Rehnuma Islam is determined to build a career in sustainable finance, where financial expertise creates meaningful social and environmental impact. Through the Banking and International Finance programme, she became particularly interested in finance from a sustainability perspective and realised that sustainable finance represents the future of the global financial industry. Her goal is to work as an analyst focusing on environmental, social, and governance factors and their influence on investment decisions and market performance.
After completing my master’s degree in Banking and International Finance at the University of Jyväskylä, I plan on working as an analyst in the sustainable finance sector. I want to focus on working with the environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors, and how they influence both investment decisions and stock market performance. I have always been very interested in investments and stock markets and my studies at JYU have helped me realise that finance can also be a powerful tool for promoting positive social and environmental change.
Currently, I am doing my master’s thesis on the ESG factors, which has helped me form my goals of working in the sustainable finance sector. I want to do more research on how profitability and sustainability go hand in hand. I also want to work in an environment where investment strategies not only generate returns but also create long-term value for the society and the investors.
Sustainability and ESG are core research areas at JYU, which motivated me to be more interested in the sustainable finance sector.
Through this research, I have become deeply interested in how sustainability is reshaping modern financial decision making.
Future goals in sustainable finance
The Banking and International Finance programme is useful for gaining work in many fields, such as investment banking, financial analysis, risk management, portfolio management and corporate banking. Many of my peers aim to work at global investment banks like Goldman Sachs or consulting firms like McKinsey, while others dream of contributing to organisations such as the UN in international economic development. Many plan to work for the university and do a PhD afterwards.
I have become interested in working in the field of sustainable finance, especially after I started researching for my master’s thesis on ESG strategies and sustainable investment practices. Through this research, I have become deeply interested in how sustainability is reshaping modern financial decision making.
Through my academic journey, I have realised that sustainable finance represents the future of the global financial industry and studying at JYU is preparing me to be a part of that future.
Communication and branding influence perceptions of sustainable products and companies
Besides my major studies in finance, I have taken some minor courses in marketing because I was very interested in marketing and communication as well. Those courses helped me understand how communication and branding influence investors’ perceptions of sustainable products and companies. I have learned about firms’ different marketing strategies and the impact of these strategies.
I aligned my finance studies with my marketing learning. I got to understand how firms’ market their sustainability efforts and how they can design, manage and promote sustainable investment solutions effectively.
Sustainable finance represents the future, and JYU is preparing me for it
Studying at JYU has played a vital role in directing where I want to work in the future. My studies helped me enhance my analytical and critical thinking skills. Studying in an international environment has also improved my ability to understand diverse financial markets and real-world challenges.
Choosing JYU was the best decision I have made, because of the university’s focus in ESG-aware investment the university has ambitious sustainability targets. These perfectly align with my goals of working in sustainable finance. Through my academic journey, I have realised that sustainable finance represents the future of the global financial industry and studying at JYU is preparing me to be a part of that future.
Read more: Master's Degree Programme in Banking and International Finance
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