Finja
Munich
Finja holds degrees in Mathematics from Oxford University and WWU Muenster. She is a Partner managing relationships with Corporate and Institutional Banking clients in the Financial Services business unit.
Ten years ago I joined a small, remarkably un-hierarchical firm that gave me the chance to get involved and shape how things were done right from the start. For me, it was important to work in an international environment with inspirational people from whom I could learn and with whom, as part of a team, I could help advance the industry’s thinking. Several years on, now as a Partner in the company, it is these same qualities that continue to attract and motivate me. While Oliver Wyman has changed in many ways over the years, it has remained true to its “personality” as a firm.
My geographic focus narrowed significantly around four years ago when I decided to take on more responsibility for our clients in Germany and Austria. Previously, I had worked a lot in Italy (which was great for team dinners) and in the UK (which has less to offer on the culinary side, but has fantastic music events). For me, the arrangement worked out very well. At the beginning of my career, when consultants typically spend four to five days each week at the client’s, I gained and enjoyed a lot of international exposure. In fact, there were many weekends when my husband came to visit me around Europe instead of my going home! Now I spend most of my time in the German-speaking countries, although in any given week it is common for me to travel to as many as four different cities within the region. In spite of my geographic focus, however, the international exposure is still there. As a specialist in my industry area, I assist my colleagues from other offices on projects outside Germany and Austria; and likewise, I call in specialists from our international offices to work with my clients. In addition, the partners that work in the corporate and institutional banking domain, but are based in different parts of the world, frequently meet to share their experiences; as a result, I’m always informed of what, say, the French and Australian banks are doing.
While working with clients is the core part of my job, my activities “in the office” are no less important or less fun. Currently, I am standing in as head of our Munich office. In that role, I am responsible for a range of issues involving infrastructure and human capital. Since Oliver Wyman is a truly global firm, it is my role to ensure that the Munich office is well integrated with the rest of the organisation worldwide. My “to dos” thus range from budget planning to giving first-year consultants their mid-year reviews to helping the Munich social committee arrange a staff event at the Oktoberfest. Beyond these functions, I am also involved in recruiting, mentoring, training and other firm-wide events.
