Mr. Ilkka Kurkela (M.A., eMBA) is a profound lover of life, learning, and leadership. He works as a Director in Laurea University of Applied Sciences. He currently studies to become a Doctor of Administrative Sciences at Tampere University. Brief work history:

- Director, Key Partnerships in Laurea University of Applied Sciences (2023->)
- Development Manager in Laurea University of Applied Sciences (2018-2023)
- National Expert and a Member of Global Jury in UN World Summit Awards (2017->)
- Business Area Director in University of Helsinki HY+ (2017)
- Senior Lecturer in Laurea University of Applied Sciences (2014-2016)
- Executive MBA Director in Management Institute of Finland MIF (2012-2014)
- Digital Sales & Marketing Expert in JTO School of Management (2011-2012)
- Marketing Manager in Valmennustiimi Eximia Ltd. (2007-2011)
- +Various different sales, marketing, and customer service jobs during studies (2000-2007)

Ilkka is a professional digitalist and popular lecturer with real-life marketing & social media experience from New York, Manhattan. Ilkka has international experience from world’s best ranked business schools such as IMD (Switzerland), Berkeley (USA, California), Ashridge Business School (UK), Columbia University and New York University (USA).

Ilkka is also the Finnish National Expert in World Summit Awards. WSA is a United Nations based awards system that selects and promotes local digital innovation with high impact on improving society. He also belongs to the Global Online Jury that evaluates the nominations from nearly 180 countries.

In his personal life Ilkka Kurkela is a husband, proud dad, drum’n’bass dj & producer and a sports enthusiast.

Specialties: digital marketing, social media, e-learning, leadership development.