We are currently living in an extremely turbulent financial climate. With large corporations swept away by the crisis, it is clear that the dynamics of the financial sector are continually evolving to make way for more resilient systems. The quest to understand this transformation motivates me to continue my academic research and therefore to enroll in the Master's Degree in Accounting and Finance at the Stockholm School of Economics. My formal learning of the financial industry began at McGill University, where I am currently completing a degree in Economics and Finance. At McGill I was exposed to various segments of finance such as investment management, real estate finance and corporate finance. However my main interest is wealth management, specifically the use of derivatives to create structured investment products. The use of derivatives is a new approach to investing and risk control and requires considerable mathematical skills. However, having topped my econometrics and statistics course, I was able to develop a deeper understanding of these investment strategies. To bridge the gap between theory and the real world, I worked as a summer analyst at Morgan Stanley in the Private Wealth Management division. I have been fortunate to be able to interact with their high net worth clients and, at the same time, work with the wealth management team. This not only allowed me to develop soft skills such as building client relationships and making sales pitches, but also gave me hands-on experience in the investment strategies used by the firm, both in the stock and bond markets. Although McGill's academic level was extremely challenging, I sought resources outside the classroom to sharpen my financial knowledge. I was an active member of the internship...... middle of paper ......cent at the Young India Action Forum (YIAF) where I worked with a team responsible for allocating funds to various social projects. Through this internship I learned that it is possible to invest profitably while generating a social impact. Having said that, I firmly believe that the SSE will provide me with the tools to be a successful fund manager. A fusion of theoretical concepts and real case discussions at the SSE will enable me to think independently. It is extremely important to have an independent perspective on the markets as historically many successful investors have profited from a contrarian view. Simply put, SSE will provide me with an academically stimulating environment and give me the opportunity to interact with equally passionate and like-minded people. individuals. The idea that I could be part of the SSE seems extremely exciting!