Finance studies open doors to interesting career paths

In high school, Seela Moilanen considered medicine, law, and business as her study options. While active in the Union of Upper Secondary School Students in Finland, her interest in the business world and broader societal issues grew, and in the end a business school felt like the option that would open the widest range of doors to different roles.

‘For example, medical school felt like a very clear path to becoming a doctor, but since I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do in my career, I thought a degree in business would provide broad tools for professional life. During your studies, you can explore your own interests and try out what kind of work genuinely appeals to you’, Moilanen says.

She chose Aalto University School of Business because she had heard it offers excellent teaching and strong employment prospects. Moving a bit farther from her home town Turku in southwestern Finland also appealed.

‘Mathematical thinking and analytical problem solving are important to me. Both are central in finance and economics, and I did pause to consider which of the two to choose as my major. I ended up choosing finance, which I believe offers more of the kinds of career opportunities that interest me.’

Moilanen’s minor is accounting, and her ongoing exchange at IE University in Madrid also counts as a minor.

‘I made a fairly traditional choice, but you can also take minors at Aalto’s engineering schools or at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture - many of my fellow finance students do that.'

Finance as a major 

Moilanen describes finance as an analytical major focused on value creation in business, cash flows, and investments.

‘Finance concentrates on economic decision-making and how to act optimally under uncertainty. In my major, we assess risks and returns, and I appreciate its analytical approach and clear logic’, Moilanen says.

‘Projects and courses where you can connect theory to practice and solve real companies’ problems have been especially interesting. It’s also exciting to link sustainability topics to finance.’

Moilanen wrote her bachelor’s thesis in the autumn of her third year and will complete her BSc degree after returning from exchange in the spring.

‘Writing the thesis felt exciting at first, but it became my most educational project so far. In the bachelor’s thesis in finance, you choose a research topic, collect and analyse data, write the thesis, and present the results to other students. You get support from your supervisor, and finishing a big project like this is incredibly rewarding.'

Aalto Finance supports students 

Beyond professors, other teachers, and study coordinators, there is strong support for students. Moilanen especially highlights the subject club Aalto Finance, which supports finance students in many ways. The community the club provides has also been a particularly pleasant surprise.

‘Aalto Finance organizes relaxed events, such as after-exams get-togethers, pre-Christmas parties, and annual celebrations, where you can spend time with your course mates and also get to know more senior students. At more career-oriented events, you can get to know companies and different career paths, work on your CV, or practice job interviews. Aalto Finance also arranges excursions to London and Stockholm, offering a chance to visit companies and meet local Aalto alumni’, Moilanen says.

Having served a year on the Aalto Finance board herself, Moilanen says the association also works actively to attract more women to the field.

‘At club events, you can, for example, meet successful women in finance, which I believe inspires more women to consider the field.’

Encouraging competitiveness 

According to Seela Moilanen, there may be several reasons why women are still a minority among finance students.

‘My guess is that uncertainty about career options, a lack of role models, and various preconceptions play a role. From medical school you graduate as a doctor and from law school as a lawyer, but for someone graduating in finance, the career path may not appear as clear, especially if there are no finance alumni in their close circle. In addition, finance is sometimes seen as a very mathematical and demanding major’, she says.

‘The field is also considered male-dominated, which it largely still is, so women interested in finance may not see as many female role models in the field. In reality, though, I see no reason why women wouldn’t do just as well as men.’

Finance studies and students in the field also have a reputation for competitiveness. In Moilanen’s experience, however, the competition is good-spirited and encouraging.

‘For me, competitiveness in the field has shown up as students cheering each other on, with the goal that everyone does well and progresses in their studies.’

Many career options - and the chance to make an impact 

Seela Moilanen warmly recommends a career in finance, as the field offers not only attractive salaries but also unique career paths and opportunities to influence society.

‘In finance, you decide where capital is allocated, so you can influence which innovations emerge, which companies grow, and how the economy and employment develop. Whether it’s advising companies or funding early-stage ventures, career choices in finance can steer society in the direction you want to see change.’

Seela Moilanen has not yet finalized her own career plans and wants to explore different options at a comfortable pace.

‘Right now, I’m interested in fairly traditional paths, such as consulting or working at an investment bank, but later on a role at a private equity or venture capital firm could also be exciting. I still have more than two years of studies left, and at this stage I want to explore various alternatives through internships in different roles and companies’, she says.

For those interested in business studies, Seela Moilanen especially recommends finance.

‘Finance studies open many doors that don’t open as easily with other backgrounds. Don’t let preconceptions stop you from applying. If you’re even a little interested, apply boldly. In my view, Aalto’s finance studies also provide a solid foundation for those interested in working abroad.’

At Aalto University School of Business, students starting their studies in 2027 can study finance as their bachelor’s major only in the new English-taught Bachelor in Finance programme, for which the application period is open in January 2027. 

In the Finnish-language Kauppatieteiden kandidaattiohjelma (Bachelor’s Programme in Economics and Business Administration), all students take the introductory finance course, and finance can also be taken as a minor.

Graduates of the Bachelor in Finance can proceed directly to master’s-level studies in finance as a major. Graduates of the Kauppatieteiden kandidaattiohjelma, in turn, may apply to the Master’s Programme in Finance if they meet the separately defined criteria.