Profiles
Pauliina Girsen Swartz '93
Helsinki, Finland
During her first semester at Brandeis — having just transferred after two years at the University of Helsinki — Finland native Pauliina Girsen Swartz ’93 remembers wondering how she would write a paper on Odysseus when she could barely understand the book.
“It was a bit overwhelming at first,” said Girsen Swartz, who viewed her acceptance into the Wien International Scholarship Program at Brandeis as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to improve her English and receive an American education.
Having never even visited the United States before, she had to get accustomed to a new language, culture, school, and people all at the same time. “It was difficult in the beginning, but it was an opportunity too good to pass up,” Girsen Swartz said.
Girsen Swartz earned a bachelor’s degree in economics, something she still considers her greatest personal accomplishment. “I am the first member of my extended family to attend and graduate from college,” she said. “The degree represented more than an academic achievement; it was a personal accomplishment, being able to start a new life in this country.”
Now a managing director in the Structured Products Group of State Street Global Markets in Boston, Girsen Swartz rose through the ranks of State Street Corp. after joining the firm as an entry-level analyst following graduation. She took a hiatus to earn an MBA from the Sloan School of Management at MIT, another dream come true for Girsen Swartz. She has also earned her chartered financial analyst (CFA) designation.
After she graduated from MIT, she returned to State Street, where she says she continues to be intellectually challenged and learns something new every day.
“Brandeis gave me the confidence to think independently, to develop my own voice and opinions,” said Girsen Swartz, who lives on an old farm on the North Shore of Boston with her husband of 10 years, Peter, a psychologist. “Plus, the broad-based, liberal arts education I received allowed me to better apply my knowledge in the ‘real world,’ which is interdisciplinary and not divided into artificial academic silos.”
Girsen Swartz is extremely proud of her association with the Wien program. “The Wien family and program stand for great American qualities — generosity, diversity, tolerance, and hope. Mr. Wien and Brandeis president Dr. [Abram] Sachar were true visionaries in launching the program 50 years ago, when the world was quite different from today. I find it mind boggling to think about the effect that the program has had on the world and Brandeis — with more than 800 Wien scholars in the world, many in influential positions in government and business.”
Having benefited from the generosity of “complete strangers” has taught Girsen Swartz the importance of giving back. For the past five years, she has been a volunteer and board member at Boston Partners in Education, where she mentors and shares her love of reading and books with elementary school students. State Street’s commitment to the local community has provided her many opportunities to get involved in several organizations, which Girsen Swartz considers a true privilege.
She also stays involved with the Wien program, attending campus events with current students and helping to plan the 50th anniversary celebration.
“I feel that no amount of giving back to Brandeis can ever repay what was given to me by the University and the Wien family,” said Girsen Swartz. “Receiving the Wien scholarship is one of the most amazing things that ever happened to me. It truly changed the course of my life. It brought me to the U.S., which has become my home. I am still amazed that the family and school took a chance on me.”
“It was a bit overwhelming at first,” said Girsen Swartz, who viewed her acceptance into the Wien International Scholarship Program at Brandeis as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to improve her English and receive an American education.
Having never even visited the United States before, she had to get accustomed to a new language, culture, school, and people all at the same time. “It was difficult in the beginning, but it was an opportunity too good to pass up,” Girsen Swartz said.
Girsen Swartz earned a bachelor’s degree in economics, something she still considers her greatest personal accomplishment. “I am the first member of my extended family to attend and graduate from college,” she said. “The degree represented more than an academic achievement; it was a personal accomplishment, being able to start a new life in this country.”
Now a managing director in the Structured Products Group of State Street Global Markets in Boston, Girsen Swartz rose through the ranks of State Street Corp. after joining the firm as an entry-level analyst following graduation. She took a hiatus to earn an MBA from the Sloan School of Management at MIT, another dream come true for Girsen Swartz. She has also earned her chartered financial analyst (CFA) designation.
After she graduated from MIT, she returned to State Street, where she says she continues to be intellectually challenged and learns something new every day.
“Brandeis gave me the confidence to think independently, to develop my own voice and opinions,” said Girsen Swartz, who lives on an old farm on the North Shore of Boston with her husband of 10 years, Peter, a psychologist. “Plus, the broad-based, liberal arts education I received allowed me to better apply my knowledge in the ‘real world,’ which is interdisciplinary and not divided into artificial academic silos.”
Girsen Swartz is extremely proud of her association with the Wien program. “The Wien family and program stand for great American qualities — generosity, diversity, tolerance, and hope. Mr. Wien and Brandeis president Dr. [Abram] Sachar were true visionaries in launching the program 50 years ago, when the world was quite different from today. I find it mind boggling to think about the effect that the program has had on the world and Brandeis — with more than 800 Wien scholars in the world, many in influential positions in government and business.”
Having benefited from the generosity of “complete strangers” has taught Girsen Swartz the importance of giving back. For the past five years, she has been a volunteer and board member at Boston Partners in Education, where she mentors and shares her love of reading and books with elementary school students. State Street’s commitment to the local community has provided her many opportunities to get involved in several organizations, which Girsen Swartz considers a true privilege.
She also stays involved with the Wien program, attending campus events with current students and helping to plan the 50th anniversary celebration.
“I feel that no amount of giving back to Brandeis can ever repay what was given to me by the University and the Wien family,” said Girsen Swartz. “Receiving the Wien scholarship is one of the most amazing things that ever happened to me. It truly changed the course of my life. It brought me to the U.S., which has become my home. I am still amazed that the family and school took a chance on me.”
