Teaching + Coaching

The Aalto University Mentoring Programme connects students and Aalto University alumni to facilitate career design and self-development. It is about mutual benefit and learning. The programme brings together over four hundred Finnish and international students and alumni in Finland and abroad each year.

I was selected by two wonderful students to be their mentor.

1-on-1 Mentoring Session
In this dynamic 20-minute session, students explored entrepreneurship for the first time, and presented their innovative MVPs. They were tasked with enhancing existing products or creating swift MVPs from ideation to prototyping.

Us, mentors stepped in to guide this pivotal phase, helping teams establish a Problem-Solution Fit from the user's perspective. It's a strategic exchange—students showcased their MVPs, asked questions, and received crucial feedback, bridging the gap between ideas and practical application.

This interaction fostered critical thinking and fueled the entrepreneurial spirit, offering a transformative learning experience where creativity met expertise. Together, mentors and students embarked on a journey of exploration, innovation, and future entrepreneurial success.

In this workshop, we dived into the art of humor, learning the principles of comedic timing, punchline delivery, and crafting jokes that resonate with audiences. We discussed the topics of; crafting jokes, refining material, finding your stage presence, navigating tough crowds and building confidence. Before the event, people prepared a comedy bit that they would like to get feedback from. After a brief presentation by me, we worked on each other’s stories collectively one person at a time. At the end of the event, everyone had one solid comedy bit!

As a judge at the Think Fund, the responsibility of evaluating numerous innovative projects and selecting the most promising ones was both exhilarating and challenging. The task was to identify ventures with the potential to drive impactful change in their respective domains.

After meticulous consideration and extensive deliberation by the jury and board, the unanimous decision was made to grant full support of 2500 euros to Three Mushketeers, Kiklos, and Pawple. The clarity of their vision, coupled with the potential for substantial positive influence, made them stand out as frontrunners in the competition. Additionally, Pawple, represented by two individuals, displayed remarkable promise and dedication, earning them a grant of 1700 euros.

Recognizing the noteworthy contributions and potential of LTCAI, Lensor, and DataREG, despite not receiving the full grant amount, they were awarded grants of 1250 euros each. Their initiatives showcased innovation and merit, earning commendation and support from the jury, albeit with slightly lower comparative scores than the top-tier recipients.

Further bolstering our commitment to fostering transformative ideas, light grants of 500 euros were allocated to CleanWaters and ObesityCuriosity. Their efforts and concepts stood out, warranting financial support to propel their initiatives forward.

In total, the Think Fund awarded a substantial sum of 13950 euros, reflecting our dedication to nurturing innovation and supporting projects poised to make a meaningful impact. The diversity and quality of submissions made the judging process rigorous yet gratifying, affirming the wealth of creative talent and groundbreaking ideas present within our community.

Created the Creative Night event for all storytellers, aspiring speakers, and those seeking to unleash their creativity. It served as a welcoming platform for anyone and everyone to share their narratives, anecdotes, jokes, poems, songs, or even unleash an impromptu scream! This wasn't just about public speaking—it was about building confidence, forging connections, and embracing the thrill of self-expression in a relaxed and encouraging environment. Whether you're a seasoned or first-time storyteller, this event was an opportunity to engage, network, and be a part of an easy-going, supportive community.

The crux of a migrant story usually lies in the unexpected twist that occurs through a strenuous route. Adjusting to a new society following a relocation is a frequent challenge that prompts questions about confronting unfamiliar experiences, which can be both empowering and daunting. These questions may include where to start, how to navigate a new culture, whether to participate in extracurricular activities, or how to integrate. Cansu Pylkkänen and Tareque Mahmud shared their experiences in Finland on hashtag#thinkpod, shedding light on their path as entrepreneurs navigating the blurry lines.


Check it out here:
▶️https://lnkd.in/dZT7vqym
🟢https://lnkd.in/dqxTn7ny

🌟Embark on a journey to well-being with Cansu Pylkkänen and Niklas Zilliacus of Oyama in our latest ThinkPod episode. Discover practical strategies and tools useful for preventing depression, nurturing self-awareness, and unlocking your true potential🎙️

Find Think Pod on:

🟢https://lnkd.in/d4Gbh9HB
▶️https://lnkd.in/dniN7CZD

From enhancing employee productivity, talent retention, and cultivating a vibrant company culture, to curbing turnover rates, diversity, equity, and inclusion go beyond mere buzzwords.💼

On this week’s episode of Think Pod🎙️, Cansu Pylkkänen from Helsinki Think Company engages in an insightful conversation with Dr. Svetlana Sharifulina, a distinguished neuroscientist, DEI advisor, and CEO of AiLobe Health on the power of diversity to drive positive impact in both society and the workplace.

Take a listen to discover the unique advantages that diverse leadership brings to the table in terms of innovation and business success, and contemplate the significant role of belonging in the absence of DEI.🤝

Link:
▶️: https://lnkd.in/dfSyX-nW
🟢: https://lnkd.in/d_jib2e5

Facilitated another Pitching Workshop, this time at the Circulator 2.0 event! 🙌🏻

Everyone had ambitious company ideas and they needed all the help that they can get to express their business idea efficiently. It was my pleasure to give feedback on the contents of their speech, the body language, as well as stage presence.

Facilitated a Pitching Workshop at the Health X event having Walid O. El Cheikh as the main speaker! 🙌🏻

Assisting people to tell their unique story effectively and supporting entrepreneurs from different backgrounds in any way that I can feels so rewarding!

On April 27th, I was one of the facilitators at the Market Research workshop of the Helseed event. Market research is one of the most important step to building up a sustainable business plan and communicating with people to determine your target customer can be extremely scary but you just need to get out of your comfort zone and put yourself out there!

I was one of the facilitators at the Business Models Workshop of the HELSEED event. Feeling so grateful and fulfilled after spending four hours discussing business ideas of people with diverse background up until Tiedekulma's closing time. It brought me back exactly a year ago, as I was sketching up my own business plan. And now, I helped people do exactly that - who knew :)