Johanna Juujärvi

Fixed income portfolio manager Johanna Juujärvi's task is to find and select the best fixed income funds in Finland and international markets, serving both Aktia's external and internal customers. Previously, she has worked, among other things, as a senior fixed income portfolio manager at Finland's largest pension insurer Keva.

"In practice, my work includes monitoring the market and market phenomena and discussing them together with my colleagues. I also meet clients and portfolio managers of interest funds. At our best, we are a team extension and sparring partner for our customers," says Juujärvi.

Many paths to the portfolio manager job

Juujärvi's path to becoming a portfolio manager has been inspiring. Initially, her enthusiasm was ignited at the University of Oulu, where she studied finance and economics. She became interested in interest rate investing while working as an analyst. Juujärvi has developed her skills both through study and practical work.

"I've been lucky, because I've been able to work with excellent colleagues, from whom I've learned a lot," says Juujärvi.

She emphasizes that as a portfolio manager you can specialize and become a deep expert, and that there are many different career paths. However, it is essential to study finance at some point in your working career.

"In Finland, it is common for e.g. economics to be chosen at the beginning of the studies. There are many excellent portfolio management teams in the world, whose members may have had an initial education in a completely different field and finance studies have become in the picture later during their careers."

Juujärvi says that there are many different opportunities available in the field of finance. The most important thing is to be curious, persistent and invest in developing your own skills.

"It's the best gift you can give yourself."