Stockholm School of Economics in Riga Students' Magazine

Nothing feels as good as to be back in Riga, SSE Riga in particular. After spending here three years this city is yours. Probably, like Buddhists go to visit their first temple and the master (based on some movie), we, the graduates have to come back to SSE Riga for an empowerment and brain enlightment. I definitely feel refreshed and motivated to achieve more after SSE Riga HoCo 09.

Each HoCo has a different theme meant to stimulate alumni and student interest in some new areas. I think many of us now understand quite well what the social entrepreneurship really is. This term mirrors the values we were awarded with in SSE Riga – doing something good and profitable, creating both social and economic value. Nobody said it is bad to make money while doing good deeds, however, the perception Baltic people have is different. Either you do good things for free while spoiling your after-work life, or you „do money” like a greedy bastard. Angel or devil - these were the perceptions until recently. I am very glad that the discussion on the middle option between the latter two extremes gets louder. I am even gladder that the SSE Riga alumni are the ones who lead the social entrepreneurship field in Baltics and talk about it loud. After all, that’s what the SSE Riga mission statement says alumni should do. This field emerges and we are leading it. In all three Baltic States there are alumni running either social investment funds, socially responsible projects or working on introducing one or another. One nice wine-degustation evening brought me and a few more alumni to a conclusion that we want to contribute back to the society and there could not have been a better HoCo topic for us. We have gained valuable knowledge, contacts and ideas. I hope many more SSE Riga students and alumni will engage into social entrepreneurship after this HoCo. It is definitely a karma-rewarding activity to do . 

The guest speakers and panel discussions were great, especially the one involving officials from Baltic governments. It has brought some well-deserved attention to our school and even gave us an official recognition of being the best - a nice 15th anniversary gift , so to say. But what I like the most was the feeling of family that was in the air. Once you graduate, you understand that it was a really life-changing time spent in SSE Riga. Therefore, once you come again to the school, you cannot feel else than grateful and willing to help in any way you can. Such was the atmosphere when Anders talked about the future of the school. I doubt that there is any other university or business school whose alumni would be so much attached to it. That’s what makes us special, everywhere we go, everything we do, we carry the SSE Riga name with us loud and proud. 

The future is bright for SSE Riga as with time our family grows bigger and hence stronger. I am genuinely curious to attend the future HoCos to share even more joy with even more family members.

Danielius Stasiulis