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STOCKHOLM SCHOOL
OF ECONOMICS

Agnes Nilsson

Meet Agnes Nilsson - Political Advisor at the European Parliament and MSc in Business & Management alum.

1. Describe your role and what it is that you do overall and on a day-to-day basis.

I live in Brussels where I work as Political Advisor to a Swedish member of the European Parliament. I mainly work with EU budget and development policy. My daily work is very varied and includes everything from policy development, analysis and negotiations to interview preparation and speech writing. I get to leverage a broad skill-set and often draw on experiences from SSE - it’s numbers, strategy and communications in practice!

2. What interested you about the field / company / role you are currently in?

I’ve always wanted to make an impact on society, to address social injustice and contribute to solutions to our common challenges. I have been fortunate to be able to work as an advisor in the previous Swedish government and it is a great experience to now be able to develop at the European level.

3. Why did you choose to study your subject area at SSE?

In order to be the best, you have to learn from the best. SSE offers cutting-edge business education combined with a very strong interest in civil society and excellent relationships to external actors, which I really wanted to benefit from.

4. How did your time / education at SSE help guide you to the career journey you have embarked on?

The skills, experiences and relationships I gained at SSE have been fundamental to where I am today. During my final year at SSE I was a Wallenberg International Fellow, which meant that I got to study at Georgetown University and conduct an internship in Washington, D.C. It was the perfect way to develop my interest in the intersection of business and politics and explore different career options. I also received a lot of support from SSE professors and advisors, both during and after my studies.

5. Following the time at SSE, do you have any words of wisdom or advice you would like to share with our current students?

Remember that even though there can be a lot of pressure at school, you’ll probably never be in a more forgiving space. Test, try, fail and explore and don’t forget that everyone is on their own journey - dare to follow your own interests and develop your own profile.

6. What are three words that sum up your time at SSE?

Challenging, fun, reflection.