Employee Spotlight with Vendela Lyth Bolte
TL;DR
Vendela’s Role at Enable Banking: As an Executive Trainee, Vendela is involved in a range of activities, all the way from client outreach and marketing to strategy related projects.
Key Motivations and Insights: Drawn to the fintech sector and Open Banking, Vendela is fascinated by the innovative ways technology transforms industries.
Advice for Aspiring Fintech Professionals: Vendela encourages other business students to leap into the vibrant fintech world through internships or traineeships.
In this Employee Spotlight, we chat with Vendela Lyth Bolte, our most recent addition to the team. Vendela shares some of her journey so far with us - what she’s learned so far, her motivations, and what she enjoys the most about working as an Executive Trainee at Enable Banking.
Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your role at Enable Banking
I joined Enable Banking as an Executive Trainee about two months ago as part of my studies at the Stockholm School of Economics. I already have a BSc in Business and Economics and am currently pursuing my MSc in Accounting, Valuation & Financial Management. My role as an Executive Trainee is broad and dynamic, which is really fun.
My responsibilities can be very broad. My role can involve everything from reaching out to potential clients and partners for sales to writing content for marketing, and sometimes even attending forums and network events. A typical day is filled with a mix of internal team meetings and discussions with partners, so it’s a pretty social role where you get to engage in a lot of interesting conversations. I’m also involved in a strategy project where I get to apply academic theories to real-world business challenges, which is challenging but also very rewarding.
What motivated you to join Enable Banking?
Enable Banking stood out to me due to its innovative and future-oriented approach. After reading their job advertisement I felt eager to learn more about open banking and the way emerging technologies are shaking up the financial sector. With prior experience in fintech, I also knew that the fast-paced nature of the industry was right down my street. Enable Banking being a young company was also a big plus for me as the prospect of being part of their growth journey felt really exciting. I was drawn to the idea of working for a start-up because it’s a unique chance to dive into all parts of the business and get a complete picture of how everything fits together.
What are some surprising things you’ve learned in your role?
Well, a lot of the focus on open banking is focused on credit risk, so it's the sheer potential of open banking that surprises me the most. Its vast potential. I've learned the applications of PSD2 extend far beyond what I'd initially imagined. Through meetings and discussions with colleagues and partners, I've seen for myself how open banking can not only enhance product features but actually has the potential to reshape whole industries. I find this beyond exciting. The best example of this is credit risk, where for a while now credit scoring and credit risk decisioning have been reshaping how creditworthiness is assessed. But a more exciting and innovative use case is how transactional data enables hyper-personalized loyalty programs that can really enhance customer experience.
As a student of accounting, I’m especially intrigued by how open banking is driving innovation in digital accounting. I am intrigued by how automating and simplifying processes in ways I hadn’t even considered previously.
What do you like the most about working at Enable Banking?
One of the best parts of working at Enable Banking is being surrounded by such a knowledgeable and supportive team. Everyone is so knowledgeable and supportive. It makes tackling new challenges and exploring different areas of the business so much easier, and more fun. Outside of that, I really appreciate working in a small, non-hierarchical organization where I have the opportunity to work closely with senior professionals.
Another highlight for me is the wide variety of our partners. It's a great opportunity to learn about so many different industries and it's amazing to see how Open Banking influences them all. Enable Banking gives me a front-row seat to all that innovation. One of the best perks is the networking opportunities. Attending industry events and meeting so many inspiring people has been a great way to grow my professional network and pick up fresh ideas.
And most importantly I want to say I’m really proud to be part of Enable Banking. Our solutions are not only innovative, but they also make a real impact on our partners, all while prioritizing security and data protection. It feels great to work for a company that values both quality and integrity.
Can you share some of the insights you’ve picked up meeting leads and partners?
One of my key takeaways is that our leads and partners really value the transparency our product offers. For example, our website clearly outlines which ASPSPs are integrated, their current status, and what data insights are available, and this level of openness really helps build trust.
Something that I keep hearing from our partners that stands out is how closely we work with them to help them tailor our solutions to their specific needs, all while keeping their business goals in mind. It’s always rewarding to see those “aha moments” when they realize how they can leverage Open Banking.
Another comment I hear a lot from our partners is how much they value the ongoing support we provide. We don't only help them with the initial integration of our solution but we are also there for them as they scale and come up with new ideas for how to use open banking. It's great to see how responsive the whole team is to our partners' evolving needs, in everything including the technical aspects, like quickly adding new bank integrations to support their expansion into new markets.
What key skills have you found to be important in your role?
As with so many things in life, strong communication skills are vital, especially since I’m always interacting with partners. My background in customer service has been a big help as it has really helped me sharpen my ability to communicate clearly and effectively. Having a business mindset is also a big plus because it helps me understand the challenges our partners are facing and identify the key value drivers for each customer. Beyond that, I find that traits like curiosity and adaptability go a long way. It keeps me open to learning and ready to handle anything that comes my way.
Do you have any advice for business students interested in working in fintech?
My advice would be to just dive in! Fintech isn’t just for engineers— if you have a passion for technology, problem-solving, and innovation, there’s a place for you here. With curiosity and hands-on experience as their guides, you can uncover endless opportunities in this transformative field. If you aren't sure about fintech or don't have prior experience though, I would recommend trying out an internship or traineeship to get a better feel for the industry. Fintech is a heavily regulated industry, so it can be a good idea to get familiar with some of the key regulations such as PSD2, and explore different use cases to gain a clearer sense of where the sector is heading.
What do you enjoy outside work?
Outside of work, I’m all about staying active – the gym is my go-to for recharging after a busy day. I’m also really passionate about travelling and love exploring new places whenever I can. I even spent part of my Bachelor's degree on exchange in Canada, where I fell in love with nature, skiing, and more interactive, practical classes. It is kind of similar to Sweden but with more outgoing people. When I’m at home, I enjoy cooking dinner with friends and playing board games, and I’m hooked on Swedish Masterchef – I never miss an episode!
We’re so glad to have Vendela as part of the Enable Banking team, and we look forward to seeing all the great things she’ll continue to accomplish as she grows in her role!