Laura Auhto

Bachelor of Hospitality and soon-to-be Master of Science from Helsinki. I believe in helping customers succeed by conducting projects that add value to their business.

  • Here's a quick look of what I bring to the table

    I combine the latest academic knowledge in change implementation and business development to a never-ending thirst to learn new things, bringing value to business change. Whether it's testing a new product, putting a new tool into use or implementing a strategy, I test and explore users' opinions and experiences to make the change really useful and answer to the needs of the customer. User orientation, empathy and customer-centricity are particularly close to my heart. Agile methods are the best way to move projects forward.

     

    I am an entrepreneurial and enthusiastic fast learner with 4 years of experience in business administration and 7+ years in the service industry. As an executive assistant, my challenge every day was to get the management team to the right place at the right time doing the right things. During that time, I also overhauled the company's internal communication to a functioning bilingual and two-way system and as part of my studies, I have been a part of many strategic projects with good results.

    I am graduating in Spring 2019 from the Management and International Business master's programme in Aalto University School of Business with a specialization in strategy and corporate communication and minor in Strategy and Experience Design from Aalto Information & Technology Program.     During my studies, I have for example developed a strategy document for a vertical farming start-up, developed ways to combat socio-cultural integration challenges in a financial company, presented a possible merger to a consultancy and conducted an implementation plan for an acquisition. These have all involved the application of theories covered in class and learned through literature.I did my bachelor studies in Haaga-Helia UAS and graduated as top of my class from the Hospitality Management programme in Spring 2014.

    I am seeking to leverage my acquired knowledge, interpersonal skills and customer service perspective to bring value to Your company's customers. I speak five languages and I am a positive and empathic team player with good organizing skills and a self-starter attitude.

     

    Below, you will find detailed information about my work experience, specific skills, my education background and projects that I have done.

  • Projects

    A selection of projects I've worked on

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    Posti

    Project manager in a research project, where in a 5-person team, we benchmarked ordering and subscription services in different markets, conducted a survey of youngsters' expectations for subscription services and designed a new subscription model from the customer point of view.

     

    "Your team did a great job on the project thanks to your excellent project management. Other team members also praised your input, so you can be very satisfied with your performance." - Iiris Saittakari, Aalto University

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    As a part of our studies in the Strategy and Experience track in the Aalto ITP program, our team designed with agile methods a user-centric dashboard for the Bank of Finland IT unit and its clients. Our solution was developed based on research on the needs of the restructured IT unit as well as constant feedback from the users themselves. I was the customer contact person in the project.

     

    "The outcome of the project fulfilled all of the requirements set."  - Miika Syrjänen, Bank of Finland

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    Market research for pizza concept

    Market research with the purpose to find out people's thoughts about the pizza concept, its price and its healthiness. The study was conducted as a survey at Kamppi Shopping Center in Helsinki in February 2018.

     

    Research results were presented to the Business Group Director responsible for the concept. The results of the research aided in product development as well as future pricing decisions.

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    Market research for Finnish sawn timber agency

    Analysis of market potential and opportunities an agent exporting Finnish sawn timber has in the Saudi Arabian market. The aim was to map out issues the company has to consider when going to Saudi Arabia and gathering information on the interested Finnish sawmills and end customers in the market.

     

    The prjoject was part of the course International Marketing Project in Haaga-Helia and the client found it very helpful for their operations.

  • Skills

    Things I've picked up over the years

    Organization

    As an executive assistant, I was responsible for ensuring the effectiveness of the 7-person management team, especially taking care of the CEO's schedule, which made me a solid and efficient organizer who doesn't scare easily. Managing the schedules of an executive team is no small organization challenge and with that know-how, I am confident that I can be a great asset. I also organized several company events ranging from 5 to 100 people.

    Problem solving

    Through my masters' studies, I have accumulated knowledge in solving different kinds of problems and gained expertise through various projects. During my studies, I have for example developed a strategy document for a vertical farming start-up, developed ways to combat socio-cultural integration challenges in a financial company and produced an integration plan for a merger.

    Communication

    I am enthusiastic of creating better corporate communication, especially internal communication. In my previous work as an executive assistant, I overhauled the company's internal communication from passively sending newsletters to a functioning bilingual and two-way system. In 2018 I was also the communications responsible in the Masters' Club Committee in KY association.

    Presentation

    During my studies, I have found a passion for presenting ideas and creating visual representations to facilitate those presentations. Practically all of our courses in Aalto involved a group work presentation, where I often volunteered as the one to make the presentation as well as present for the class. I got good feedback on the quality of my visuals as well as presenting.

    Service design

    My minor in Strategy and Experience design focused on strategic design processes, user experience design, and visual prototyping in digital services. In the project conducted throughout the summer, we developed several prototypes, interviewed core users, conducted usability tests, evaluated the heuristics of our prototype, tested and updated the information architecture and benchmarked similar platforms.

    Customer-centricity

    The hospitality business is founded upon customer centricity and through my experience, I am able to bring that state of mind to all my work. My empathy is a strength that helps me understand the customer's point of view and take that into consideration. Customer-centricity also means that I want to communicate to customers and stakeholders in a timely, clear and understandable way, not forgetting a glimpse of fun.

    Teamwork

    My years of work in restaurants have been important teamwork practice. A restaurant at its best is a well-oiled machine, where every single link in the chain is important to make the chain successful. Lack of teamwork means slower service, more mistakes, rude staff, and negative guest experience. That has made me a great believer in fostering teamwork.

    Language

    Thanks to my studies in an international setting, I speak fluently English and French as well as intermediate Swedish and basics of Spanish. I have completed my compulsory education in a French-Finnish school and studied in international programs ever since. In Haaga, I also did both an internship in France and an exchange semester in Sweden.

  • Work experience

    Places I've worked at

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    Waitress/Chef

    Royal Konseptiravintolat Oy

    2017 – Present

    • Customer service and kitchen work, alongside studies
    • Responsible for training new customer service staff
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    Executive Assistant

    Royal Ravintolat Oy

    2015 – 2017

    • Ensuring effectiveness of executive team: time management, meeting preparations, secretary of meetings, travel bookings
    • Overhauled the company's internal communication to a functioning bilingual and two-way system
    • Organized events from 10 person meetings to over 100 person kick-offs
    • Learned about strategy formation and execution, how to run effective meetings and implement organization-wide changes
    • Boosted my organization and communication skills
    • Wonderful environment to learn, especially with a management team who challenged me, pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and believed in my potential
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    Office Assistant

    Royal Ravintolat Oy

    2013 – 2015

    • Responsible for office efficiency, keeping performance statistics, keeping stock and ordering office materials
    • Built social media presence for various restaurants and trained staff in social media marketing
    • Started out as a Marketing Trainee and build my way up
    • Acquired an understanding of business supporting activities and developed my organizational and communication skills
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    Waitress

    Garam & Vermiglio Catering, Royal Ravintolat, Staff Point, Suomen Kansallisteatteri

    2010 – 2015

    • Customer service in different restaurants: à la carte, banquets, bars, cafés, catering and theatre intervals
    • Mostly part-time work alongside studies or other duties
    • Learned how to adapt quickly to new working environments and to work with very different people and tools
    • From this work, I have taken with me a customer service attitude to everything I do
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    Alpine Ski Coach

    Slalom-Seura ry

    2009 – 2014

    • Planning and organizing practices and camps and coaching alpine ski groups of children of age from 4 to 12

    • Coaching and trying to help children achieve their individual goals

    • Learned teamwork, patience, responsibility and organizing skills

    • This work also taught me to set long-term goals and short term objectives and how to keep them in mind in everything I do

  • Have Courage And Be Kind

    MY MOTTO

  • Education 

    Where I got my credentials

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    Aalto University

    M.Sc. in Business Administration (2017-2019)

    • Major: Management and International Business, specializations Strategy and Corporate Communication
    • Minor: Strategy and Experience Design, from Aalto Information and Technology Program
    •  In addition to my studies, I have been involved in the school community as a member of the representative council of AYY student union and as the communications responsible of Masters' Club Committee in KY association. 

     

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    Haaga-Helia UAS

    Bachelor of Hospitality Management (2010-2014)

    • Major: International Business
    • Minor: Hotel Management
    • Exchange semester in Linnaeus University in Kalmar, Sweden
    • Internships in Ravintola NJK, Helsinki and NH Hotel in Nice, France

     

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    Lycée Franco-Finlandais d'Helsinki

    Baccalaureate (1998-2010)

    • Matriculation examination 2010
    • Upper secondary school 2007-2010
    • Compulsory education 1998-2007
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