Interview with a former CFA Research Challenge Finland Champion

Ossi Lönnström won the Research Challenge Finland competition in 2017 as part of the University of Turku team. In this interview he explains what he got from the competition.

Ossi Lönnström (pictured) currently works at Danske Bank.

The CFA Institute Research Challenge is an annual global competition for university students. Students will be tested on their analytical, valuation, report writing, and presentation skills. Local level competition is hosted by the CFA Society Finland. The competition is organized and judged by our members and volunteers who function as local hosts. The winning university team from each local competition advances to the EMEA regional competition. CFA Society Finland met with Ossi to discuss the competition.

Ossi Lönnström, could you briefly describe the experience from your side, how would you regard the challenge?

Looking back I regard the challenge as a good learning experience, as hands-on research was in my opinion quite different from what I learned in courses in university. Also networking side of the challenge have been proven valuable afterwards. Altogether would describe the CFA Research Challenge as a positive experience.

Now, looking back after few years, do you think the RC experience was useful for you in your studies or later when starting your career in finance?

From studies perspective the challenge tied the theoretical framework I had already learned more closely to real world. Some intricate details and assumptions, which were briefly detailed in courses were proven to be essential in real world scenarios. As for starting my career in finance goes: I can’t remember an interview where the interviewer hasn’t asked about the challenge.

Your team also participated to the EMEA region finals in Lisbon? How was that experience for you and the team?

I think every one of us would describe the experience as something along the line “unforgettable, in a good way”.

Would you be willing to recommend participation to RC to current finance students?

Definitely.