Wilhelm Åkesson fights financial crime 

"I am a data analyst within SEB's Financial Crime Prevention (FCP) unit, working on building models and algorithms to detect suspicious money laundering and fraud," says Wilhelm, who is originally from Gothenburg but now lives in Lidingö, Stockholm. 

Wilhelm chose to study economics at the School of Business, Economics and Law because of his interest in society. "Economics offered me an interesting way of looking at society," he says. "Macroeconomics was particularly exciting, as it provided a new perspective on society's collective resources." 

During his time at the School, Wilhelm appreciated both the breadth of the bachelor's programme and the depth of the master's programme. "The bachelor's programme gave me a good overview of business administration, marketing and finance, while the master's programme gave me advanced tools for analysing issues such as market failures and predicting the effects of interest rate hikes." 
 
Wilhelm particularly remembers a course on the history of the financial system during his master’s studies. “It offered a completely new way of thinking about how theories influence the financial system, not always because the theories are correct, but because powerful institutions believe and act on them.” 

“The School of Business, Economics and Law has good facilities, many study spaces, and a pleasant library,” says Wilhelm. “There are also many associations and student organisations to get involved in. I was part of Handels Students for Sustainability (HaSS), and many of my friends today come from there.” 

For future students considering studying economics, Wilhelm has clear advice: "If you are interested in society and don't dislike maths, I think you should definitely study economics at both bachelor and master level." 

Wilhelm's journey from the School of Business, Economics and Law to SEB shows how a degree in economics can lead to a meaningful and exciting career in data analysis and crime prevention. "The best thing about my job is that I get to use advanced analytics to fight crime. It feels both exciting and meaningful," he concludes.