From financing insights to the boardroom – my summer as a Pontos Associate

“I am Emilia, or Emmi. This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to merge my interests in law and business by working as a Summer Associate at Pontos’ Legal Team. In this blog, I will break down my traineeship into the topics it entailed. If you are interested in what kind of expertise working at Pontos may give you as a newcomer in the field, this one is for you,” writes Emilia Suvanto.

First of all, Pontos’ culture is not what one could characterize as a stereotypical investment company – that is, filled with finance bros wearing Patagonia, all serious and competitive. Everyone was down-to-earth and very welcoming and respectful from day one.

I’m a recent Law graduate from the University of Birmingham and a current Business student at Aalto University. From the outset, my primary responsibility was to onboard a new contract management system for the Group, which involved analyzing corporate contracts. Little did I know how much I would learn throughout this process and the variety of tasks I would engage in.

Insight into private equity and real estate investment gave context to my work

Early on, I was surprised by the depth of knowledge required in the private equity and real estate investment industries. I gained insight into the legal practice related to direct investment, private equity funds, debt financing and M&A activities.

My supervisor, Elina Lae, provided me with interactive and detailed teaching sessions on limited partnership agreements, sale and purchase agreements as well as bond issuance agreements, placing them in real-life context, which significantly enhanced my learning.

Reading contracts, such as sale and purchase agreements, which might seem dull to some, was incredibly enlightening to me and helped me to understand the legal processes behind different transactions, like acquisitions and divestments.

Working with portfolio companies added a new layer to my learning

One of the most exciting aspects of my traineeship was experiencing how a corporate group with foreign subsidiaries and multiple portfolio companies operates in practice. I got a comprehensive insight into this by participating and taking minutes in a series of meetings relating to a complex cross-border financing arrangement with multiple stakeholders. This aspect of the private equity investment industry fascinated me – not only did I work for my employer, but I also learned about the business operations and strategic matters of other companies.

Initially, I was confused about the corporate structure, but as I became more familiar with the different companies and participated in strategic and legal meetings, I began to understand the Group’s operations better.

In addition to working on legal matters of Pontos, I also helped Pontos’ group and portfolio companies with their legal work. This variety of tasks kept my days stimulating and engaging, and meeting multiple legal and other professionals from different companies was exciting.

The power of collaboration brought sustainability principles to practice

Another project that piqued my interest was an ESG initiative. The topic has been a passion of mine for some time, not only due to its timely nature but also because of the importance of conducting business in a way that respects the planet and people.

During the project, I enjoyed hearing discussions on ESG criteria for investments and experiencing cross-functional collaboration. Seeing people with different backgrounds and specialties work together seamlessly was enriching and gave me a lot of new perspectives, as everyone had something valuable to contribute.

My first board meeting experience gave a real context to my studies

It was probably on my third day when I was asked to keep minutes of a board meeting. Though I was excited, I was also slightly nervous because I had never done anything like that before. The idea of a “board meeting” sounded very official and serious to me, especially having studied company law.

Despite my initial nerves and lack of detailed knowledge about Pontos Group’s operations, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Listening to strategic conversations of experienced professionals was insightful, and it was fascinating to see how an actual board meeting operates compared to what I had studied.

Nervousness was overshadowed by the warm team spirit

Eventually I had the pleasure of giving a couple of training sessions to my Pontos colleagues on the contract management system I had worked on my entire summer. I was surprised that I was not nervous at all, since I tend to get nervous when giving presentations to experienced professionals.

I realized it was because I knew I had everyone’s support and they wanted to see me succeed. This experience taught me the importance of making trainees feel valued and supported, as it encourages them to express their ideas without the fear of making mistakes.

Upon closer inspection, the warm atmosphere and team spirit made me feel comfortable and supported throughout my entire traineeship. Despite being a trainee, I never felt like one, as my views were valued, which helped me perform better without the fear of failure.

Reflecting on my time at Pontos, it is hard to believe how much I have learned in such a short time span. My advice to other students pursuing a career in the investment industry – or anywhere else – is to be curious and proactive. Take ownership and try to make an impact and become someone’s go-to person for something. Get involved in as many things as you can and ask questions to understand the bigger picture.

I am grateful for this enriching experience and the people I have met. I am thankful for the support of my trainee buddy, Julia Hakulinen – for our fun lunch breaks, conversations and showing me the ropes with tasks of the Finance Team. Most importantly, I am thankful for the invaluable support, learnings and mentorship from my supervisor, Elina.

Learning from your team members’ different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences is invaluable. So, stay curious and open to connections and you will get the most out of your traineeship!