The programme aims to inspire, encourage and support students from groups that are underrepresented in the sector to apply for work at SEB. Through the programme, participants get an opportunity to learn more about SEB’s business, broaden their networks and familiarise themselves with career opportunities in the field of investment banking.
“I am convinced that different perspectives, experiences and backgrounds promote creativity and innovation, and thereby create value for SEB and our customers,” says Kristian Skovmand, Head of Investment Banking at SEB.
The programme is open for university students in Sweden with curiosity and interest for economics and who feel underrepresented, disconnected or intimidated by the financial sector. Underrepresented in this context can pertain to geographic, socioeconomic or ethnic factors as well as functional variations or sexual orientation.
A dozen or so students will be selected to participate in Diversify Finance. In September they will spend two half-days at SEB and participate in recruitment preparations, workshops and panel discussions with the teams in Investment Banking.
Prior to the programme’s start, all participants will be assigned a mentor from SEB, who will assist in preparing the student for a possible career with the bank. After the programme the participants will be given an opportunity to interview for an internship either in Debt Financing or Corporate Finance.
Cooperation on diversity
Since 2021 SEB has been a member of Diversity Charter Sweden, a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting diversity in companies and organisations, such as Mentor, Mitt Liv, Unicus, Crip in Tech and F1rst, which work toward the same purpose.
One of the ambitions set forth in SEB’s Inclusion and Diversity Policy is that the composition of SEB’s workforce will reflect its customer base and society at large in the places where the bank works.
“This is important both for business reasons and for taking our social responsibility as employer. It is for this reason that we are working actively to increase diversity in all aspects,” says Mia Hamstedt, Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer at SEB.
Within SEB in Sweden the number of employees with a foreign background* has grown from 16 per cent in 2016 to 22.7 per cent in 2022. The share of managers with a foreign background has increased from 10 to 15.3 per cent during the same period. According to statistics from SCB (Statistics Sweden), 31 per cent of the Swedish population in working age consists of people with a foreign background.
Here is the application for Diversify Finance. The latest application date is 21 May.
* By foreign background is meant persons born outside Sweden and persons born in Sweden with both parents born outside Sweden.