“It’s quite intense, very rewarding and just great, professionally and socially” – ESG interns in LC&I tell

Caspar Runsten

I recently finished my bachelor degree in Business & Economics at the Stockholm School of Economics, specialising in Finance and Accounting. 

I applied for the ESG Internship because I have a particular interest for sustainability, and I was intrigued as to how I could combine that interest with what I have studied at SSE - and how I could contribute to positive change while exploring the banking business at the same time. 

I look forward to working with a large team of interns dedicated to sustainability, and to enhance my understanding of ESG practices, how they are currently being implemented by businesses, in what direction businesses are moving with regards to sustainability, and how financial services can effectively be implemented to contribute to positive change.

Exciting and informative weeks

The first few weeks have been exciting and informative. The team has been very welcoming, and ensured that all of us interns are integrated well both in our roles as interns but also into Nordea and the Large Corporates & Institutions (LC&I) ESG team. Since we started, I have gained a solid understanding of Nordea’s ESG strategies, and what they do to ensure that their clients are moving in the right direction. From gathering ESG data, I have also immediately gained a new perspective of how businesses are actually currently working with ESG, what challenges they are facing in performing on their targets, and how Nordea can guide their clients to change their operating procedures and priorities to contribute positively to the environment. It has helped me develop my quantitative and qualitative skills.

Nordea’s ESG commitment exceeds expectations

The biggest eyeopener, so far, has been the level of commitment to ESG across all departments at Nordea. The amount of effort Nordea is putting into ESG far exceeds my expectations, and furthermore that there are so many businesses overall that actually dedicate large amounts of resources to ESG and to improving to meet their targets is surprising to me, and hopefully inspires others to do the same.

Linnéa Amnäs

I recently graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Politics and Economics, majoring in Economics, from Lund University.

I applied for the ESG summer internship in Large Corporates & Institutions (LC&I) because it offered a unique opportunity to combine my passion for sustainability with my curiosity about the banking sector’s role in fostering positive environmental and social changes. I am particularly interested in understanding how ESG factors, which companies report, are implemented and leveraged from a banking perspective. This internship presents a chance to explore the practical applications of ESG principles in financial services and to contribute to the bank's efforts in promoting sustainable development.

I look forward to gaining hands-on experience in how financial institutions integrate ESG criteria into their decision-making processes. I hope to develop a comprehensive understanding of the methodologies used to assess and manage ESG risks and opportunities. Ultimately, I hope to contribute meaningfully to the team and acquire insights that will guide my future career in sustainable finance.

Incredibly enlightening and engaging

The first weeks have been incredibly enlightening and engaging. It has been fascinating to observe how many companies have set ambitious climate targets and have detailed plans to reduce their emissions. The exposure to real-world examples has provided me with a deeper appreciation of the complexities and challenges involved in implementing ESG initiatives. I have also had the chance to participate in team meetings and discussions, which has broadened my understanding of the various ESG factors that banks consider in their operations.

Jacob Pedersen

I just finished my fourth year of studies within Industrial engineering at Lund University.

During my second year in Lund, I worked on a school-related project about the TCFD framework (a structured way to how companies can report risks and plans regarding climate impact), and realized that sustainability reporting is interesting and posed for high growth. Since then, additional regulations and frameworks has been developed which has contributed to a more transparent way of how to reduce climate impact. Applying for the internship seemed like a great way to learn more about the subject while getting exposure to the financial sector.

I am looking forward to learning about the role banks play in the transition to a more sustainable economy. In addition to this, seeing how different companies take action to reduce their climate impact will be a great exposure. Besides this, I hope to meet like-minded people that has an interest for finance and sustainability like me!

Great team

I have been welcomed by a great team and settled in well. I was the last intern to start for the summer, but the atmosphere is really helpful, so I think I will catch up quickly. 

Besides the actual work, we have a lot of fun on a daily basis and has been to some After works which has been very fun.

Vera Dahlström 

I am from Stockholm, and am currently enrolled at Stockholm School of Economics in the Business and Economics program with a specialisation in Accounting and Finance. 

The reason I applied for the LC&I ESG internship was the development of the importance of ESG within all industries and companies. ESG is starting to and will continue to become a natural element of every business, simply because it has to. Hence, despite one’s future career, this internship is highly valuable and a great first step into one’s business career.

I look forward to learning about different industries and how they address sustainability in terms of environmental issues. Also, I hope to have a better understanding of what it is like to work within a bank and what my next career step should be.

A great mix

The first two days we were introduced to the project that we are currently working on, and then we began working in teams of two in order to learn how to proceed with each task in the project. After a few days we began working mostly on our own, but when a question comes up or something is uncertain, we reach out to the colleagues right next to us and discuss the issue in order to together come to a conclusion. Hence, the work we are doing is both independent but also collaborative which is a great mix. 

Positive and social people – surprisingly many social happening

Since day one, I have felt so welcome by the ESG team. I would say that us interns are a bunch of positive and social people who like to collaborate and solve potential issues we bump into during our workdays. Also, we have great lunches together and do fun things outside of work like ‘after works’. Last week we also had dinner together which was very nice.

Ryan Thomas

I have finished my 2^nd year in my BSc Retail Management from the Stockholm School of Economics.

I applied for the internship because I, for starters, had heard positive things about the working environment at Nordea which always is a bonus. As for the internship, I applied specifically to the LC&I ESG team because ESG is a field I am largely unfamiliar with. I generally appreciate a learning curve so despite it being a slight “shot in the dark” it has been well worth it so far.

I see this internship as a possibility to learn more about both Nordea as an employer as well as ESG as a field of work. 

Open, friendly and helpful people

The first weeks have been great. I cannot stress how open and friendly and helpful the rest of the interns as well as the entire team of experts, management, everyone here have been. We have attended formally organised events at Nordea such as the Summer Party, as well as organized our own informal ‘after works’ to get to know each other outside of work too.

We’ve begun working with environmental data collection on Nordea’s LC&I side. A positive aspect of our work is knowing that what we create has a tangible value for Nordea and its clients, it creates a sense of ownership in what we do and makes mundane tasks feel important. 

A niche challenge in this type of data collection is that ESG reporting in general is largely unstandardised so vital information can be presented in large masses of text, tables and graphs with minimal clear “indicators” of them being vital. Hence, there is a skill to be developed in learning “industry standards” in reporting as it varies immensely from sector to sector. In large, I like the level of freedom and challenge that comes with the work that we do. Despite us working with data collection, the methodology, and fields in which we collect data, the purpose of each project is slightly different which keeps me motivated. 

Improved skillset and good fun

If I should point to any surprises or eyeopeners, it must be how pedagogical the environment is here. Whenever I ask questions, I often get nuanced replies which provide me with a more holistic view on the subject at hand. After three weeks here, I can already see a tangible improvement of my skillset. 

Adam Cato

I am currently studying Environmental Engineering and Management at Linköping University. After the summer, I will begin my final year of my Master's in Sustainable Business Development.

I have long been interested in sustainability and the transition to a greener world. I believe that banks will play a pivotal role in this transition through their lending and financing activities. The ESG internship at Nordea seemed like a perfect opportunity to gain insights into how sustainability is integrated into financial institutions and how they assist companies in their transition. On top of that, to be able to work within the rapidly evolving ESG industry is incredibly rewarding. 

I look forward to learning more about how companies in different sectors report their emissions and climate targets. Additionally, I am eager to gain insights into how Nordea uses this information to mitigate climate change. 

Intense, rewarding and fun

The first weeks have been intense but incredibly rewarding and fun! From the start, we were given the responsibility to work independently while also collaborating with fellow interns to tackle problems. This has led to a steep learning curve that has been very enriching. Data collection has been complemented with meetings to understand how the data we gather will be used to make an impact in the green transition. This has provided a holistic view of Nordea's work with ESG.

One big surprise, so far, has been how supportive the work environment is. Whenever I encounter a problem, the solution is always just a question away, resulting in significant knowledge gains. 

Spending time with fellow interns outside of work tasks has also been very enjoyable and has made the internship even better.

Stay tuned for the next ESG blog - meanwhile, have a look at the first blog in the ESG series.

You can also check out our Career blog and read the blogs featuring interns, graduates and other Nordea people.