Hanken introduces a new, unique Navigator path to support students’ sustainable performance and well-being

This has become a worldwide, costly phenomenon. Hanken School of Economics has decided to invest in preventive actions to equip students with insights, tools and long-term support to counteract this trend through a new Navigator path.

The Navigator path is mandatory for all new Bachelor in Business students, and ranges over 1,5 years, providing in total 6 ECTS. In the fall of 2025, the aim is to expand the initiative to include the Swedish bachelor’s programme as well.

“We are proud to be offering something that could be considered a junior version of a leadership development process of an MBA program. The fact that the group will be working together on these topics for the full 1,5 years gives them a unique chance to create cohesion and practice sparring and supporting each other”, says Hanken’s Dean of education Mika Gabrielsson.

Support from Hanken partner companies

The interest and support from Hanken’s partner companies has been strong so far, and workshops have been delivered on partners’ premises.

“We provide students with both a unique process and top-notch tools. All students receive a WorkPlace Big 5 personality profile and access to Aisti Health’s holistic wellbeing survey, among other things”, says Hanken’s Professor of Practice Christina Dahlblom.

Dahlblom has designed the Navigator course and will be running the pilot round together with several of Hanken’s professors.

“Fundamental skills, such as self-awareness, self-leadership, time and energy management, and interaction skills are often lacking even among very senior leaders. For a long time, working as a leadership coach, I’ve thought that these are things you should learn as early as possible. It has been a dream come through to create an introductory course, where we give students the space, tools, coaching and opportunity to start practicing these skills already through their study years”, says Dahlblom.

The Director of Hanken’s new Bachelor in Business programme Robert Ciuchita says that Hanken has done a lot of benchmarking while designing the Navigator course series.

“We found that most schools cover these topics through electives, workshops, or online resources. This long-term, mandatory course series, with the entire group together from the start, aims to create real behavioral changes, not just inspire those already interested. The Navigator path allows students to step back from their lectures and coursework each month to reflect on their progress and consider changes. They do this in a safe, collaborative, and supportive environment, using validated frameworks and tools. I wish I had a similar path during my bachelor studies”, says Ciuchita.

“A phenomenal opportunity”

The first full-day workshop for the Navigator path was delivered on 10 September at the Deloitte’s headquarters in Helsinki, and another workshop will soon be arranged at Sponda’s office.

Lari Hintsanen, CEO of Deloitte Finland, says that it’s important to support a project where ‘meta-skills for working life’ are studied and practiced already during studies.

“The success of companies is based on skilled people. Well-being is a prerequisite for knowledge work. When people are physically and mentally healthy, they can engage in meaningful work, continuously grow in their careers, and learn new skills, benefiting everyone involved. At Deloitte, one of our core promises to our employees is lifelong learning. We wanted to be involved in the Navigator path for these very reasons,” says Hintsanen.

Students Kayleigh Karinen and Irina Sokolova were among the participants at the workshop at Deloitte. They think it's great that Hanken is investing in an initiative like the Navigator path.

“It’s a unique and phenomenal opportunity to be given these tools this early in our studies. I hope that the Navigator path helps especially those who are not from Finland. Learning these different skills help us adapt to the Finnish working life and help us to flourish”, says Karinen, who was originally born in the US, but her great-great-grandparents are from Finland.

Sokolova, who comes from Russia, says that the best part of the Navigator path so far is that there is time for self-reflection. 

“In today’s fast-paced world, we often don’t have time to pause and reflect on our habits and daily lives. This workshop has given me a motivational boost because we set micro-goals to work towards in the future. I hope to gain tools to better understand myself and others, improve my communication skills, and work towards sustainable performance in both my studies and overall wellbeing.”

Karinen and Sokolova are part of the inaugural group of students in Hanken’s new Bachelor in Business programme, which began this fall. They come from diverse backgrounds: Karinen already holds a master’s degree in linguistics from the University of Helsinki and runs her own sports consulting and coaching business while Sokolova joined Hanken directly after completing an IB programme in Joensuu. 

“I applied to Hanken because I want to get business qualifications that allow me to be more sustainable and innovative in my business and to move my operations forward. I also wanted to study Swedish. Hanken is such a highly regarded business school and a close-knit community, offering more individual time with professors rather than just teaching assistants”, says Karinen.

Sokolova agrees and says that Hanken has a very good reputation.

“Many people have told me that the teachers are very supportive, there are a lot of nice events, and it’s easy to make friends at Hanken.”

Hanken’s new Bachelor in Business programme, which offers 80 study places, received 1,337 applications from 80 different countries. The application period for the Bachelor in Business programme starting in autumn 2025 opens 8 January.

Text: Jessica Gustafsson and Christina Dahlblom
Photo: Gustaf Hafström and Jessica Gustafsson