“Diverse background is an advantage in entrepreneurship”

How can an entrepreneurial mindset support career development in a rapidly changing world of work? This question was at the heart of the Build Your Network, Build Your Career – Boost Your Entrepreneurial Mindset alumni event held at Helsinki City Hall on 8 October.

The event organised jointly by Arcada, Diak, Haaga-Helia, Laurea and Metropolia brought together international alumni and students to discuss entrepreneurship, career growth and the importance of professional networks.

Entrepreneurship is a mindset

A recurring theme throughout the event was that entrepreneurship is about much more than starting a company. Entrepreneurial thinking, curiosity and resilience are increasingly valuable skills in all areas of working life.

Representatives from Business Helsinki introduced services available for aspiring entrepreneurs, including advisory services, business planning support, mentoring and training. Business advisor Valentin Babitzin encouraged participants to actively expand their networks.

– Meet new people, say yes to new opportunities, you never know who might be opening your next door.

Katerina Eskelinen highlighted the importance of testing ideas before making major investments.

– Identify a problem worth solving, speak with potential customers, test the simplest version of your solution, learn and improve.

Award-winning author and employment specialist Hope Nwosu connected entrepreneurial thinking with career development more broadly.

– Resilience is one of the defining qualities of an entrepreneur. When one door closes, you keep knocking on the next until an opportunity opens.

According to Nwosu, the same mindset is increasingly needed when building a career.

– Job searching requires a similar mindset: you need to show people why you are the best person for the opportunity.

Diverse backgrounds create opportunities

A panel discussion introduced different entrepreneurial paths of international alumni. Their stories demonstrated that there is no single route to success.

– No knowledge is ever wasted. I studied English literature, became an author, and later earned a degree in social services. Looking back, I can see how those different experiences have all contributed to where I am today, Hope Nwosu said.

Bambi Dang, founder of the AI matchmaking community FunFox AI, emphasised that combining expertise from different disciplines can be a significant advantage.

– I have graduated from two different fields, hospitality and business. Combining knowledge from different disciplines has been one of my greatest strengths. Entrepreneurship is ultimately about creating value for the customer.

For entrepreneur and business consultant Eunice Moono from Moono-Valo, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering individuals, institutions and communities, diverse experiences form a toolbox that can be applied in different situations.

– For a long time, I questioned whether my diverse background was an advantage. Today, I encourage others to stop apologising for the different paths they have taken. Use those experiences to your advantage.

Networks and self-belief matter

Hassanein Al-Boujasim, the founder of Akkad Group Oy that provides taxi industry training and certifications, started his company when he acknowledged a problem that needed to be solved. In entrepreneurial path challenges are part of the work.

– As your business grows, questions may arise: Do we have enough customers? Are we heading in the right direction? That’s when belief in yourself and your business becomes essential.

To make your business successful you also might need to overcome cultural differences and build trust. Here comes the importance of networks.

– Your idea is important, but your network is equally important. Trust and networks open doors for collaboration. Building relationships is often just as important as developing the product or service itself, Eunice Moono said.

Practical support

Throughout the evening, participants explored pop-up stands hosted by organisations supporting entrepreneurship, employment and international talent: Business Helsinki, the Centre of Expertise for Social Enterprises, START Helsinki, Start-up Refugees, International House Helsinki and Helsinki Info.

– I found similarities between my own thoughts and the speakers’ experiences. Their stories inspired me to try things out, learn from mistakes and explore entrepreneurship, social services student Yuan Ren from Laurea.

– I want to learn more about entrepreneurship in Finland and hear from others as I work towards my goal of starting my own business. I believe every step counts, social services student Gavriil Doukatas from Laurea.

The event concluded with an interactive workshop led by leadership coach and the host of the evening Anne Liljestrand from Focus Tiger. Participants reflected on how to focus their efforts, communicate their expertise effectively and prioritise what matters most in their professional lives.

Text: Helka Repo
Pictures: Jenni Tiainen