We help each other to achieve common goals

For nearly six years, Allis Fridén has worked as an Investment Specialist at SEB Life & Pension. She highlights SEB’s collaborative and developing culture and shares her career journey within the bank – taking her from Dublin to Stockholm.

Allis Fridén has always had an interest in finance, and therefore decided to study Economics followed by a Master’s in Finance in Linköping. During her final year of studies, she heard about SEB’s International Trainee Programme through a friend and decided to apply. “I had heard many positive things about the bank and was particularly drawn to the Investment Specialist role in Dublin. It felt like a unique opportunity to work internationally and in an area that genuinely interested me.”

In September 2018, Allis moved to Dublin, where she joined the Asset team within Life & Pension as a trainee. She describes her trainee year as intense but rewarding, allowing her to build an international network. “I travelled frequently to attend various learning opportunities and meet the other trainees, which was a lot of fun. I also got to know the Investment team in Stockholm, which corresponds to the team in Dublin. When I eventually decided to move back to Sweden after 1.5 years, it felt natural to continue working as an Investment Specialist within the Swedish team.”

Tell us more about your role! What does your team do?

Allis explains that the Investment team consists of around 20 people, divided into two main areas: traditional insurance and fund offering. “My primary focus is fund offering. Our main task is to ensure a strong range of funds for our customers, whether it’s for occupational pensions or private savings. In addition to that, we also work with sustainability, pricing, and strategic issues, and are responsible for SEB Bot Advisor – our robot advisor which requires both maintenance and development.”

“My role as an Investment Specialist has evolved significantly over time, as I have taken on more responsibility and been given the opportunity to work on more challenging tasks. The role is constantly expanding, which is a key reason why I have chosen to stay within this area. Another reason is my colleagues, that I highly value.”

What is the best part of the role?

Allis describes the best part of her role as the variety of work, where the team’s broad scope means no two days are the same. “One day, you might get a rush from presenting our fund offering to intermediaries, and the next day you’re focused on doing in-depth analysis work. The role also involves a lot of interaction with various stakeholders, such as the internal sales team, the IT department, fund managers, and clients. You build a network both within and outside the bank, which is a lot of fun.”

Why should others consider joining Life & Pension?

“It’s clear that I find Life & Pension a great organisation, it is an incredibly complex and exciting area to work within. We handle transactions with long life cycles and significant importance for our customers, which not only involves great responsibility but also makes the job very rewarding,” says Allis and continues:

“Many believe that there’s a harsh culture in banking, where you can't be yourself. But I’ve never experienced that. I would rather describe the culture in Life & Pension as very open and friendly, where everyone is keen to help each other achieve common goals, without any sharp elbows. That’s something I truly value and consider crucial for enjoying your work.”