My name is Alexander Zouev.  I was born in Russia but have lived most of my life in Belgium.

I am currently taking the MSc in Mathematical Trading and Finance.  Last year I obtained my BA in Economics and Management from the University of Oxford.

I spent most of my high school years at an international school where the students came from a wide range of backgrounds and nationalities. This was an incredibly unique experience and is also one of the main reasons I wanted to study at Cass where the student body is filled with an array of nationalities and cultures. I have no professional work experience however I am deeply engaged in entrepreneurial activities. I have written several books, set up a small company, and tutor in my spare time.

I was strongly attracted to the MSc in Mathematical Trading and Finance largely because of the real-world applicability of most of the content. Unlike most MSc courses in Finance where the material is either highly theoretical or too quantitative, the programm at Cass finds the perfect balance.

My ambition is to one day run a fund and work as a day trader. I wish to continue my academic experience as long as possible and perhaps pursue a Phd in Finance or Mathematics. I will never lose my entrepreneurial drive so no matter what occupation I will have in the future, it is a safe bet that I will also constantly be trying to come up with something innovative.

I am a firm believer of the Schumpeter-esq believe that innovation is the driving force of our economy. But also I believe that it will be the best minds that innovate the most, hence a good educational system is imperative to ensuring a successful future. I believe that by integrating technology in more classrooms and sharing these rich resources with poorer and less fortunate students would benefit everyone. One of my ambitions is to start a UK-wide campaign where the top teacher lectures are recorded and made freely available on the internet to a worldwide audience.

‘Choose a job that you like and you will never have to work a day in your life’ – Confucius

If I could ask Stelios one question it would be whether he has any regrets.