Odette Mutsaers, Investment & portfolio management trainee
“I did a Master’s in Finance as a logical follow-up to my Bachelor's degree in Economics. But I also have a Master's in Philosophy. I found the compulsory subject Business Ethics in Economics especially interesting. That's all about taking a non-quantitative view of the economy and society. Both the Bachelor's and the Master’s offer fairly traditional subject matter, much of which is from the quantitative angle. On the one hand, that's no bad thing. Investing simply means that you have to be well versed in quantity aspects. But I also learned about the various forms an economy can take, what effect that form has on how people interact and what models, roles and responsibilities exist within organizations.
I considered applying for a PhD position, but was really more interested in working with others and connecting with society. The idea of a traineeship caught my attention because it involves working but also being given guidance on a personal level. That can help when you arrive from university because you're not yet aware of the pitfalls the work involves. I was looking for an organization where I could be involved in investing, but where sustainability and the reason why we invest are also considered. That's what makes pensions so interesting to me.
