Alf Rehn

After completing his doctorate in industrial management in 2002, he started teaching at the Royal Institute of Technology and later become the Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the institute. Since 2004, he has been the chair of management and organization at Åbo Akademi University, and still holds the position. At the time, he was the youngest chair in Finland.{{cite web|title=Professor Alf Rehn|url=http://icfglobal2014-europe.org/index.php/keynotes/88-alf-rehn|publisher=ICF Global|accessdate=17 January 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150119042532/http://icfglobal2014-europe.org/index.php/keynotes/88-alf-rehn|archive-date=2015-01-19|url-status=dead}} Currently, he is a professor of innovation, design, and management at SDU-the University of Southern Denmark.

Rehn frequently keynotes corporate and other events,{{cite web|title=Alf Rehn: Luovuus katoaa Angry Birdsia kopioimalla|url=http://www.digitoday.fi/viihde/2011/03/24/alf-rehn-luovuus-katoaa-angry-birdsia-kopioimalla/20114137/66|publisher=DigiToday|accessdate=18 January 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.haufe.de/personal/hr-management/innovationsmanagement-unternehmen-zerstoeren-ideen_80_277080.html|title=Unternehmen sind gut darin, Ideen zu zerstören|publisher=Haufe|accessdate=18 January 2015}} including TEDx-events{{cite web|title=Alf Rehn puhui muutoksesta ja mummoista|url=http://www.pirkanmaa.fi/fi/alf-rehn-puhui-muutoksesta-ja-mummoista|publisher=Pirkanmaa|accessdate=17 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118114420/http://www.pirkanmaa.fi/fi/alf-rehn-puhui-muutoksesta-ja-mummoista|archive-date=18 January 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} and Ciudad de las Ideas. He is also a frequent columnist and media commentator.{{cite web|url=http://www.ciudaddelasideas.com/perfil-ponente/alf-rehn|title=Alf Rehn 2013|publisher=Ciudadd de Las Ideas|accessdate=20 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120080618/http://www.ciudaddelasideas.com/perfil-ponente/alf-rehn|archive-date=2015-01-20|url-status=usurped}}

Rehn has published several books, articles and columns. In 2011, he published the book Dangerous Ideas: When Provocative Thinking Becomes Your Most Valuable Asset, which discusses how creative ideas are perceived initially as dangerous and inappropriate.{{cite web|url=http://www.handelskammaren.com/press/sydsvenskt-naeringsliv/2-12-framtiden-personliga-foeretag-och-farliga-ideer/|title=Framtien Personliga Foeretag Och Farliga Ideer|publisher=Handelskammaren|accessdate=17 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803194950/http://www.handelskammaren.com/press/sydsvenskt-naeringsliv/2-12-framtiden-personliga-foeretag-och-farliga-ideer/|archive-date=3 August 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|title=Provokateur Alf Rehn über echte Kreativität – Gefährliche Ideen: Von der Macht des ungehemmten Denkens|url= http://www.coundlumbus.de/board-blog/36-kreativitaet/245-provokateur-alf-rehn-ueber-echte-kreativitaet-gefaehrliche-ideen-von-der-macht-des-ungehemmten-denkens-alf-rehn-kreativitaet-gefaehrliche-ideen.html|publisher= Coundlumbus|accessdate=18 January 2015}} The book has been translated into eight languages.{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/alf_rehn_hyva_idea_suututtaa_aina_jonkun/5410993 |title= Alf Rehn: Hyvä idea suututtaa aina jonkun|date= 23 August 2011|publisher=YLE|accessdate=17 January 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-05-11/news/31669276_1_creativity-organisations-leadership-lessons/2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516104318/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-05-11/news/31669276_1_creativity-organisations-leadership-lessons/2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 16, 2012 |title=Åbo Akademi University, Professor Alf Rehn is concerned that only smartphone applications are considered creative products|publisher=Economic Times|accessdate=17 January 2015}} He published the Johtajuuden Ristiriidat in 2018, which is about leadership conflicts.{{cite news |last1=Harald |first1=Patrik |title=Alf Rehn i ny bok: Ledarskap är fullt av paradoxer |url=https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/alf-rehn-i-ny-bok-ledarskap-ar-fullt-av-paradoxer/ |work=www.hbl.fi |language=sv}} In 2019, Rehn published a book Innovation for the Fatigued: how to build a culture of deep creativity.{{cite news |last1=Dillon |first1=Frank |title=Innovation: too much talk and not enough thinking |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/innovation/innovation-too-much-talk-and-not-enough-thinking-1.3963778#:~:text=Innovation%20for%20the%20Fatigued%20%E2%80%93%20how%20to%20build%20a%20culture%20of%20deep%20creativity%2C%20by%20Alf%20Rehn%20is%20published%20by%20Kogan%20Page |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}

He currently lives in Denmark.{{cite news |title=Näin Tanskassa asuva suomalaisprofessori vertaa maiden suhtautumista koronaan – "Luoja kuinka paljon he rakastavatkaan maataan" |url=https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000007861340.html#:~:text=However%2C%20Rehn%2C%20who%20has%20lived%20in%20Denmark%20since%202017%2C%20says%20he%20is%20a%20little%20surprised%20at%20how%20easily%20Danes%20have%20taken%20the%20mask%20into%20their%20daily%20lives. |work=Ilta-Sanomat |date=15 March 2021 |language=fi}} and has three children. {{cite news |last1=Kaj |first1=Sanna |title=Huippusuosittu puhuja Alf Rehn jännitti kovasti ensimmäisiä luentojaan – sitten hän keksi, miten pelosta pääsee eroon |url=https://www.is.fi/menaiset/ihmiset-ja-suhteet/art-2000007670870.html |work=Ilta-Sanomat |date=14 December 2020 |language=fi}}

Rehn was listed as #13 on the 2009 Thinkers 50, in the "Up and Coming Business Thinkers” list. In 2011, he was named on the list for a second time. In the 2012 Finnish Thinkers 20-list, published by Nordic Business Report magazine, he was rated third among business thinkers in Finland. He was voted Speaker of the Year in Finland in 2010.{{cite web|title=Mainostoimisto pestasi professori Alf Rehnin|publisher=Talous Sanomat|url= http://www.taloussanomat.fi/ihmiset/2011/06/07/mainostoimisto-pestasi-professori-alf-rehnin/20118017/135|accessdate=17 January 2015}}

• Polygonmakarna – Spelbranschens Högteknologiska Upplevelseekonomi (The Polygon Makers – The Gaming Industry as a High-tech Experience Economy) (2003)
• Resan, Jobbet Och Metafysiken – Projektledning Och Tidens Problem (Travel, Toil and Metaphysics – Project Management and the Problem of Time) (2004)
• The Serious Unreal – Notes on Business and Frivolity (2004)
• Företagsekonomin och “La Trahison des Clercs” (Business Studies and the Treason of the Intellectuals) (2006)
• The Scholar's Progress – Essays on Academic Life and Survival (2006)
• Gåvan Idag – Altruismen och den Moderna Ekonomin (The Gift Today – Altruism and Modern Economy) (2006)
• Vad är Företagsekonomi? (What is Business Studies?) (2007)
• För Företagsekonomin/Business, Rehnt ut Sagt (For Business Studies) (2009)
• Makt (Power) (2009)
• Farliga Idéer (Dangerous Ideas) (2011)
• Suunnaton Suomi (2012)
• Trendspotting – The Basics (2013)
• Frivolous Business – Essays on Excess, Play and Pataphysics in Economy (2013)
• Unelmien Talous (2014)
• Innovation. Malmö: Liber (2017)
• Johtajuuden ristiriidat Jyväskylä: Docendo (2018)
• Ledarskapsparadoxen. Stockholm: Volante (2019)
• Innovation for the Fatigued: How to Build a Culture of Deep Creativity (2019)

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{Forummag|title=Den lekande professorn|author=Heidi Backas|url=https://forum-mag.fi/den-lekande-professorn/|access-date=|date=2007-04-26|issue=2007-04|page=35-37|year=2007|language=sv-SE}}

• [http://www.alfrehn.com Official website]
• [http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/A-taste-of-leadership-Alf-Rehn;search%3Atag%3A%22tedxumea%22 A taste of leadership: Alf Rehn at TEDxUmea]
• [http://www.dangerousideas.co.uk Dangerous Ideas]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rehn, Alf}}

Category:Living people

Category:Academic staff of Åbo Akademi University

Category:KTH Royal Institute of Technology alumni

Category:Academic staff of the KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Category:1972 births

Category:People from Turku

Category:Finnish expatriates in Denmark