The conversation started in the attic of the House of Innovation, an informal workspace where students meet to study and collaborate. 

Saga Eriksson, President of the Tech Committee 2026/2027 at the Student Association at the Stockholm School of Economics (SASSE), is a regular in the space. She uses it to study or work on the many projects the Tech Committee is driving. 

On a chilly morning in April, she met with Franzi Ewigleben, Director of the SSE Tech Initiative, to explore how the two initiatives could work together to meet their shared goals.

The Tech Initiative is part of SSE’s educational mission (FREE), aiming to develop technology-enabled leaders who can think reflectively, act responsibly, and make informed decisions in a tech-driven world. 

Abdi Khayre, Franzi Ewigleben, and Saga Eriksson met at the House of Innovation to explore ways of working together.

Two perspectives on technology education 

While the Tech Initiative is staff-led and closely aligned with SSE’s educational mission, the SASSE Tech Committee represents a student-driven perspective on how to engage with technology. 

The Tech Initiative organizes around 15 events each year:

• Tech Talks focus on bringing industry practitioners to campus to discuss how technology shapes business strategy.  

• Tech Seminars have a more analytical approach, bringing together faculty and researchers to examine ethical and societal aspects of emerging technologies.  

• Tech Workshops focus on hands-on learning, allowing students to apply new tools and concepts through formats such as coding bootcamps and visits to SSE partners like Ericsson and Scania. 

The events feature a mix of leading researchers and practitioners from companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Spotify, ensuring both academic depth and real-world relevance. 

Each session is typically limited to around 40 participants. This is a deliberate choice to encourage discussion and make sessions accessible to students with different levels of technical experience.  

“No matter your previous experience with technology, you should feel welcome and able to learn something,” Ewigleben said. 

Beyond events, the initiative serves as a platform connecting students, faculty, staff, and industry practitioners to explore how technology shapes business and society today.  

On the student side, the SASSE Tech Committee runs four main initiatives: its week-long Tech Days event, a coding group, a fintech group, and an AI Society. Each initiative aims to provide different ways for students to engage with technology.   

“The AI Society is currently exploring a hackathon-collaboration with a well-known startup, which is very cool,” Eriksson said.   

Saga Eriksson, president of SASSE's Tech Committee for 2026/2027, hopes to bring new, practical learning opportunities to students.

Demand for hands-on learning 

A recurring theme in the discussion was the demand for practical skills. Students want to build and apply what they learn, not only listen to talks or to the latest research. 

“What I think is missing at SASSE are practical workshops within tech,” Eriksson said. “It is hard to find, and it’s highly relevant.” 

The Tech Initiative has identified the same need. But practical formats such as boot camps require more preparation and clear project structures. A previous Python boot camp was phased out when Python became part of the SSE curriculum, and identifying new formats has taken time. 

Both sides also noted a knowledge gap: it is not yet clear which specific skills students want to develop. While the Tech Initiative gathers input from faculty, and SASSE collects student feedback, their ambition is that a joint effort will provide a clearer picture. 

The first collaboration between this cohort's SASSE Tech Committee and the Tech Initiative is underway.

Next step: Tech Days 2026 

The first collaboration for this year kicks off next week, as the Tech Initiative joins SASSE’s Tech Committee’s Tech Days on May 11–13.  

The program is designed to highlight tech-related career paths available for students after they graduate from the Stockholm School of Economics. It features both industry leaders and innovative startups.  

The Tech Initiative and SASSE’s Tech Committee are co-hosting two lunch sessions: 

• Monday, May 11: An inspirational session with early-stage founders working in tech. This conversation focuses on how to turn frustrations into solutions. Register here.

• Tuesday, May 12: A "Doing good through business" session with serial entrepreneur and Practitioner in Residence at the House of Innovation, Stefan Krook. This is the second event in the Tech Initiative’s Let's talk about impact! series, which explores what it takes to build companies that create lasting societal value. Learn more and register.

The House of Innovation continues to work closely with students, faculty, and industry partners across the School.

The meeting with the SASSE Tech Committee reflects a broader approach: identifying fresh ideas and needs directly from students and translating them into new initiatives.