EDITOR’S LETTER
OUT OF THE OFFICE, INTO THE ACTION
EDITORIAL Head of editorial Colette Doyle c.doyle@amba-bga.com Content editor Tim Banerjee Dhoul t.dhoul@amba-bga.com Insight, content & PR manager Ellen Buchan e.buchan@amba-bga.com
Dynamic academics and media motivators are turning bold concepts into real-world solutions
I
normally engage with the world of management education from behind my laptop, but the past month has afforded me the opportunity to participate in two different but equally exhilarating events. Innovation is frequently invoked as a corporate buzzword, but in reality it is the vital machinery that translates complex global challenges into enduring, real-world solutions. Within the business school sector, this inventive spirit represents far more than a theoretical exercise. It functions as a critical engine, uniting exceptional talent to bridge the often-widening gap between academic thought and commercial impact. I recently had the privilege of seeing this ecosystem in action at the Innova Europe Summit 2026, hosted by Helsinki’s Aalto University – a leafy, serene campus globally celebrated for cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset. The summit’s speakers offered profound insights into this way of thinking. Former Nokia CEO Risto Siilasmaa captured the room’s energy perfectly, noting that entrepreneurship should not be viewed merely as a profession, but rather as a distinct way of perceiving the world. This philosophy is clearly yielding tangible economic results in the region. During a compelling panel discussion, Jonne Kuittinen of the Finnish Venture Capital Association shared a striking statistic: Finnish startups secured nearly €2 billion in funding last year. This impressive 56 per cent surge completely defied the broader investment cooling trend currently felt across the rest of Europe. The spirit of competition was palpable right to the end, culminating in a superb win by London Business School students Lavanya Saberwal and Viknesh Vijeyanandaraja. Next, it was off to Brussels to speak at the Media Connect conference organised by PR agency BlueSky Education. I discussed how copy-editing works, gave tips on how communication professionals at business schools can pitch stories and outlined three key points: all material submitted must be original, it must be educational rather than promotional and it must have an interesting angle, or ‘hook’ as we call it in the trade. Ultimately, whether witnessing the birth of groundbreaking startups in Helsinki or sharing editorial insights in Brussels, both experiences powerfully underscored the impact of turning bold ideas into compelling, real-world narratives.
Art editor Sam Price Sub-editor Heather Ford
CORPORATE Director of business school engagement Debbie Kemp d.kemp@amba-bga.com
Head of business development – BGA Richard Turner r.turner@amba-bga.com
Commercial relations director Max Braithwaite m.braithwaite@amba-bga.com
Head of marketing & communications Leonora Clement
Senior marketing executive Edward Holmes
Head of IT & data management Jack Villanueva
Colette Doyle , Editor, Ambition THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS
Head of events Carolyn Armsby
HR & employer relations manager Aarti Bhasin Finance & commercial director Catherine Walker
Chief executive officer Andrew Main Wilson
PASI AALTOLA
SOHEIL DAVARI
OKSANA GERWE
ISABELLE HUAULT
Executive assistant to the CEO Amy De La Cour <a.delacour@amba-bga.com ACCREDITATION ENQUIRIES accreditation@amba-bga.com
SCOTT HUTCHESON
XIAO MA
PATRÍCIA TEIXEIRA LOPES
QIANG YE
Copyright 2026 by Association of MBAs and Business Graduates Association ISSN 2631-6382 All rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. While we take care to ensure that editorial is independent, accurate, objective and relevant for our readers, AMBA accepts no responsibility for reader dissatisfaction rising from the content of this publication. The opinions expressed and advice given are the views of individual commentators and do not necessarily represent the views of AMBA. Whenever an article in this publication is placed with the financial support of an advertiser, partner or sponsor, it will be marked as such. AMBA makes every opportunity to credit photographers but we cannot guarantee every published use of an image will have the contributor’s name. If you believe we have omitted a credit for your image, please email the editor.
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Ambition • ISSUE 3 • 2026 7
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