Hi Arttu! You graduated from the LUSEM master’s programme in Finance 2023. Tell us more about what you have been doing since your graduation!
Sure! Right after graduating, I moved to Spain to join Citi's Real Estate Investment Banking team as an off-cycle intern. During that internship, I gained exposure to a variety of real estate transactions and was fortunate to convert my internship into a full-time offer.
After accepting the offer, I lateraled to Goldman Sachs' Real Estate Investment Banking team in London, where I spent the next two years. During that time, I worked closely with clients, senior bankers, and teammates on a range of strategic and financing transactions across the real estate sector. It was a great environment to develop both my technical skill set and transaction experience, and I was promoted to Associate during my time there.
I enjoy digging into complex transactions, understanding what drives value in a property, and helping make investment decisions involving significant capital.
More recently, I made the move to New York to join the Real Estate Investing team at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. I've only been here for a few weeks, but it's been an exciting transition from advisory into the principal investing side of the business. I'm looking forward to being even closer to investment decision-making and working alongside asset management, acquisitions, and portfolio teams to evaluate opportunities and create value over the longer term.
It's been a somewhat unconventional path geographically, but each move has offered a unique learning opportunity and helped shape how I think about real estate investing today.
What motivated you to pursue a master’s degree in finance at LUSEM?
My main motivation was that I wanted to break into high finance. LUSEM had an excellent reputation, a strong alumni network, and a track record of placing graduates into competitive finance roles. I felt it would give me both the technical skill set and the network needed to make that transition. In the end, it played a key role in helping me launch my career in real estate investment banking and eventually move into investing
The international environment and strong alumni network gave me exposure to different perspectives and helped open doors early in my career.
Today, you work as a Real Estate Investing Associate at Goldman Sachs in New York, what does your everyday routine look like?
As a Real Estate Investing Associate at Goldman Sachs in New York, no two days are exactly the same, but my time is generally split between evaluating new investment opportunities, managing existing portfolio assets, and working with internal and external stakeholders.
A typical day starts with reviewing market developments, property-level performance, and any updates from asset managers or operating partners. From there, I might be underwriting potential acquisitions, building financial models, analyzing cash flows, and conducting due diligence on investment opportunities across different property sectors.
My favorite part of the job is the combination of analytical problem-solving and real-world impact.
I also spend a significant amount of time collaborating with senior team members, lenders, brokers, and legal advisors to assess transactions and move deals forward. On the portfolio side, we monitor investment performance, evaluate strategic initiatives, and identify opportunities to create value through leasing, redevelopment, refinancing, or asset sales.
My favorite part of the job is the combination of analytical problem-solving and real-world impact. I enjoy digging into complex transactions, understanding what drives value in a property, and helping make investment decisions involving significant capital. Real estate is also a very tangible asset class, so it's rewarding to see how an investment strategy translates into actual buildings, communities, and long-term outcomes. Additionally, every deal is different, which keeps the work intellectually engaging and provides constant opportunities to learn.
What skills and knowledge from your time in the Finance programme and at LUSEM have been most valuable in your career after graduation?
I'd say three things stand out. First, the technical foundation in finance, valuation, and accounting, which I still use regularly in my role today. Second, the ability to think through problems in a structured way and communicate ideas clearly, which is essential when evaluating investments. And third, the people. The international environment and strong alumni network gave me exposure to different perspectives and helped open doors early in my career. Together, those elements made the transition into investment banking and later investing much smoother
What advice would you give to current finance students who aspire to work in investment banking? Are there any specific skills or experiences they should focus on?
Technical skills, networking, and relevant experience. Make sure you have a solid understanding of accounting, valuation, and corporate finance, as those are essential for both interviews and the job itself. At the same time, spend time building relationships with alumni and industry professionals, as networking is often a key part of the recruiting process. Finally, try to gain practical experience through internships or student organizations. Investment banking is a competitive field, so persistence is important, but if you're genuinely interested in the work and willing to put in the effort, there are plenty of opportunities to break in.
What do you miss the most from your Lund student days?
it was a unique period of life where you could focus on learning, spending time with friends, and enjoying the student experience
What I miss most is the sense of community. Lund is a place where friends are always nearby, everything is within walking or biking distance, and there's always something going on. Looking back, it was a unique period of life where you could focus on learning, spending time with friends, and enjoying the student experience before stepping into a professional career.
