I originally wanted to do civil engineering. When that plan did not work out, I looked for the next best option that matched what I was good at and what had strong long-term prospects. Finance checked both boxes. I like the clarity of numbers and the fact that finance lets you work in almost any industry while still using the same core skills. In a programme focused on international business in the digital era, it also felt natural to explore topics at the intersection of business and technology. That is exactly what I ended up doing in my thesis on blockchain-based global payments, which became one of the most defining parts of my studies.

What I liked about it is that it is not a business theory in isolation. The structure helps you understand how a company actually works across borders, and how that changes in a world shaped by digitalisation. The core curriculum gives you a strong foundation in areas like international business, management, and leadership. I found that combination really useful because it connects the “why” and the “how.” You learn to think in frameworks, but you also practise turning messy business questions into structured analysis.

What made it even better was flexibility. Beyond the core, the programme encourages you to tailor your learning through electives, and it includes courses linked to digital transformation and future-of-work themes. That suited me well because I already knew I wanted to lean into finance, but I also wanted the broader international and digital context around it. I basically treated the programme like a buffet and kept going back for the finance plate.

Why did you choose to study at TalTech's School of Business and Governance?

I chose to study here because it combines academic strength with practical relevance and gives you room to build your own direction within the programme.

You get a strong academic base, but you also develop practical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills that carry directly into real jobs. For me, it offered an environment where I could lean into finance, strengthen analytical thinking, and develop the ability to communicate clearly in a business context. It also gave me access to lecturers who taught memorable ways and people who were genuinely supportive when things got difficult, like during my interdisciplinary thesis journey.  

On top of that, the school keeps a real connection with alumni and students through initiatives like mentoring and community activities, which matters because your network and exposure do not end at graduation.

And as a cherry on top, the learning experience is genuinely energizing, sometimes quite literally, with the occasional jumping jacks.

Do you remember any fun or memorable incidents from your university studies?

Two lecturers are permanently saved in my memory, and for very different reasons.

In Taxation, Dmitri Zdobnõh had this calm, composed, highly structured teaching style made a complex subject feel surprisingly manageable. And then there was an accent. His British, slightly posh accent felt like the tax code came with a crown seal of approval. If taxes are already serious, his delivery somehow made them feel ceremonial.

Then in Financial Statement Analysis, Paavo Siimann brought a completely different energy. If focus levels dropped, he had solutions, including the occasional jumping jacks to reboot the room. It worked. You cannot drift off right after unexpectedly doing cardio in a lecture hall. He also had a topic he would return to throughout the course, his thesis on Usage of Efficiency Matrix in the Analysis of Financial Statements. It often came up as an example of how one framework can be applied, tested, and expanded, and the way he spoke about it made it feel like there was still room for someone to take it further.

Another big memory was my thesis journey. My topic was “Cost-benefit analysis of blockchain-based global payments,” and it turned out to be a little too interdisciplinary for easy categorisation. Some lecturers saw it as too business-oriented; others saw it as too technical, and finding a supervisor became its own mini project.

Eventually I reached out to Mike Franz Wahl, the Manager of Studies in the Business Administration department, asking for guidance. He offered to supervise it himself, which was a huge relief. That moment stuck with me because it was practical support at exactly the point where you need it most, and it helped me finish something I was genuinely excited about.

Today you are a Finance Analyst at Bolt. What path (chance/action) led you to your current position? How did the education you received here contribute to that?

My path was a mix of deliberate planning and one well-timed LinkedIn message. Bolt was not my first finance role. Before joining, I worked in three other companies in finance and accounting-related positions. Each job taught me something different: how to build reliable processes, how to stay detail-oriented under pressure, and how to translate numbers into decisions. By the time I was at Ericsson, I was already actively planning a career move toward a Finance Analyst position. It was a goal and a dream job, not just a random title upgrade.

Then the chance happened

A recruiter reached out to me on LinkedIn about an opening at Bolt. The description matched my skill set and honestly, it sounded like the role I had been working toward. I joined as a Finance Analyst and one of my first major projects was implementing a new planning and reporting tool for our team. I built dashboards for reporting and analysis and fixed several issues in the data model, logic, and calculations. I enjoyed the detective work behind it: figuring out how the system behaved, why a number looked off, and what needed to change, so the results finally made sense.

Today, my role is shifting more into finance business partnering. I am partnering with our autonomous driving business and supporting headcount planning and budgeting. It is a great mix of structured financial work and a fast-moving, future-focused area. Basically, it is financed with a front-row seat to what is coming next.

In terms of how my studies contributed, the biggest benefit was learning how to think in frameworks and communicate clearly. The job is not only about getting the right number. It is about explaining what the number means, what it implies, and what we should do next. That skill gets tested daily.

What would you recommend to current students who want to move just as successfully along their future career path?

First, do your due diligence in your direction. Choosing a field is not only about what sounds interesting today. Look at what the work actually involves, what skills are in demand, and where the field might be heading. That is what I did when I chose finance, and it made the path clearer.

Second, build skills that survive change. The world is shifting quickly. AI is changing how analysis is done; blockchain continues to evolve, and economic and political changes ripple into business constantly. The best strategy is to have a strong foundation and keep upgrading your toolkit.

Third, pay attention to the in-between fields where business and technology meet. Areas like AI and business analytics, FinTech and digital payments, cyber risk, and autonomous mobility ecosystems are growing fast. You do not need to abandon your main field to benefit from these. You can combine skills and become the person who connects dots others do not even see yet.

Finally, do not wait for the perfect role to appear. Build experience step by step. I did not start at my dream job, but every role taught me something useful, and that momentum made the next step possible. 

Learn more about the Master of International Business Administration programme HERE

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