What inspired you to choose that programme for studing? 

At the time, my reasoning was quite practical. I was not completely sure where I wanted to end up, and business felt like a sensible choice because it gave me a broad base to build on. But it was not only about keeping options open.

Growing up in Latvia, I had already studied some economics, accounting and management in high school, and I realised that I liked those subjects. I have always been more analytical by nature, and when something interests me, I usually want to understand how it works in detail. Finance suited me on that side.

So, while the choice felt practical at first, looking back, it also made sense personally. I graduated cum laude, which I am genuinely proud of, and I left TalTech School of Business and Governance (SBG) with a much stronger understanding of the field than I had when I started. 

Do you have any memorable or funny stories from your university years that you would like to share?

One story that still makes me laugh is from the lead-up to our statistics exam. A group of about six of us were trying to find somewhere quiet to study, which during exam period is almost impossible. The library was full, the common areas were noisy, and every cafeteria table seemed to be taken.

Somehow, we found a random unlocked room near the Caffeine on campus. It looked unused, but it had everything we needed: tables, chairs, a TV, enough space for all of us, and even a private bathroom. We were not supposed to be there, but also very pleased with ourselves for finding it.

After that, it became our unofficial study room. We went there several times, and nobody ever came in or asked what we were doing. One of my coursemates and I ended up explaining statistics to the rest of the group, so we spent hours there going through the material before the exam.

The funny part is that when we came back the next year, the room had a proper lock on the door. So clearly somebody eventually remembered it existed. We never found out who it belonged to or why it had been open, but for one exam season it felt like we had discovered our own secret room at the university.

You currently work as a Product Specialist at LHV, having joined the company two years ago. Could you describe the journey that led you to your current position?  

My career in Estonia started before my studies, so for a while I was working and studying at the same time. I started in customer support, then moved into technical support in e-commerce. Those roles were not glamorous, but they were useful because I was close to real customers, real problems and the practical side of how services work.

TalTech SBG helped me connect that practical experience with the theory behind it. I would not say there was one single course that suddenly changed everything, but having the degree gave me a stronger base and also more confidence. It helped me understand business and finance in a more structured way, rather than only learning from whatever problem was in front of me at work.

My current role at LHV focuses on electronic card payments, which may not sound like the most obvious next step after a finance degree. But the connection is definitely there. Statistics and econometrics have been useful when I work with data, and subjects like money, financial institutions and markets helped me understand how a company like LHV fits into the wider financial system. That makes it easier to understand the context behind decisions, not just my own part of the process.

As for how I got here, I think it was mostly a gradual process. In each role, I tried to take on more responsibility and be someone people could rely on. Over time, that built trust. My position at LHV was offered to me rather than something I formally applied for, which I see as the result of doing the work properly and building a good reputation over several years. 

As an international graduate, how was your experience entering the Estonian job market? What challenges and opportunities did you encounter, and what ultimately helped you secure a position at LHV?

I want to be honest that my entry into the Estonian job market was probably smoother than it is for many international graduates. My first employer in Estonia was specifically looking for Latvian speakers, and since I am Latvian, that worked in my favor. For some people, language can be a barrier, but in my case, it became an advantage. That gave me a first step into the local job market that I might not have found as quickly otherwise.

But getting the first opportunity was only the start. After that, I tried to be useful, learn quickly and take on new challenges when they came up. Estonia is a small country, and professional circles can be quite connected, so people remember what it is like to work with you. I have always tried to be someone colleagues and partners can rely on, both in terms of getting things done and in how I work with people.

Networking also played an important role, although I do not mean networking in a forced or transactional way. For me, it was more about staying curious, keeping in touch with people, and building normal professional relationships over time. By the time the opportunity at LHV came up, I had already built a track record and relationships that helped. The position was offered to me directly, without a formal application process, and I see that as the result of both luck at the beginning and consistent effort afterwards.

What advice would you give to current students who are preparing to start their careers in Estonia or internationally?

My main advice would be not to look down on starting small. It is completely normal to feel that after university, your first job should match your degree perfectly or have the right title straight away. But in reality, the first job is usually just a way to get started. Getting into the field, even in a junior role or in a role that is not exactly what you imagined, can be much more valuable than waiting too long for the perfect opportunity.

Once you are in, try to be someone people can rely on. Ask questions, learn quickly, take responsibility, where you can, and do what you said you would do. It sounds simple, but it matters. In Estonia especially, professional circles are quite small, and people remember what it is like to work with you.

I would also take relationships seriously, but not in a forced networking way. The people you study with, your professors and your first colleagues may come back into your life later in ways you cannot predict. It is worth staying in touch and being genuinely interested in people, not just adding them on LinkedIn and forgetting about them.

And finally, be patient with yourself. Careers rarely move in a straight line. Mine definitely did not. Every role I had taught me something, even when it did not look like an obvious step forward at the time.

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