Gunther Kuse and His Team Are Transforming Education
Gunther Kuse, a resilient immigrant from Nicaragua and the Director of Expansion at the School of Gaming, has been awarded the 2025 MBA Scholarship by Aalto University Executive Education and Professional Development (Aalto EE) and koulutus.fi. This full-tuition scholarship will allow Gunther to pursue his MBA starting in January 2025 – a journey that marks a significant milestone in his professional and personal life.
“When I found out I got the scholarship, I was jumping with excitement!” Gunther admits with a smile.
After receiving the great news, Gunther immediately called his wife, who expressed how incredibly proud she was of him. After all the challenges they had faced as a family – particularly the struggle to secure a residence permit – this achievement was a huge victory.
He was also thrilled to share the news with his parents, feeling that the scholarship was a form of recognition for all the support they had given him.
“The timing couldn’t be better. After six years in Finland, I’m now focusing on building my professional profile”, he adds.
On a Mission to Transform Education
Gunther is not just pursuing personal success. As Director of Expansion at School of Gaming – a company that aims to make a positive impact through youth education – he is on a mission to transform education through game education and game-based learning.
Founded in 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, the company initially focused on live after-school clubs. As the world moved online, they quickly shifted to digital remote clubs. Within a year, they expanded to 40 game educators, running clubs for 400–500 children. Following the pandemic, the company began collaborating with the public sector, growing its reach to over 2,500 children across Finland.
“We want children to become better global digital citizens,” Gunther explains.
“There’s a huge grey area on the internet, and we want to give kids a North Star to guide them. Our aim is to build their self-esteem and teach emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and responsibility. Hopefully, they will understand, for example, that anonymity doesn’t mean they have no responsibility for their actions.”
Gunther and his team believe that since kids are going to play games anyway, it’s important to teach them to do it safely and responsibly.
“Nowadays, many games don’t have clear objectives, and they can lead to addiction. Our clubs and content are structured with clear academic objectives and personal goals, encouraging kids to stop after they’ve completed those objectives. Children don't even realize that they are learning while they are learning.”
A typical game session lasts for a maximum of two hours.
Not Everyone Loves Games
However, not everyone is easily convinced by the value of gamification in education.
“Part of my job is selling this concept to schools,” Gunther says.
“I send out cold emails, and maybe 1% respond. Of those who respond, about half aren’t interested.”
Some educators, particularly those less familiar with technology, still see gaming as purely recreational or even harmful. For Gunther and the School of Gaming, this perspective overlooks a valuable opportunity to teach essential skills and embrace the future of education.
“Education is intangible and formal, and for each sale, we must fight three battles: convincing the schools, the parents, and the kids themselves,” Gunther explains.
He adapts his pitch depending on the audience, using research data for schools, addressing screen time concerns with parents, and getting creative to capture the attention of children.
A Historian at Heart, a Businessman by Profession
Gunther’s path to his current role has been anything but conventional.
His German grandfather migrated to Latin America in the 1950s and eventually settled in Nicaragua as a businessman and representative for several German brands across Central America.
Nicaragua’s long history of political unrest and conflict eventually forced many families, including Gunther's, to seek safety abroad. His parents migrated to the United States, where Gunther was born. After the war, however, they returned to Nicaragua, where Gunther grew up and attended the German Nicaraguan School.
Gunther received a grant to study at an American university in Nicaragua, where he majored in Business Administration and minored in Marketing.
Reflecting on his childhood, Gunther shares that his parents were his role models, which led him to pursue business studies.
“What I really wanted to be was a historian,” Gunther reveals.
“But in Nicaragua, you can’t survive with a job like that – you wouldn’t make a living! So, I studied business. But I still carry a history book with me wherever I go.”
Gunther built his experience by working in different marketing positions and even worked for his father’s packaging company for a while.
From Politically Unstable Nicaragua to a Remote City in Northern Finland
In 2018, Nicaragua was experiencing severe social upheaval under an authoritarian regime.
“I was running a juice company, but it became impossible to continue under those conditions. It became dangerous to even walk in the streets,” Gunther recalls.
The decision to move to Finland was influenced by their daughter’s education after learning about Finland’s renowned school system.
“I saw the documentary Where to Invade Next by Michael Moore, which talked about Finland’s education system. That’s why we originally placed our daughter in a Nordic school in Nicaragua,” he adds.
When Gunther and his family arrived in Finland, they thought they had made it. As it turned out, the journey had just begun.
“When arriving in Finland, I only knew about education and Mika Häkkinen.”
Persistence Led to a Job Offer
In Pudasjärvi, Gunther also studied at OSAO in the VALMA program, a vocational training program targeted at immigrants.
“Some of the subjects felt basic – like elementary math. I was eager to participate in any events I could find”, Gunther recalls.
Persistence paid off when Gunther met Mikko Perälä, who eventually became his future boss.
“Startup Refugees organized a business program for immigrants in Pudasjärvi, and Mikko was presenting at an event.”
The program was designed to help immigrants start their own businesses, but Gunther had a different goal. He wanted a job in Finland, which would allow his family to leave the reception center and finally have a place of their own.
“I directly asked Mikko for a job,” Gunther says.
Although there was no immediate offer, Gunther secured an internship at Hercules Esports, which led to his permanent role at the School of Gaming when it was established in 2020.
Securing a permanent job was critical for Gunther at that point.
Gunther’s residence permit was initially granted for only one year, then for two years, and now for four, so the battle is not over yet. The next step is applying for citizenship.
A Resourceful Swiss Army Knife
Gunther describes himself as a “Swiss Army knife” – resourceful, determined, and always ready to face new challenges. His work ethic has been shaped by his experiences, including the challenges of navigating the Finnish immigration system.
From securing a job to gaining a residence permit, Gunther faced several hurdles, but his determination never wavered.
“It’s a vicious cycle – for example, you need a bank account to rent an apartment, but you can’t get a bank account without a personal identification number, which you can only get with a job, which you can only get with a personal identification number. There have been many sleepless nights, but my main motivation has always been to give my daughter as normal a life as possible.”
“I’m always willing to find a solution and take on new challenges. If there’s something I don’t know, I’ll research it and learn it,” Gunther says.
The startup world can sometimes appear to be all buzz and no substance to outsiders.
“It’s so much more. It’s a challenging environment where you need to be dynamic and flexible, adapting to the ever-changing market. Sometimes, you have to scrap entire projects and start from scratch. With limited resources, you need to know when it’s the right time to cut your losses and move on,” Gunther explains.
Gunther also emphasizes his approach to teamwork.
“I try to motivate people by helping them see the bigger picture – the purpose behind our work. I believe they become more committed that way. I also try to be fair. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. I’m not a fan of strict hierarchies.”
However, Gunther is aware that his personality can sometimes be a lot to handle.
“I’m an optimist and very talkative – maybe too much for some people, especially those who aren’t into small talk,” he admits.
A Love-Hate Relationship with Quiet
There are some things Gunther has learned to love about Finland.
“Finns are very reliable. They’re punctual, and you can always count on them being on time. Most people here are cultured and rational. I’ve really come to appreciate the quietness and the respect people have for others. There’s a strong emphasis on respecting others' peace,” Gunther reflects.
But this quietness, which he admires, also comes with its own challenges.
“What I dislike most is also the quiet. It’s a love-hate relationship. Once, I heard someone sneeze on the train and I said ‘terveydeksi’ (bless you), and everyone looked at me like I was a freak. While the silence is peaceful, it also creates invisible barriers between people.”
Gunther recalls a warm memory that broke through those barriers. At the time, his family was still staying in Pudasjärvi.
“I met my OSAO teacher at the Christmas church service, and they invited me to spend Christmas dinner with their family. It was a heart-warming experience, and I ended up meeting my best friend then.”
“I Already Had a NO, So I Worked For the YES”
As it turns out, Gunter’s path has crossed multiple times with another MBA Scholarship recipient, Matleena Aarikallio. When Gunther first arrived in Finland, he approached Startup Refugees. They were collecting CVs and assisting immigrants in finding employment. At the time, Matleena was working with Startup Refugees.
“Matleena has been there for key milestones in my life – personal, professional, and now also academic.”
“In 2020, I saw on LinkedIn that she had received the MBA Scholarship, and the idea of applying started to linger in my mind. I looked into the opportunity more seriously last year but realized the application period had just ended. So, I set a reminder for the next year and reached out to Matleena for advice,” Gunther recalls.
This prompted him to think more deeply about his career – both what he was already doing and what he could do in the future to benefit the community.
“I decided to apply. I already had a 'no' and wanted to go for the 'yes’. I spent almost three months preparing, reading past interviews, investigating people, and studying leadership,” he says.
An Opportunity for Personal and Professional Growth
Gunther’s MBA journey at Aalto University is set to begin in January 2025, and he’s excited about the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.
“Many of my friends completed their MBAs right after their bachelor's degrees, but they’ve realized it’s more useful after gaining some work experience,” Gunther reflects.
With 12 years of professional experience, he feels that now is the right time for him.
“I know my weaknesses and have a clear idea of what I want to develop. I’m eager to learn from others and gain new perspectives, especially from Finnish decision-makers,” Gunther adds.
The MBA program, designed to balance studies with full-time work, will allow Gunther to continue his impactful role at the School of Gaming while gaining valuable insights from other participants.
Gunther appreciates the balance between work and leisure in Finland.
“At first, it was hard, but I’ve learned to value it. I used to be really unhealthy, and my mental health was struggling. Now, I have more time to go to the gym or play football. I feel much healthier and have a better balance in my life.”
Gunther is also grateful for his work environment, which supports this balance.
“My boss is very liberal and trusts me. He knows I’ll get the work done and doesn’t micromanage. He trusts me to maintain that balance, which I hope will make combining work and studies much easier.”
Gunther is also looking into improving his weaknesses, such as impatience and people-management skills.
“I’m used to the fast-paced American corporate environment, where problems are solved quickly. I’m very agile, and sometimes I struggle to work with people who approach things more slowly, from a more careful and considered perspective. I’m sure I could learn from them also.”
Setting and Achieving New Goals
As the first immigrant to receive the Aalto MBA Scholarship, Gunther feels a sense of responsibility.
He hopes to incorporate sustainability more deeply into his work and leverage his growing influence to create positive change.
With endless possibilities ahead, Gunther continues to set and achieve new goals.
“This scholarship will open so many doors and change my life forever. I want to make a meaningful impact. I’m very grateful to have this opportunity,” he says.
Listening to Gunther, it's clear that he is someone who will relentlessly pursue a better future, no matter the challenges life presents.
