Almudena Rumeu de Armas
Originally from Madrid, I currently work as a Portfolio Manager at Varianza, an independent asset management and investment advisory firm located in the Spanish capital. My previously held positions include: Portfolio Manager at Julius Baer; Senior Analyst for Strategy & Investment Analysis at Banco Santander; and Analyst for Equity Capital Markets at Arcano. Prior to these roles I participated in competitive internships with UBS and Credit Suisse.
"I realized that it was necessary to take a step back into the world of education to step forward in my career. The prestige of the program and the professional expertise of the professors rendered IE Business School the ideal choice for me to gain the necessary “edge” to drive my career in the desired direction."
A history and languages enthusiast with a passion for nature, Almudena Rumeu de Armas, alum of IE Business School’s Master in Finance, has a dynamic approach to life and work that is built upon open-mindedness and hard work. Born and raised in Madrid, Almudena’s exposure to the world around her has no doubt helped her succeed in her international university experience as well as her current position, which entails looking for investment ideas across different asset classes and geographies.
Almudena was first attracted to finance after completing an internship with UBS in Madrid as part of her undergraduate degree. She describes initially being intrigued by the challenges of finance and being “captivated” by the fast-paced environment and the “amazing people.” When the time came to decide on her next steps after her bachelor’s, Almudena decided to try working in investment banking at Arcano and later as strategy analyst at Banco Santander in Madrid, as opposed to packing up and heading abroad to a brokering hub in London. However, her real interest lay in the portfolio management side, and it became clear that she needed to complement her work/ job experiences with additional specialization and exposure to “real risk-taking” to launch her career as a portfolio manager in the finance industry.
To turn her ambition into a reality, Almudena realized that it was necessary to take a step back into the world of education to step forward in her career. Despite the potential benefits of seeking a master’s degree outside of Spain, Almudena decided that the cosmopolitan atmosphere, the prestige of the program and the professional expertise of the professors rendered IE Business School the ideal choice for her to gain the necessary “edge” to drive her career in the desired direction.
Almudena’s return to the academic realm turned out to be exactly what she needed to make the transition from corporate advising. She has now worked as a portfolio manager for the last three years with Varianza, a Madrid-based asset and wealth management company. In this role, she is energized by the stimulating, constantly evolving environment that always offers “something more to learn.”
When discussing her growth during her master’s at IE Business School, Almudena emphasizes the importance of the rigor of the program and the value of being “pushed to your limits.” Almudena credits her training at IE Business School as hugely beneficial to feeling ready to tackle anything upon graduation and to successfully balancing the various demands of post-degree professional and personal life. To aspiring financial leaders, Almudena encourages open-mindedness and keeping abreast of the many innovations in the finance industry, which she feels is brimming with possibilities that will only increase in coming years.
If you’d like to learn more about Almudena or get in touch, connect with her on LinkedIn.
