if you wish.
“It gave me the chance to see what returning to the classroom would feel like after a 20-year break, with a family to take care of. I reasoned that Global Leader is a sufficiently wide-ranging, first-rate leadership program in itself – and if I enjoyed studying, I could continue from there.”
Concrete tools and greater clarity
The first two modules in the Global Leader program left a lasting impression on Jurvanen.
“I started with the Strategic Marketing and Customer Centricity module, and next up was Leading Change and Transformation. The timing was spot on; I couldn't believe my luck.”
I gained so many concrete tools, greater clarity, and an extra boost for my ongoing projects."
“I was dealing with the exact same topics in my day-to-day work. I gained so many concrete tools, greater clarity, and an extra boost for my ongoing projects. As soon as I had finished these first two modules, I told Aalto EE that I would definitely be continuing on the EMBA path.”
For Jurvanen, studying as an adult was a thoroughly positive experience.
“Taking on new ways of thinking as a seasoned professional is an entirely different ball game to doing so as a student in your twenties. I naturally learned a lot, but more than anything, I gained a broader and deeper perspective that complemented my existing expertise.”
“Having years of experience under your belt gives you the necessary context to really get to grips with both academic theory and the experiences shared by others. I also greatly appreciated the confirmation from the instructors and other participants that we are already doing many things very well in our organization,” she notes.
Learning through discussions and group work
Jurvanen’s best memories were formed during group work and discussions with other participants.
“I find that ideas stick in a completely different way through in-depth discussion than they do through just reading or listening. Interaction in our group was incredibly rewarding and useful.”
“For me, face-to-face exchange is an integral part of the learning experience. My husband is currently doing a fully remote MBA. It works for him, but for me that would be far from ideal. At Aalto EE, you gain valuable perspective from other participants on every topic.”
Jurvanen also speaks very highly of how the program was structured. Global Leader follows the same basic principle as Aalto EE’s MBA and EMBA programs: all modules include assignments that are easy to connect to your own work both before and after the in-class sessions.
“I especially liked how the pre-assignments helped me get into the right headspace and consider in advance how everything we were about to learn would apply to my own work. By the time we met in class, I already knew where to focus and which skills I wanted to add to my toolkit.”
As for the final assignments, almost all were designed to be directly applicable to your own workplace."
“As for the final assignments, almost all were designed to be directly applicable to your own workplace. That was a huge motivator; even while I was still studying, I knew the Global Leader program was delivering tangible benefits not just for me personally, but for my employer as well.”
Perspective for demanding leadership roles
According to Jurvanen, the program’s diverse content was exactly what she needed to take on new challenges in her career. She was appointed Director of Event Strategy at Worldwide Events already during her studies, and fairly soon after that as Managing Director at M&I Forum.
“Global Leader is a thought-provoking, versatile, and practical program. If you’ve been focusing on a single track in your career, this program helps you get onto all the other tracks as well.”
“It’s all too common for people to work in silos, without a clear picture of what colleagues in other departments are actually up to. This program gives you the perspective you need to take on demanding leadership roles where you can influence the entire organization.”
Modernizing organizational culture and practices for the era of AI tops Jurvanen’s agenda in her new role.
“The best things about working at Worldwide Events are our global reach, an industry culture that is incredibly open and people-oriented, and the fact that the work is simply great fun. These qualities have kept me here for 15 years.”
"At this stage of my career, however, what really drives me is thinking about how we grow and evolve. Like so many other organizations, AI is now front and center for us: we are exploring how to do things even better and what new value we can deliver. Everything has to stem from what our customers actually need.”
AI helped embed key lessons
Jurvanen already has plenty of first-hand experience with AI.
“Agents have now entered the picture in a big way, but during the Global Leader program, I was still using bots,” Jurvanen says.
“I created several bots, fed them materials from Aalto EE, and instructed them to act as sounding boards to help me evolve my thinking. They’ve been incredibly useful, and I’ve shared them with my colleagues; our entire Executive Team still uses my best bots to support their work.”
A bot she created at the end of the Leading Change and Transformation module proved particularly effective: it helped Jurvanen develop a new operating model for Worldwide Events that will be rolled out across the organization this year.
“I’m a big fan of frameworks and models. They crystallize your thinking and help communicate ideas to colleagues. Our new operating model is based on several well-known frameworks that I was introduced to during the Leading Change and Transformation module. I tailored it with help from my bot to suit our specific goals, challenges, and the unique characteristics of our industry.”
Decide which leadership lessons matter most
Jurvanen is pleased to recommend the Global Leader program. For those joining future programs, she has one key piece of advice:
“During the modules, everything feels straightforward and inspiring. It’s great to head back to the office with a clear head, thinking, ‘Right, I’ve got this.’ But as we all know, once you're back, things can get hectic. If you don't use what you've learned, it’s easily forgotten.”
“I’d suggest picking one or two key leadership takeaways from each module. Whether you put a mind map on your wall or keep a memo, find a way to ensure they become part of your routine. Of course, all the other lessons will simmer in the background and help you grow as a leader, but I think it’s wise to also make a deliberate choice: these are the insights I’m going to use every single week.”