Roberto Gisy

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

I work with Business Development and Strategy at the Swedish Fintech scale-up SAVR. Our goal is to bring more fairness and transparency to the Swedish investing market. At the same time, we want to upgrade the customer experience and provide people with smart tools so they can become better investors. My day-to-day can vary a lot – which makes this environment really interesting! Some examples are evaluating the business case for a new product, negotiating a contract with a potential partner or supporting the CEO with our next funding round.

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

I enjoy the intersection of an entrepreneurial environment and working with savings and investments. Working for a smaller start-up company means you can create a large impact on where the company is going. Things are moving fast and hierarchies are flat. I find that a very motivating environment. This motivation gets enhanced when you work with a product that you feel passionate about yourself. I myself enjoy the nerdy details of personal investing and I believe that participation in the stock market is a crucial societal topic as our pension systems will have difficulties with our aging population.

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

I came in touch with the first finance subjects during my Bachelor studies in Business Administration in Germany. I wanted to expand in that area as I enjoyed the quantitative aspects in combination with a lot of real-world application. Beyond that a Master in Finance opens a lot of possible career paths, not only in the financial industry. I chose SSE for my Master's as it enjoys a very good reputation also beyond the borders of Sweden. In addition, I heard from friends who studied there before me that the study culture puts an emphasis on collaboration.

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

Apart from an excellent academic education, SSE also provides great exposure to the innovative start-up scene in Stockholm. For example, through the Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship or through inviting great speakers for guest lectures, e.g. company founders or venture capital investors. Beyond that SSE has a strong entrepreneurial network and you will find SSE alumni as founders or in leading positions at many start-ups in Stockholm.

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

I can very warmly recommend to try all the different things that SSE has to offer – beyond just an excellent education in the subject that you chose. Talk to people from different backgrounds, visit a guest lecture (e.g. each year's Nobel Prize winner visits the school), try the excellent mentorship opportunities, try some societies or activities of the student association. The opportunities are endless. Lastly – I personally viewed Stockholm just as a study opportunity and thought I would definitely go back to Germany for very long. I can warmly recommend to already early on consider staying in Stockholm as an interesting option. Explore the country, learn some Swedish, get to know the people. You never know what it might lead to.

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

Friendship. Ambition. Kanelbullar.