Annika
Credit: Jeanne Thai
You need more to aspire to than your career
Growing up in Finland, Annika’s parents encouraged her and her sister to take on hobbies outside of school to build a balanced life. Annika still embodies this lesson today as she pursues (and maintains) multiple hobbies outside of her main career as a Credit Analyst at HSBC. Being able to see the development in each of her hobbies motivates her to keep going as she continues with pottery, Spanish classes, and yoga.
While Annika has taken on chances in her life, from studying in London after living her entire life in Helsinki to moving to NY after settling in London for years, she believes those were calculated risks. She was young and had little ties compared to now where she has many more people and factors to consider should she ever encounter another opportunity (including career) to move.
To Annika, success is finding your own meaning in your career and balancing that with other initiatives in your life whether it’s family and loved ones or hobbies.