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The CEMS Global Alliance is a purpose led organization, powered by our beliefs that great leadership starts with self-leadership and societal progress requires continual exploration. In this series of interviews, we take a look at CEMS students and alumni that are contributing to make this world a more open, sustainable and inclusive world.
Today, in our Humans of CEMS series, we meet CEMS Alumna Madeleine Bjørnestad Røed! Graduated from the Norwegian School of Economics with an exchange at Louvain School of Management, she is now the founder and CEO of @Stack an investment app that is designed for beginners, especially women.
You are the CEO and CO founder of Stack, a social investment app. What was the driving force behind starting your own business?
I have always wanted to start my own business. My grandmother was an entrepreneur, importing Japanese cosmetics to Norway for 40 years, and she was my biggest hero growing up.
Then I felt the pain of trying to invest my own money, and even as a finance professional, I found it to be difficult. A friend and I agreed that there were really no platforms that spoke to us.
When you start looking at the stats, the market potential is huge. Women have 70% of their money in a low-yield savings account. At the same time, the wealth capital gap between men and women is huge and will take 100 years to close at the current rate. That sparked a fire in us to do something about the low rates of investing among women.
So, we decided to make an investment app that is designed for beginners, especially women.
What are the benefits of having a double degree qualification, from NHH and CEMS? How has your education shaped your approach to creating impact?
Well I have an MSc in finance & International mgmt from Stack and I have started a remote finance company with brits, greeks and Israelis all over Europe, so I would say my education has been spot on.
CEMS being practical in terms of working on projects with businesses with people from different countries has definitely shaped my approach to becoming a remote startup founder.
What advice would you give to someone pursuing a career in finance?
Get some experience. Work hard in school, and learn the basics. There is less training in finance than some of the large consultancies. Yet, you get a lot of practical experience, which is typically the best learning. Don´t be afraid to try, and don´t be afraid to seek help. But work hard. Hard work always pays off.
