“EMBA was one of the best decisions I have made in my career”
Participant experience: Tomi Gustafsson, Business Director, Terveystalo, EMBA 2023
When Tomi Gustafsson began the TSE EXE Executive MBA program in 2021, the world was gradually returning to a new normal after the pandemic. At the same time, he had been reflecting for some time on whether it was the right moment to pause, gain perspective, and systematically develop his leadership skills.
“The idea had been in my mind for years. Looking back, I could have joined earlier—there is never a perfect moment, but this turned out to be exactly the right one.”
Tomi graduated from the EMBA program in December 2023. Now, two years after completing the program, he sees its long-term value even more clearly—both in his own leadership and from a broader organizational perspective.
People management as a strong foundation
Tomi has an exceptionally diverse background. He holds a degree in Educational Sciences, and his career has spanned from the insurance industry to healthcare. He has worked in management and leadership roles for many years, with people management as a consistent thread throughout his career.
“I have always considered myself first and foremost a leader of people. The EMBA program gave me the opportunity to delve deeper into themes that are important to me—trust, psychological safety, meaningfulness, and inclusion.”
The program offered a way to combine extensive practical experience with a strong research foundation. High-quality articles, topical themes, and a scientific perspective deepened understanding and provided language and structure for practices Tomi had already applied in his leadership work.
Future-oriented thinking at the heart of strategic management
One of the key strengths of the EMBA program, in Tomi’s view, was the future-oriented approach characteristic of Turku School of Economics and TSE EXE.
“Future orientation is a clear strength. Future studies, foresight, technological change, artificial intelligence—the program was firmly rooted in modern realities and took a forward-looking approach. It developed ways of thinking, not just individual skills.”
Tomi particularly valued that the study assignments could be directly connected to his own work and current organizational challenges. Learning was therefore closely integrated with practice, creating tangible benefits for both the participant and the organization throughout the program.
A place to pause ─ even for experienced leaders
Work life is fast-paced, especially in leadership roles. For Tomi, the EMBA program offered a rare opportunity to pause and reflect.
“As an adult learner, it gave me space to think, reflect, and develop. It rekindled my enthusiasm for learning and research. I found myself reading more again and actively following discussions on leadership and strategy.”
Strengthening self-awareness emerged as one of the key insights of the program. Leadership, Tomi notes, is not only about structures and strategies, but also about continuously examining one’s own thinking, values, and ways of working.
A multidisciplinary peer group broadening perspectives
One of the most lasting outcomes of the EMBA experience was the multidisciplinary peer group. Leaders and experts from different industries and career stages formed a trusting environment that broadened perspectives and deepened learning.
“Without this program, connections like these would never have been formed. The international study week in Maastricht truly brought the group together. These are lasting relationships that will remain important well into the future.”
For Tomi, multidisciplinarity was a clear source of richness: diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds expanded his thinking and generated new insights for his work.
Recommendation: don’t dwell on it for too long
Looking back, one message stands out clearly for Tomi.
“If you’ve ever thought about doing an EMBA, you should go for it. Don’t spend years thinking about it like I did. It will definitely be worth it.”
He also emphasizes the importance of integrating work and learning. When studies are closely connected to one’s own role and organizational needs, genuine value is created for all parties.
“EMBA was one of the best decisions I have made in my career.”
