“A career in finance is about continuous learning every day, where no two days are the same”: Interview with ABGSC summer interns

Considering an internship in finance? We asked two of ABGSC’s female summer interns to describe their experiences. Read on for their thoughts.

Dafina Shehu 

ABGSC Equity Research – Stockholm
Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering – Faculty of Engineering at Lund University (2021-2024)

What made you choose a summer internship in the finance industry?
I have always been curious about the stock market since I started investing a couple of years ago. Additionally, I wanted to expand my knowledge by learning about different industries and valuation methods.
What was your perception of the finance industry prior to your internship, and has that perception changed at all as a result of your internship?
I thought working in finance meant spending most of your time behind a desk, mainly working with Excel and PowerPoint. However, my perspective changed when I discovered the significant amount of client interaction involved, including engaging in road shows, having client lunches, and participating in various events.
Can you describe your time as an intern at ABGSC?
I have worked on different projects with my colleagues, involving valuation, market research and writing reports. Throughout this journey I received a lot of support, trust, and responsibility, which helped me learn even further. Aside from that, we have had a lot of fun lunches and dinners together with colleagues, both at work and outside. One of the highlights was getting to meet a client over lunch with my supervisor and another intern.
What do you think the finance industry can do to appeal to more women?
Continue to actively support and organise events with university groups, such as finance societies, that strive to encourage more females to get involved in finance. Through this, we can slowly break down the stereotypes within finance and inspire more women to seek a career in this fast-paced and exciting industry.
What is it about a career in finance that appeals to you?
For me, a career in finance is about continuous learning every day, where no two days are the same, and that’s where I thrive. Moreover, what is exciting to me is understanding how companies operate and getting to know their businesses. You never stop learning and growing, and that’s precisely what makes it such an appealing career choice.

Malin Døskeland

Investment Banking – Oslo

Civil Engineering, Industrial Economics & Technology Management – Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) (2019-2024)

What made you choose a summer internship in the finance industry?
Over the last few years I became interested in finance and was therefore curious about a career within the field. I chose the internship to learn and to see if the job is a good fit for me.
What was your perception of the finance industry prior to your internship, and has that perception changed at all as a result of your internship?
Coming from more of an engineering background I did not have a very clear perception of the industry, but I had heard that the work is fast-paced and you have a steep, yet rewarding, learning curve, which I liked. This has proven very true in my first weeks here.
Can you describe your time as an intern at ABGSC?
I received a warm welcome and have had the chance to work on interesting projects within several industries. There have been a lot of new things, but with help from great colleagues, my experience has been very fun. People at ABGSC are very dedicated which always makes me motivated to perform and develop.
What do you think the finance industry can do to appeal to more women?
I think it is important to be present at universities with female company representatives and engage with students early in their studies to create curiosity and interest early.
What is it about a career in finance that appeals to you?
I find a career in finance appealing as it is an important field and it allows you to gain knowledge of several industries and develop a broad skillset. I also find the environment of smart and dedicated people very motivating.