Sergii Kozik

Sergii Kozik 
PhD in Economics, 2019

What made you choose to study at Heriot-Watt?

I had been studying at the Scottish Graduate Programme in Economics where we had an opportunity to listen to lecturers and experts from various universities in Scotland.

Throughout my studies, I've developed an interest in macroeconomics and was lucky to meet Professor David Cobham from Heriot-Watt University who helped me expand my knowledge in the field. He also introduced me to the world of Heriot-Watt where I went on to study for my PhD. I was attracted to Heriot-Watt's international community – I was keen to meet new friends and young bright minds from all over the world. Heriot-Watt also boasts amazing facilities and technological resources, which was really important for me in order to progress with my research.

Why were you thinking about a PhD in Economics in particular?

I've been into economics from the start of my academic journey and doing a PhD was a natural next step for me given my interest in the field. In particular, I've been working on monetary policy frameworks for my MSc dissertation and was keen to develop further in this area. Studying a PhD at Heriot-Watt was a great opportunity for me to not only do what I love, but also gave me a chance to make a difference in the field, as well as raise my research profile.

What's your favourite / most memorable memory of your time as a Heriot-Watt student?

There were plenty of those to be honest! From memories as a tutor - teaching young students and presenting at various established conferences - to meeting and listening to thought leaders and field experts both within my specialisation but also across other areas. However, I would say graduation was still the highlight as this seems like the culmination, and it really felt that the hard work had paid off!

How would you summarise your time studying in the Economics Department of the Edinburgh Business School?

It was an extremely motivating and inspiring time for me. Writing a PhD can be stressful at times especially as you work on it increasingly by yourself, but thanks to the work of the department and great events they organised, we bonded with other PhD students and kept the atmosphere in the team super friendly and welcoming. This was one of the key things that gave me the energy to stay productive and inspired throughout my studies.

Please provide a brief summary of your career since graduation, including your roles at Hymans Robertson and HSBC.

After graduation, I started working as a quantitative modeller in the actuarial consultancy Hymans Robertson, where my main focus was on producing realistic projections of asset prices to help pension funds efficiently allocate their investment exposure.

Then I joined HSBC as the scenario development analyst in stress testing. This role requires you to have a good grasp of macroeconomics and market risks. The ever-changing nature of economic environment dictates emerging risks that we need to incorporate to ensure robustness of the stress testing.

How has your Heriot-Watt University education contributed to your success in these roles?

It was extremely useful and contributed immensely to my success in these roles. My studies in Heriot-Watt helped me to significantly broaden my knowledge and skills in macroeconomics and finance. On top of that, I acquired great technical and programming skills, which have been essential for my research and are now paramount in my career.

What would you like to achieve in your current role at HSBC?

I would like to contribute to the robustness of stress testing framework within the bank as well as develop better understanding of risk management. That way I will help the bank achieve its strategic goals and continue to reliably serve its customers.

What advice would you give to your past self when you were a student?

The time as a student passes really fast and it is really important to have full confidence in ultimate success and enjoy the ride. At times I have focused so much on immediate things that I forgot about that!

What advice do you have for current students?

Despite COVID and growing work-from-home routines, it is really important to keep contact with other students and engage in broader activities of the school and university – this is something that you might not prioritise just now but it is definitely something that would pay off in the future.

Describe Heriot-Watt University in 5 words
Proud, international, inspiring, motivating, alma mater.

What is your lasting impression of Heriot-Watt University?

My lasting impression will always be that Heriot-Watt is welcoming, modern, advanced, and iInspiring. It gives opportunity to students from various backgrounds to thrive and feel an integral part of the wider community.

What are your aspirations for the future?
 

For your career?
In my career, I would like to keep on learning and exploring new areas. As long as I feel that I am on the right path.
 

For your local and wider community?
Believe in yourselves. Stay connected. Keep working hard on the things you love!

Can you tell us a little about your own background away from work, family, other interests etc.

I am originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, now living in Edinburgh – the city which I absolutely adore. I'm married and looking forward to welcoming our first baby with my wife. I'm a huge football fan and enjoy playing chess and reading about technology in my spare time.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Thanks to the Heriot-Watt family! Thank you for the memories, for all the people I've met on this journey and for contributing to the success in my career!