Alumni profile: Robin Bagger-Sjöbäck
Studying MSc in Applied Economics and Finance at CBS
Robin graduated from IB in 2009, where he also took part in the GLOBE programme. Alongside his MSc studies he works at Saxo Bank as a Research Analyst in the bank's strategy group. He contributes to the bank's research reports and has had several research notes published.
Why IB?
My rationale for choosing CBS and particularly IB was to get a daily exposure to an international setting. I was also part of the second GLOBE batch and for those of you who are up for the challenge and enjoy travelling, meeting new people, experiencing new cultures etc. should definitely consider the GLOBE program.
How IB prepared me for an international career
There are several aspects of BSc. IB that are unique. A fundamental for understanding and being able to prosper in an international setting is that you possess a set of skills. First and foremost, it is vital that you can handle the language (English) properly and that goes for both verbal and written interaction. Outside the UK it is rather unusual to find undergraduate degrees taught entirely in English and obviously that is a huge advantage when studying at CBS and IB.
My rationale for choosing CBS and particularly IB was to get a daily exposure to an international setting. I was also part of the second GLOBE batch and for those of you who are up for the challenge and enjoy travelling, meeting new people, experiencing new cultures etc. should definitely consider the GLOBE program.
How IB prepared me for an international career
There are several aspects of BSc. IB that are unique. A fundamental for understanding and being able to prosper in an international setting is that you possess a set of skills. First and foremost, it is vital that you can handle the language (English) properly and that goes for both verbal and written interaction. Outside the UK it is rather unusual to find undergraduate degrees taught entirely in English and obviously that is a huge advantage when studying at CBS and IB.
Secondly, you will over and over again be given assignments that require you to be part of a team, sometimes of your own choosing and sometimes not. This is what it is like in the business world, mostly you will not be able to choose your colleagues, but you will have to interact, work and co-operate with new people frequently. The IB programme will prepare you more than well for achieving this in your daily professional life.
Most vivid experience from the IB programme
There can only be one answer here as I am a GLOBE alumni. Even though this opportunity only comes true for 15 students each year, it is a blast I promise you. Uniting ambitious and driven students from three different continents and travelling the world in combination with social activities and company visits can only be a mind-blowing memory.
The best thing about IB
Studying IB does not only introduce and prepare you for an international career, it also opens doors and gives you opportunities to enter the professional field along with your studies. It is not unusual for students at IB to have jobs. Not just any student job, but positions at true multinational firms that enable you to practice what you have learned in real work-related environments.
The typical IB student
To round up typical characteristics of an IB student is challenging because of the vast diversity of people. The immense differences in terms of country origination and background aside, all IB students have a genuine interest in getting to learn, understand and interact with new people. This, in combination with a great deal of ambition and passion for developing as an individual as well as on the professional level,sums up a typical IB student.
Recommendations for the future IB student
There is no need in trying to hide that the workload is very high when studying at IB. However, the foundation you build will more than offset the pain of studying some late nights during exam periods. Being the most prominent undergraduate programme in Denmark does not come for free, as you will learn, but you will also - sooner rather than later - realize it is all worth it.
Most vivid experience from the IB programme
There can only be one answer here as I am a GLOBE alumni. Even though this opportunity only comes true for 15 students each year, it is a blast I promise you. Uniting ambitious and driven students from three different continents and travelling the world in combination with social activities and company visits can only be a mind-blowing memory.
The best thing about IB
Studying IB does not only introduce and prepare you for an international career, it also opens doors and gives you opportunities to enter the professional field along with your studies. It is not unusual for students at IB to have jobs. Not just any student job, but positions at true multinational firms that enable you to practice what you have learned in real work-related environments.
The typical IB student
To round up typical characteristics of an IB student is challenging because of the vast diversity of people. The immense differences in terms of country origination and background aside, all IB students have a genuine interest in getting to learn, understand and interact with new people. This, in combination with a great deal of ambition and passion for developing as an individual as well as on the professional level,sums up a typical IB student.
Recommendations for the future IB student
There is no need in trying to hide that the workload is very high when studying at IB. However, the foundation you build will more than offset the pain of studying some late nights during exam periods. Being the most prominent undergraduate programme in Denmark does not come for free, as you will learn, but you will also - sooner rather than later - realize it is all worth it.
Last updated by Andrew Arnold 15/03/2010
Banking on a good career
Robin graduated from IB in 2009, where he also took part in the GLOBE programme. Alongside his MSc studies he now works at Saxo Bank as a Research Analyst in the bank's strategy group. He contributes to the bank's research reports and has had several research notes published.
"Studying IB does not only introduce and prepare you for an international career, it also opens doors and gives you opportunities to enter the professional field along with your studies. It is not unusual for students at IB to have jobs. Not just any student job, but positions at true multinational firms that enable you to practice what you have learned in real work-related environments."
A good international mix
"The thing I liked the best about IB was the mix of internationals and Danes - I have lived abroad most of my life so knew I would feel more at home in such a setting," says 2007 graduate Andrew Townsend.
"IB allowed me to meet many more nationalities and cultures than I expected, for one, and, for two, i was given the chance to work in groups a lot more than I was used to from the British system. The case studies were always a blend of local/international/and global firms giving you a perspective of how things interact in the markets."
'Think big and work hard'
That's the advice from IB graduate Ulrik Binzer. He graduated from the IB programme in 2003 and is now studying for an MBA degree at the prestigious Harvard Business School. Before starting his studies at Harvard, he worked as an analyst at McKinsey for two years and then as an associate in the venture capital firm Golden Gate Capital.
An ideal preparation for an international career
Thea Sørensen graduated from the International Business programme in 2007. Since then she has gone on to join Nokia's graduate programme, and has worked in Copenhagen, Beijing and Helsinki. "Practically, I learned a lot from studying in the multicultural environment that is IB. Already having an international network before I graduated made it easier to go in to a career in Nokia," she says.
