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In June-August 2024, Anssi Moilanen (International Design Business Management) and Annika Winter (Business Analytics), Master's students at the Aalto University School of Business, conducted a comparative study on gender representation in the M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions) sector. Transaction services are advisory services related to mergers and acquisitions for both buyers and sellers. The students identified attractive and disincentives for women to enter or not to enter the sector. 

Anssi and Annika interviewed 20 female students at different stages of their studies to gather their views on their future in M&A. Through the interviews with the target group, they gained an understanding of their perceptions during their university studies, their future career plans, and ways to make the sector more attractive to female applicants. The interviews also explored the position of the EY employer brand compared to other players.

‘We found, for example, that the first rough perceptions of the M&A sector are largely formed in the first year of a major, and that stories about the sector circulating in universities influence the decision to enter or not to enter the sector,’ Anssi and Annika say.

Excellent collaboration

The project's academic supervisor, Saija Katila, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Management Studies at the School of Business, was impressed by the students' performance. ‘The students were motivated and kept the project moving independently throughout the summer. The meetings with the client were professional and the result was a useful report with development suggestions for the client. All in all, a great job!’

The students presented the final report of the study to EY on 22 August 2024, when EY representatives heard about effective ways to reach the target group in corporate student marketing. According to Aino Romo, Director, Strategy & Transactions, EY representative involved in the project, the students were able to identify new strategies for targeting student marketing that the company had not previously used.

‘The smooth communication between EY and Aalto created an excellent framework for the success of the project. We thank EY Parthenon, the interviewees, and Aalto University representatives for their cooperation on this socially important topic,’ Annika and Anssi say.