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The Student Board is the voice of students within the CEMS alliance. The Student Board consists of one elected representative from each of the member schools. The Student Board engages in advocacy, community building and the best practice sharing among the different stakeholders with the primary aim of enhancing the students’ CEMS experience, while also supporting the overall development of the alliance. 

‘First, you get elected at the home university to become the student board representative, voicing the needs and issues of the local cohort amongst others in the Student board on a global level. My home university is Nova SBE so until now I was representing them. The executive team and ultimately the student board president are elected by the 32 Student board representatives after campaigning and a debate call,’ Helena Egge tells. She will act as the new CEMS Student Board President in 2020.

There are several reasons for Helena to run for president. 

She tells that first, CEMS has given her so much and being part of this global network she felt the need to give back to this amazing community. Second, as the president, she has the opportunity to bring in her ideas, improve and voice the concerns of the student in various meetings and councils. And third, the student board and especially the presidency give her the opportunity to gain leadership experience in a truly global environment. 

High expectations for the term

Helena Egge’s main concerns are around making CEMS more responsible in every way. Since CEMS is a global community traveling is part of CEMSIES’ (= CEMS students) lives, but this does not mean that they cannot improve their behavior. They can do it for example by traveling in a more sustainable manner, as well as educating potential future leaders about being responsible in a corporate setting. 

‘Additionally, I would like us to focus on diversity. We have grown as a network. This makes inclusion and especially international integration an important issue for the next year. Ensuring the diversity of nationality, academic and financial background in all CEMS schools as well as the inclusion of the variety of people in all local CEMS communities is a part of our agenda. This helps move the world closer together, as well as decrease boundaries and borders to become one strong global community,’ Helena Egge says. 

According to Helena, finally yet importantly the student board wants to work on its internal structure. Managing a global team of 32 people and the various projects and functions is complex, especially with the recent growth of the network. Further, with every new person, great ideas enter the board, which need to be managed and integrated into the structure to work efficiently throughout the year and time zones. 

At last, I want to say I have really enjoyed my exchange period at the Aalto University School of Business. In the Aalto CEMS, I have been able to connect with so many incredible and smart personalities. In CEMS you feel the drive of the students, who really try to make a difference and you are part of something bigger from day one,’ Helena tells. 

We are both happy and proud of Helena, says Rita Järventie-Thesleff, our  CEMS Academic Director from Aalto. We wish her all the best as the new Student Board President in 2020!

Read more about CEMS

Helena Egge was interviewed by Terhi Ollikainen.