Victoria Carlsten

Originally from Sweden, Victoria Carlsten came to Boston University in 2020 to study Computer Engineering. When choosing a university, she sought a place that would provide both academic challenges and the opportunity to continue competing in tennis at a high level. BU offered that rare combination of strong academics and Division I athletics. The city of Boston was also a major factor—it is lively, research-driven, and matched the fast-paced environment she was looking for.

Being part of BU Athletics became one of the defining aspects of Victoria’s BU experience. Through tennis, she built strong relationships with teammates and transitioned from competing in an individual sport to being part of a team. Serving as captain underscored the importance of collaboration, resilience, and accountability. Head coach Lesley Sheehan was also an incredible mentor who helped her grow not only as a player but as a person. Looking back, her time with BU Tennis was every bit as formative as academics and continues to shape how she approaches challenges today.

While the mix of academics and athletics first drew Victoria to BU, it was ultimately the people—professors, classmates, and mentors—that made staying to become a Double Terrier the natural choice. During her undergraduate years, she was drawn to data, whether through class projects or research, and began to see how central it is to decision-making across fields. The MSBA program felt like the next step, offering both technical training in data analysis and a strong emphasis on translating analysis into impactful insights. Its combination of technical depth, hands-on capstone experience, and a supportive, challenging community made the program exactly what she was seeking.

Currently, Victoria works as an Analyst at Sandia Investment Management, a hedge fund based in Boston. Beginning as a Quantitative Research Intern during the final semester of the MSBA program, she focused on back-testing investment strategies before transitioning into a full-time role. Today, she focuses on companies preparing to go public (IPOs), a space that offers both the fast-paced nature of equity capital markets and the chance to apply quantitative skills developed during the MSBA program. Looking ahead, she is eager to expand her expertise in the industry and take on more responsibility in generating and shaping investment ideas.

Beyond technical training, one of the most rewarding aspects of the MSBA program was working side by side with classmates on projects that mirrored real-world challenges. The capstone project, in particular, bridged the classroom and industry, drawing together everything learned and applying it to a complex business case. Intense yet rewarding, the experience provided a clear sense of how data and teamwork combine to drive meaningful results.