LUT is a unique and close-knit university. When you run into fellow LUT graduates, it feels like you never really left.
So says Kuutti Kilpeläinen, an LUT Business School alumnus, senior investment manager and head of the digital infrastructure and solutions portfolio at Finnfund. Kilpeläinen received the Curious Alumni Award on 10 April 2026 at LUT Blossom, a growth and innovation event held at LUT University’s Lahti campus.
“I want to thank the alumni community for this award. I am truly honoured by the recognition. For LUT, I want to say that keep up the innovative and curious approach, it really stands out. I'll keep waving the LUT flag in the business world,” Kilpeläinen said in his acceptance speech.
An international mindset from day one
Kilpeläinen’s background is in commercial banking and finance: he has previously worked as a senior analyst at the audit and consulting firm EY and as an investment banking associate and relationship manager at the global banking group Citibank.
“I’ve always wanted to work outside Finland and in international environments, but I’ve never had a fixed plan about where I wanted to end up. Instead, I’ve tried to seize opportunities as they come,” he says.
After his years as a student in Lappeenranta, Kilpeläinen’s career took off at EY, followed by several years in international roles at Citibank.
“Even during my studies, I was drawn to corporate finance and project-based work. At EY, as a senior analyst in transaction advisory services, I gained a great deal of technical expertise in areas ranging from commercial consulting and valuation to merger and acquisition processes. My subsequent roles at Citibank offered a broader understanding of financial markets and banking operations,” Kilpeläinen explains.
His times as an investment banking associate and relationship manager at Citibank also included international assignments in London and Hong Kong. The Hong Kong posting at an investment bank lasted just over a year before the COVID-19 pandemic brought him back to Finland.
“In Hong Kong, I worked on development initiatives at the organisational level. That experience also gave me a deeper understanding of impact investing, responsible finance, and emerging markets,” Kilpeläinen recalls.
Upon returning to Finland, an interesting position at Finnfund caught Kilpeläinen’s attention. At that point, he decided to steer his career toward something that played to his existing strengths while opening new doors.
“My work at Finnfund has brought together two of my previous roles in a very natural way. I get to work in corporate finance and investment and make an impact on the international stage,” Kilpeläinen says.
Driving digital impact in emerging markets
Kilpeläinen is a strong example of how international impact, the technology sector, and social responsibility can come together in a single career. At Finnfund, he leads an investment team focusing on digital sector investments in emerging markets including businesses that provide internet connectivity.
“At Finnfund, we believe the internet is not a luxury – it’s a basic prerequisite for any kind of growth. Today, digitalisation enables a great deal and improves access to products and services,” Kilpeläinen says.
According to Kilpeläinen, the internet is a utility comparable to water or electricity, which is why it’s essential to bring reliable connectivity to regions where it hasn’t previously been available. Current investments focus particularly on fibre networks, data centres, and the development of digital ecosystems.
“Wherever you are in the world, you need reliable connectivity to run a business. Growing technology companies and digital services in the Global South require well-functioning digital infrastructure. Our investment portfolio includes fibre network operators in countries such as Mexico and South Africa, and in Nepal, we’ve invested in the country’s largest internet service provider,” Kilpeläinen says.
Kilpeläinen is motivated by continuous learning and a desire to challenge himself.
“Working in emerging markets and in growth investing is demanding but rewarding. Every day brings new challenges. The digital sector offers enormous opportunities both commercially and in terms of impact. It’s a sector and a market where changes happen quickly and in a tangible way,” Kilpeläinen describes.
Kuutti Kilpeläinen
- graduated from LUT Business School with a master’s degree in economics and business administration in 2016
- works as senior investment manager and head of digital infrastructure and solutions portfolio at Finnfund
- previous roles include senior analyst at EY and investment banking associate and relationship manager at Citibank
- lives in Helsinki
- is passionate about sports and the spending time outdoors; his hobbies include crossfit
- is part of a true LUT dynasty: his spouse, with whom he has a 3.5-yeard.old son, has also graduated from LUT Business School and in addition, his parents and sister are LUT alumni.
A guild leader in Skinnarila, an exchange student in Shanghai
When Kilpeläinen reflects on his student years in Lappeenranta, he finds it easy to summarise the experience into three main elements: fellow students, positions of trust in Enklaavi (the business student guild), and an exchange period in Shanghai. The first two are closely intertwined.
“The sense of community in Skinnarila inspired me to become active in the guild. Guilds are an interesting way to influence how things are done. Organising events together was also a lot of fun. From that time, I’ve gained many friends I’m still in close contact with on a weekly basis,” Kilpeläinen says.
Kilpeläinen first served as the head of corporate relations at Enklaavi, after which he was elected chair of the guild’s board for the 2014 term.
“The role of chair was the first time I was responsible for a larger group of people and a sizeable student organisation. Even though I’d held positions of trust before, the level of responsibility escalated quickly and required me to rise to the challenge. What stands out most from that period is the importance of the people around you. We had a like‑minded group that truly worked together towards a common goal,” Kilpeläinen recalls.
The lessons learned during his time as chair have also proven valuable later in his career. Whether leading a student guild board or an international investment specialist team, Kilpeläinen emphasises that open communication, understanding team members, and building trust are the key factors.
“Anything is possible if you can bring together a successful combination of people to work collaboratively. In my current role, for example, I’ve had the opportunity to build a team almost from scratch, and the mindset I adopted during my years as Enklaavi’s chair has continued to guide me years later,” Kilpeläinen notes.
Guilds are an interesting way to influence how things are done.
In addition to the strong sense of community Kilpeläinen found in guild activities, his exchange year in Shanghai further strengthened his vision for his career. He approached the exchange in true LUT spirit: with curiosity and courage, and without fixed expectations.
“I remember wanting to make the most of the exchange and almost literally looked at a map to see how far I could go. Therefore, Shanghai was an obvious choice for me. I decided that if I was going to do the exchange, I would do it properly. From the very first taxi ride from the airport, it was clear that the environment and culture were completely different from what we’re used to in the West,” Kilpeläinen laughs.
Once he’d grasped the basics of the Chinese language and recovered from the initial culture shock, the experience turned out to be a very successful one.
“The exchange year was incredibly formative. I was pushed out of my comfort zone, but I also realised that I could manage just fine. Studying abroad gave me a strong push towards an international career and reinforced my desire to experience the world through my work as well. That’s exactly where I’ve ended up,” Kilpeläinen concludes.
Donation to Finnish nature
The Curious Alumni Award includes a 500-euro donation to a charity of the recipient’s choice. Kilpeläinen wants his prize money to go to the Finnish Foundation for Nature Conservation.
“I want to donate the award to the Finnish Foundation for Nature Conservation because Finland has a unique natural environment that should not be taken for granted. The foundation carries out science‑based nature conservation work and helps preserve Finland’s biodiversity. That work is extremely valuable,” Kilpeläinen says.
Founded in 1962, the Finnish Foundation for Nature Conservation promotes the protection of biodiversity and a clean environment by awarding grants for scientific research and conservation activities.
