Graduate Case Competition – Solving challenges through unique value creation

You’ll soon have completed the Nordea graduate programme – congratulations! What have you enjoyed most over the past two years?

Thanks! My adventure on the graduate programme is coming to an end and I'll continue my endeavours, taking with me more experience and knowledge than I could ever have imagined. 

Over these past two years, I’ve been met with enthusiasm and gratitude from the various teams I’ve supported across the bank. With my “Graduate” title, I've been consistently regarded and respected as an asset for the bank. This is also reflected in the multitude of opportunities that I and my fellow colleagues from the graduate programme are offered from various teams, with high demand for our skills. 

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the infinite learning opportunities, which have certainly enriched my career. I've continuously been through training, coaching, workshops, mentorship and summits. Our learning is quality-assured and we can proactively provide feedback so that we can help to shape our own learning path.

In terms of social life, I'm happy to be able to call my fellow colleagues on the graduate programme my friends. We take part in organising and facilitating seminars and social events among ourselves, which further enriches our bond in our close-knit network. It’s been a rewarding journey in terms of both professional and personal development.

Last week, you attended the Nordea Graduate Summit in Copenhagen, at which the Nordea Graduate Case competition was also held. Could you tell us a bit more about what you did during those three days?

The casework itself actually started last month when the 2024 graduate case was presented to us, which posed the question as to how we could improve digital adoption of saving and investment. Last week, we arrived in Copenhagen for breakfast followed by a project management training session with the professional consulting group Implement. It was an interactive and fun way to learn as we were able to apply their methods to our own work, discussing each principle they introduced in groups. We were able to be creative by brainstorming together and shuffling around post-it notes with our ideas. The day passed quickly as we were concentrating so hard yet having so much fun. 

The following day we all gathered for a brief catch-up before breaking up into groups in designated rooms to focus on crafting our presentation scheduled for the following day. In these rooms, we worked intently on applying the training from the day before to our delivery to make our presentations as elaborate as possible. When we were satisfied with our work, we delivered our material at the end of the day and went for dinner. 

The next day we pitched our idea to a jury, which consisted of stakeholders and sponsors of the project. They asked each group a couple of questions and later evaluated which solution they liked best. This ended the summit which was a bonding experience and a steep learning curve. It felt rewarding to be part of a project of this scale knowing that we’re being trusted with creating value for Nordea. 

Any advice for candidates who are considering applying to the Nordea graduate programme? 

By joining the programme you experience first-hand how the bank operates on a cross-functional level, irrespective of your area of expertise. Banks are digital entities, so stand out by showing your ability to think innovatively. Becoming part of the largest bank in the Nordics is a unique opportunity and a stellar way to embark on your career journey.