My Life - So Far

"Unbounded ambition makes an obscure existence simply impossible for me"
Lucien de Rubempré

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Final Semester V

Last Thursday I spent my first night in a hotel in Zurich. I was offered a room at the Hotel du Théâtre, which is located at the Central, right below the ETH. The location couldn't actually have been better, because it was only a short walk to the Club zum Rennweg and the bus stop to the offices was right at the corner. Funny enough the receptionist asked if I needed a map of Zurich which I smilingly negated. At the Club zum Rennweg we were welcomed by two partner of Roland Berger Strategy Consultants and we could use the evening to network and get to know each other. I had some really good talks there and I also enjoyed the delicious food, which was served all night long. Most of the participants were from HSG, thus having an economic background. As I got to know a girl that also had a room in the same hotel, we left at 11PM and walked back along the Limmat. The next morning I dressed in suit and tie and went down to the lobby where breakfast was served. At the offices of Roland Berger, located in a beautiful building at Neumünsterallee, we got croissant and offee and an introduction in the workshop. The participants were divided into four teams and then the teams had to individually develop solutions to combat obesity. We then had to hold a presentation in front of the management team and one group won a first price. Unfortunately not my team, but still the event was really worth it and I gained an insight into the consulting business. As consultant you have pretty long working days, but you also get a good salary, actually one of the best, as you can see on the newest salary statistics published by the Bundesamt für Statistik. An interesting article about the most famous management consulting firm McKinsey was published in the NZZ Folio some years ago. Take a look at it, if you're keen in the topic.

Now, I applied also for two other workshops held by management consulting firms. The next one is on November, 26 at the Radisson Blu Hotel at Zurich Airport. It's a workshop about the wine market and organised by Monitor, a firm founded by Michael E. Porter, a famous economist at Harvard University. The other event is in Zurich with Booz & Company, but there I don't know yet if they accept me. Though, I hope so.

Last Friday I also had kind of a reunion with my ex-class from secundary school. We were invited to a Fondue dinner and livened up old memories! And I went to eat lunch with a friend at the canteen at University of Zurich, a place I haven't visited for ages, even though the crowd there is, in my eyes, better then that at ETH.

Yesterday I gave my comeback in sprint! And my coach meant that I was in really good shape! Indeed, I was surprised how fast I was, but now I have kind of a compulsory break, because I severely pulled my hamstring! I barely can walk and my coach had to drive me home in the car, as I couldn't get on my bike anymore...

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Final Semester IV

As I wrote in one of the previous posts, I applied for a workshop at Roland Berger Strategy Consultants. And I was pretty happy when I got an email with the invitation for the event. It starts next Thurday evening with a dinner at the Club zum Rennweg. The club is pretty, how should I say, exclusive. It's the only private member-club in Switzerland that found its way into the International Associate Clubs. People like Georges Kern, CEO IWC Schaffhausen, Philippe Gaydoul, CEO Denner or Christoph Franz, CEO Swiss have free access there. As dinner is about to end late, Roland Berger booked a hotel room for me: My first night in a hotel in Zurich! Maybe it's time to say something about them: Roland Berger Strategy Consultants was founded in Munich in 1967 by a man named, surprisingly, Roland Berger. Now the company has offices in 27 countries and employs about 2100 consultants. In Germany they are number two in market share after McKinsey. Besides I had to buy a new suit, as the dresscode for the event is business dress. So I got a dark gray suit, after checking out several stores in Zurich. Now I'm looking forward to a new experience in the consulting business.

Besides I got a brand new 3GS iPhone. My contract was due to expire, so I was offered a new mobile phone anyway. Thus, I was thinking, why not the iPhone. And indeed, it can support me in many situations. Especially at ETH, when I need to have a quick look at citations, I just can browse in the internet. I can write emails in the train, I have unlimited access to the train, tram and bus timetable, I have maps and GPS and a very useful calendar that reminds me of upcoming events.

The last two weeks I mainly focused on studying and went to the library to have a quiet place to study. The only event that was up recently was a raclette evening at Kai's new place in Dachsen, and lunch at Tibits with Lea. But honestly, I enjoy sitting in the library with a warm cup of coffee staring out the window at the autumnal sky over Zurich. I don't need too much distraction now, I'm happy with the thought of finishing my last semester in a few weeks time.