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TEXT: Matias Dahlbäck

IMAGES: Pamela Friström

Leadership, courage and diversity – a conversation with Alumnus of the Year 2025, Nathalie Ahlström

How do you lead with clarity, build courage within an organisation and promote innovation in a global context? These questions were the focus when Alumnus of the Year 2025, Nathalie Ahlström, visited her alma mater for a fireside chat on the theme of leadership.

Nathalie Ahlström, former CEO of Fiskars Group and Fazer Confectionery, is now Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group. The fireside chat was moderated by Anna-Greta Nyström, Professor of Business Administration at the Åbo Akademi University School of Business.

In front of a nearly full auditorium at Arken, Ahlström openly shared her experiences from her international career, where she has led companies through change, crises and growth. She emphasised the importance of clarity and transparency as the foundation for strong leadership.

“Everyone needs to know where the organisation is headed. A strategy only works if it is so concrete that every employee understands what it means for their own work,” said Ahlström.

At the same time, she highlighted the importance of daring to challenge and be challenged.

“It takes a lot for a leader to endure criticism, but without a culture where you can question things in a constructive way, no new ideas or innovations will emerge.”

Diversity drives growth

Ahlström repeatedly returned to the importance of diversity in leadership and business life. When returning with her family, after many years abroad, she felt that Finland was still relatively homogeneous in its thinking.

If you want to grow and understand global consumers, you have to dare to take in different perspectives.

“I was shocked by how similarly we all think here. Cultural, socio-economic and religious diversity make a difference. If you want to grow and understand global consumers, you have to dare to take in different perspectives.”

The conversation also touched on the role of corporate culture in international mergers and acquisitions. Ahlström noted that strategies cannot succeed without an established culture, but that variation between units can be fruitful as long as there are shared values.

Explore the world after graduation

When the audience was given the floor, Ahlström also emphasised the importance of lifelong learning and analytical thinking as core competencies for the future, regardless of industry. She highlighted artificial intelligence as a transformative force that frees up time for creative and strategic work, but at the same time emphasised that human interaction and the ability to collaborate are becoming increasingly important.

She responded to the question of how leaders should deal with uncertainty and failure with a mixture of realism and self-distance:

“The worst thing that can happen is that you get fired. Then you go home. And then on to the next job.”

Ahlström also emphasised the importance of focusing on what interests you and gives you energy. Completing your studies is also a priority. She also encouraged all students in the audience to seek international experiences and curiosity.

“You have to dare. Go out into the world, learn, and bring your perspectives and experiences back with you. They will always come in handy.”