Yusif Afandizada
My name is Yusif Afandizada. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a Master’s degree in Financial Engineering. Currently, I serve as a lecturer at a university, where I teach Accounting for Financial Institutions.
Throughout my career, I have gained valuable experience at major global financial institutions, including State Street, Citi, Goldman Sachs, and J.P. Morgan. During my time at these organizations, I specialized in areas such as financial reporting, risk, and accounting operations—building a strong foundation in both the technical and practical aspects of finance.
I combine academic expertise with hands-on industry experience to bridge the gap between theory and practice in the classroom.
1. What was the most breakthrough moment in your career?
The most breakthrough moment in my career was when I started working as a lecturer at the university after a long career in finance. Teaching at the university level had always been a dream of mine since childhood, and achieving that goal was both personally and professionally fulfilling. It allowed me to share my industry experience with students and contribute to shaping future professionals, which gave my career a new and meaningful direction.
2. What has been your biggest professional success?
My biggest professional success has been working at major financial institutions that play a key role in the global economy. These experiences gave me exceptional knowledge, exposure to international best practices, and the opportunity to work with top professionals in the industry. I started my career as a junior, and through consistent hard work and dedication, I was promoted to Assistant Manager within five years. This growth reflects both my commitment to professional development and my ability to adapt and deliver in high-performing environments.
3. If you could go back to the starting point of your career, but with all the knowledge and experience you’ve gained, what would you do differently?
If I could go back to the beginning of my career with the experience I have now, I would invest more time in learning advanced technical skills — especially programming languages and tools like SQL, Python, and Tableau,Power BI and etc. Combining strong finance knowledge with data analytics and automation skills is incredibly valuable in today’s market. It enhances decision-making, increases efficiency, and opens up more strategic opportunities. I now see how much earlier adoption of these tools could have accelerated my growth and impact.
4. What’s your recipe for success? How to achieve it? What to focus on? What to avoid? What competencies gained from your studies at PUEB turned out to be the most important?
The key to success is hard work and building a strong professional network. Hard work helps you continuously improve your skills and deliver quality results, while networking opens doors to new opportunities and learning experiences.
During my studies, I focused on both academic excellence and connecting with peers and professionals in the industry, which helped me grow personally and professionally.
To succeed, it’s important to avoid bad habits such as procrastination and distractions, and instead stay focused on your work and continuous development.
I studied Financial Engineering, which uniquely combines both technical skills and finance knowledge. This interdisciplinary approach gave me a strong foundation in
areas like programming, quantitative analysis, and financial modeling, all of which are highly valuable in today’s finance roles.
Additionally, working closely with very talented classmates on numerous projects helped me develop teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills. We learned a lot from each other’s perspectives and expertise.
Lastly, the high quality of courses and the professionalism of the academic staff at PUEB ensured I received a rigorous and practical education that prepared me well for real-world challenges.
5. What advice would you give current students who are at the beginning of their careers?
Focus deeply on your courses and study hard to gain as much knowledge as possible during your studies. Learning programming languages will give you an edge and help you stay ahead in today’s competitive job market.
Keep investing in your personal and professional development, and build relationships with professionals and peers. Networking is just as important as technical skills for career growth.