Martine Kverne, Analyst in Equity Research Norway, telling about her job and career journey at a WFIP session at Nordea's office in Oslo.

"Very inspiring" - Great start to our Women’s Finance Insight Programme – Check it out

21-02-2025 11:29

They’re here! 65 talented students, curious and eager to gain insight to the world of finance. They’ve come to the right place. By joining our Women’s Finance Insight Programme 2025, they've got front row seats to explore the Nordea business and various career opportunities within Nordea Markets, Investment Banking & Equities and Leveraged Finance. The talents come with high expectations, and we’re thrilled to hear they’re off to a great start, enjoying learning from our professionals, hooking up with peers and cracking cases.

Hear all about it in this first blog in a series where attending students share their experiences during the seven afternoon sessions in the Women’s Finance Insight Programme (WFIP), held at Nordea’s offices in Copenhagen, Oslo, Helsinki and Stockholm during the spring.

Meet Isabella, Hanna, Lina and Leah who after a few sessions tell about eye-opening learnings, valuable networking with unique opportunities to gain insight from passionate professionals.

Isabella Bildsøe (Denmark)

I'm 22 years old and currently studying for a bachelor's degree in International Business at Copenhagen Business School (CBS).

Why did you apply to join WFIP?

A friend introduced me to the programme after seeing a LinkedIn post from a student organisation (Finance Lab) at CBS. It immediately caught my interest, as I have a strong interest in finance, but find it difficult to navigate the many possible career paths and areas to specialise in. It was clear to me that this was a unique opportunity to gain insights from experienced professionals. I hope to deepen my understanding of the Investment Banking and Markets divisions by learning from the professionals, combined with doing practical cases. I expect to be inspired on both a professional and personal level. So far, the programme surely lives up to my expectations.

Linda Ågren, Head of Debt Solutions & Structuring presenting together with Morten Rasmussen, Head of Markets Trading, at Nordea's HQ in Copenhagen.

Any highlights or surprises during the first session?

What stood out to me the most was the enthusiasm and passion among the employees we met – not just when telling about their roles at Nordea but also when sharing their knowledge and experiences. One of the highlights for me, was hearing from a strong female role model, Linda Ågren (photo), who spoke about her work in Debt Solutions & Structuring. It was an area I hadn’t considered, but after her talk, I found myself intrigued by the field and eager to learn more. I look very much forward to the next sessions.

Lina Johansson (Sweden)

I am 23 years old, and currently studying a master programme in Accounting and Financial Management | Accounting, Governance and Financial Analysis at Uppsala University. I am in my second semester of my master’s programme.

Why did you apply to join WFIP?

I first heard about WFIP from a former colleague, who had recently joined the WFIP at Nordea and said it had provided insight into Nordea as an employer and she also got to learn more about finance and the different job opportunities. I thought WFIP sounded as a perfect opportunity to deepen my knowledge and to connect with other young women who share my interest for finance and have similar career aspirations.

Take-aways and eye-openers from the first session?

Our first session was both informative and inspiring, giving us an overview of Nordea and its various departments. We also received valuable tips and tricks for CV writing and internship applications which I made use of when I updated my CV. It was really fun to meet all the other participants and hear about their career goals. It was also very inspiring to hear stories from some of the women working at Nordea and gaining insight into their academic and professional journeys, and how they ultimately ended up where they are today.

I left the first session feeling excited for the next session and feeling so happy that I applied for the programme.

Leah Norheim (Norway)

I’m 24 years old and I’m currently pursuing a Master’s in Financial Economics at the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH).

Why did you apply to join WFIP?

I had seen several posts about the programme through social media and also heard great feedback from previous participants, which strengthened my motivation to apply. Joining this programme at a large and respected company as Nordea offers a unique opportunity to explore different areas of Nordea Markets and Investment Banking, and connect with other female students also aspiring to build a career in finance. I hope this experience will strengthen my financial skills by applying my education to practical cases during the sessions.

Students chatting in between presentations and case cracking during a session in Oslo.

Did anything surprise you during the first session?

I was surprised by how much responsibility you get early on in a career at Nordea, and how quickly employees can make an impact. One of the highlights was the presentation by a female employee in Equity Research, Martine Kverne, who shared her journey and the exciting opportunities she had early on. It was inspiring to see the level of responsibility she was given and how much she had accomplished in a short time. I was also surprised by the variety of tasks, spanning different projects, stages of development and roles throughout a career.

Additionally, I didn’t expect that employees got to work closely with clients early in their careers. Finally, I was positively surprised by the diversity of the women participating in the programme, including students from different universities across Norway, as well as from England and Spain, at various stages of our studies. Very inspiring. I look forward to the next sessions.

Hanna Pikkarainen (Finland)

I am 31 years old, and I study finance and business analytics at LUT Business School.

Why did you apply to join WFIP?

My friend recommended the programme, and I researched it and found information on Nordea’s career website and in the blogs. The programme stood out as a unique opportunity to gain insights into the finance industry while connecting with experienced professionals. I applied because I want to deepen my understanding of financial markets and explore career opportunities in a supportive and inspiring environment. I am particularly curious about what it is like to work in corporate finance at Nordea. I also look forward to connecting with industry professionals and ambitious women in finance, as well as gaining hands-on experience through case studies.

Any surprises or eyeopeners during the first session?

I was amazed by the openness and supportiveness of the Nordea team, and how genuinely invested the employees we've met are in mentoring and inspiring young women in finance. Additionally, I found it fascinating to see the wide range of career opportunities within the bank and how different teams collaborate to drive impactful financial solutions.

Stay tuned for the next blog in our WFIP series where attending students share their experiences from the next sessions.

Meanwhile, you can find more information about our Women's Finance Insight Programme here.

Interested in a career at Nordea Markets LC&I?

Nordea Markets LC&I (Large Corporates & Institutions) is the leading international capital operator and investment banking partner in the Nordic region. Let some of our student interns, graduates as well as experienced professionals explain it to you; how it works, what we do, and about the many career opportunities we can offer you.

Explore the possibilities:

Students and interns

Graduates

Future Finance Professional
Finland

Women's Finance Insight Programme

Markets LC&I

Meet our talents

Blog

Careers

Women in Finance