Graduate Diploma in Digital Strategy and Leadership
Andrus Kuus, CEO at Auto-Bon Baltic and Jan-Henrik Svensson, CEO at Beamex both gained useful ideas from Aalto EE’s Graduate Diploma in Digital Strategy and Leadership program. 
“I am in charge of Auto-Bon Baltic, which is part of Bassadone Automotive Group. Our group is currently working on a global digitalization masterplan, which we aim on launching as a pilot in our Baltic organization next year. Thanks to Aalto EE’s program, I am able to ask better questions that will make a difference for our company,” Andrus Kuus points out.
“As CEO, I don’t need to be a specialist in AI or machine learning, but I need to have a firm understanding of how we can leverage technology and lead people to new areas. This program was spot on what I needed,” Jan-Henrik Svensson explains.
The right combination of technology and business for strategic decision makers
More than 14,000 companies in 140 countries use Beamex technology to calibrate their process instruments and manage their calibrations. Beamex CEO Jan-Henrik Svensson affirms that he was very satisfied with the training experience that Aalto EE provided.
“The training had exactly the right combination of tech and business for strategic decision makers. I gained new perspective that I can leverage on a board level – and many practical tools that I have shared with my team,” Jan-Henrik Svensson says.
“Beamex is already a very digital company. The program made me realize how important data quality is, and it gave me insight into how we can leverage data transparently between functions and avoid siloed data. Our board recently decided to make this one of our focal points for next year,” Jan-Henrik Svensson continues.
The training had exactly the right combination of tech and business for strategic decision makers.
CEO of Auto-Bon Baltic Andrus Kuus underlines that the Graduate Diploma in Digital Strategy and Leadership program had a genuine impact on his mindset.
“I was pleased with the concrete tools that could be implemented immediately – but for me, the biggest take away was being exposed to a fresh mindset about digital opportunities,” Andrus Kuus says.
“Our Baltic and Nordic organizations are quite advanced in digitalization, but on a group level, we still have a long way to go. Our industry is entering a new era: dealer showrooms are being replaced by digital showrooms and video chat, and you can purchase a car without leaving your sofa. The program sharpened my capabilities. Now I can be on top of the conversation as we progress with digitalization on a group level,” Andrus Kuus adds.
Rewarding discussions facilitated by top experts
The instructors and other participants receive a lot of praise from Andrus Kuus and Jan-Henrik Svensson.
“Aalto EE provided a good combo of practical experience and knowledge beyond the everyday world. The professors and visiting speakers were very well-informed and they fostered marvelous discussions in our group,” Andrus Kuus reminisces.
“We had a fantastic, very talkative group. All the participants were senior level managers. We pondered how digitalization impacts for example people, culture, technology, company purpose and strategy. Our interaction was very rewarding, and it brought a lot of value,” Jan-Henrik Svensson says.
I was pleased with the concrete tools that could be implemented immediately.
During the program, all the participants developed a Digital Resiliency Plan for their organizations. Andrus Kuus and Jan-Henrik Svensson describe the exercise as a useful experience.
“My initial idea was to look at how digitalization is changing the automotive industry and how I could impact our business model to keep ahead of the change curve. I quickly realized that it would have been premature. I changed my focus to exploring how to bring our people together as individuals and as an organization, so we can collectively come up with plans to drive digitalization in our group,” Andrus Kuus remarks.
“While developing a Digital Resiliency Plan for Beamex, it became evident to me that we have to think bigger and move towards a larger digital ecosystem. It also became clear to me that when it comes to digital change, it’s simply not possible to plan for all scenarios. Consequently, our plan must above all be adaptive,” Jan-Henrik Svensson emphasizes.
Take the time to digest what you learn
Andrus Kuus and Jan-Henrik Svensson say that they are pleased to recommend Aalto EE’s Graduate Diploma in Digital Strategy and Leadership program to others.
“I’ve sent several people from my leadership team to various Aalto EE programs, and I knew to expect a first-rate training experience. Although the bar was high, the program still exceeded my expectations,” Jan-Henrik Svensson says.
“I recommend participating. I also recommend you ensure you have bandwidth both before and after each module. All the assignments are designed so that you can concentrate on creating relevant content for your company. If you want to gain the maximum benefit from this program, you need to focus on the assignments,” Jan-Henrik Svensson adds.
“You get what you deserve. If you put in the effort, you will gain a lot from this program. Come with an open mind and make sure you have time to digest what you learn. If you are in a role where you contribute to your organization’s strategy definition, I am certain that you will find the Graduate Diploma in Digital Strategy and Leadership program highly useful,” Andrus Kuus concludes.