Welcome back to another issue of Girl Economics! Today we have a finance-focused interview,

An Interview With Aistė B

Why have you decided to share your advice and experiences with Girl Economics?

Growing up Lithuanian, I noticed a lack of representation from my cultural background in corporate environments. Despite efforts to expand my network through platforms like LinkedIn and attending networking events, I've encountered challenges in connecting with like-minded individuals from my culture who are either advancing or already established in the business world.
Contributing to this issue of Girl Economics, my aim is to:
(1) Elevate Lithuanian representation within the financial sector.
(2) Inspire young women to seize every opportunity that comes their way, utilising it to its fullest potential.
By sharing my journey and insights, I hope to encourage individuals from all backgrounds to pursue and excel in their professional aspirations.

What excites you about the financial sector?
I used to visit Canary Wharf quite often when I was younger. As cliche as it may sound, I loved driving into the city and seeing all the lit up abstract buildings at night, some of those buildings were fancy banks and driving into the city initially planted the idea of banking in my head.

Later in life, my experience at college developed my knowledge of economics from different perspectives.
* Studying sociology educated me through a social viewpoint, discussing the different socio-economic groups and how the economic status of families impacts their way of life.
* Politics introduced economists such as Keynes who discussed state intervention in the economy to achieve full levels of employment - boosting public investment.
* Maths developed my problem solving, meaning I have learnt how to combat different situations and analyse how to improve moving forward.
What excited me about Finance was that it can be linked to any topic. Although it's money to put it simply, it can be interpreted in many different ways, creating and causing different results for different people.

I often thrive in situations where I can intellectually stimulate myself. I knew that Investment banking was a fast-paced, high pressure environment where meeting deadlines and working collaboratively was crucial.  Although it may sound stressful, when I first learnt about Investment banking through a Springpod Finance course, I found that it aligned with my strong work ethic and drive for excellence. So truly... was I made for investment banking or was investment banking made for me?

What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned from working at PwC and BNY Mellon?
Don't undermine the power of putting pen to paper. Whilst learning from incredible people and absorbing their insights, It is easy to forget what was exactly said when you reflect on your experience- at least in my case. Evaluating my experience at PwC, I learnt numerous facts about tax, auditing and consulting and I made sure to make a note of anything I found particularly intriguing. My only regret is that I didn't write enough! My notes were brief, not detailing the context of the talk, so I can't recall exact details with complete accuracy that at the time I thought were worth sharing or remembering! This is a lesson that I have learnt and I will apply in my next work experiences to ensure I utilise the valuable time I have with industry professionals. Chances are, something you may right down now could be a worthwhile detail to mention in the future at an interview or on a cover letter, even a LinkedIn post. It could be the deciding factor between you and someone else. Regardless... WRITE. THINGS. DOWN.

Who is your biggest inspiration?
My biggest inspiration is my family. Consistently working incredibly hard to achieve both personal goals and career goals, my family have shown me that I can do anything as long as I put the work in. Their love and support for me constantly drives me to be better and their belief in me encourages the belief in myself. Inspired by love and care, I work hard so I know that when I will be successful, they will be proud of me and know that I was always capable. I also work hard so I can treat them all to a Ferrari each ;)

What are your plans for the future?
Recently, I created a post on LinkedIn where I discussed my plans for the future, one of them being gaining more experience in Investment banks. Since then, I have managed to enrol on a Business and Finance and Leadership course with a BIG 4 investment bank, GOLDMAN SACHS. I'm always looking for ways to expand my knowledge and I am very excited to see where this opportunity will take me.
I found out about this opportunity from a Girl Economics issue! Additionally, I use companies such as Forage, Springpod and Young Professionals to stay on top of any new opportunities that may be arising. I have also signed up to talent communities where I will be notified if there are new programmes!

MY PLAN: Gain further work experience with Investment banks.
HOW TO ACHIEVE: Take initiative and actively seek opportunities. Talent communities, websites e.g. Zero Gravity, Forage, Young Professionals.

At Girl Economics, we really try to interview a good range of different people at different stages of their career. Aistė is very much at the start of her career and I think that her tips are brilliant for those who are just thinking about attending industry events such as networking and insight events!

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