Hi Simon! You graduated from the Bachelor's programme in Economy and Society in 2023. Can you tell us a bit about what you’ve been doing since then – both academically and professionally?
My studies at LUSEM sparked a deeper interest in economics, so I applied to various master’s programs and eventually ended up at the Stockholm School of Economics. The motivation for choosing that school was its clear focus on quantitative analysis, which I felt would complement my education in Economy & Society well.
As for work experience after Lund, both student jobs I’ve had during my master’s studies were closely connected to my bachelor’s thesis, which focused on the Nordic electricity market. My first student job was at Vattenfall, where I worked for a year on project evaluation of renewable energy sources such as onshore and offshore wind power and solar parks.
The path to Infranode wasn’t obvious but felt like a natural destination given my ambition to work in a socially beneficial sector and my desire to learn more about green financing.
Although Vattenfall is an incredible company and I enjoyed my time there, I was interested in gaining more hands-on experience with the financing aspects of the green transition and curious about working in a smaller organisation. That led me to Infranode – a private equity fund management company focused on sustainable infrastructure in the Nordics – where I worked part-time during my final semester and will start full-time this fall.
What made you choose the Economy and Society programme at LUSEM?
Like many others, I found it difficult to choose a university program. After studying natural sciences in high school, I knew I wanted to avoid those subjects at university – I simply wasn’t interested. Instead, I looked for programmes that could combine my interest in society with mathematics, which had always been my strongest subject. The Economy and Society programme sounded very appealing and became my gateway into economics, which I later chose to pursue at the master’s level.
I looked for programmes that could combine my interest in society with mathematics, which had always been my strongest subject. The Economy and Society programme sounded very appealing and became my gateway into economics
How did you experience the programme? Was there anything you found particularly rewarding or challenging?
I found it very rewarding that we started reading academic articles right away. It was tough at first, but very enriching once you got the hang of it. It forced you to understand how academic articles are written and taught you to adopt scientific language quickly. It was also exciting to see what the latest research says about pressing societal issues like the climate crisis, demographic changes, and economic inequality.
Another memory I’ll always cherish is my exchange studies at UC Berkeley, which might be the best thing I’ve ever done – both in terms of personal and academic development, and I made many wonderful friendships.
Today you work as an investment analyst at Infranode. How did that come about – what was your path there?
As mentioned earlier, I have a strong interest and desire to be part of the green transition, and for someone with an economics background, it feels natural to do that from the investment side. The path to Infranode wasn’t obvious but felt like a natural destination given my ambition to work in a socially beneficial sector and my desire to learn more about green financing. I believe my student jobs played a big role in landing a job in finance, in addition to having an academic background in economics.
Is there a particular memory from your time in Lund that you look back on fondly?
My class was unfortunately one of the unlucky cohorts whose studies were heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but even though I missed out on a lot, there are bright memories. One is Lundakarnevalen, which took place just as restrictions were starting to ease. The atmosphere was amazing, and everyone was so excited to celebrate!
Another memory I’ll always cherish is my exchange studies at UC Berkeley, which might be the best thing I’ve ever done – both in terms of personal and academic development, and I made many wonderful friendships. It’s incredible that Lund University offers such opportunities to its students, and free of charge too!
Finally, do you have any tips or advice for current students in the Economy and Society programme – something you wish you had known during your studies?
Start thinking about what you want to do after your studies – if you plan to continue studying, some programmes require specific courses. For example, I couldn’t apply to the economics master’s program in Lund because I hadn’t taken the Intermediate Microeconomics course.
If you choose a topic that aligns with your career interests, it can give you a head start in further studies and on the job market
I’d also recommend choosing your bachelor’s thesis topic carefully. Of course, pick something you’re interested in, but also consider how it might be relevant to your future career. If you choose a topic that aligns with your career interests, it can give you a head start in further studies and on the job market – my (short) career in the renewable energy sector started with my bachelor’s thesis, after all.
