Oliver: That certain arrogance that many people associate with consulting—the idea that everyone is primarily focused on their own interests and career rather than working as a team to move the project forward effectively.
I’d known the team for quite some time, from events at the University of Münster. I had a feeling it would be a good fit. At other consulting firms, I couldn’t really get used to the culture. I enjoy working—and I like to work a lot—but I also want to be able to manage my own work and help shape it. That’s what I find here in project management.
We’re currently managing a project at a bank. The client is in the process of migrating IT applications from one company to another. As project managers, we serve as the linchpin between various departments. I spend a lot of time on calls, and I make sure that all tasks are completed on time. In doing so, I support the client’s point of contact. For example, if someone says, “I won’t be able to get this done by date X,” we ask, “What do you need from us to make that possible?” We also work closely with the external IT service providers involved in the migration.
There are many individual steps involved in migrating an application. When you succeed and receive positive feedback directly from the board, it really feels great.
Oliver took advantage of his semester abroad in China to travel around the country. In Macau, the “Chinese Las Vegas,” stands this replica of the Eiffel Tower.
Believing in my abilities. Even when I’m doing something for the first time that others have been doing for 15 years and have much more experience with. That’s normal. Take facilitating, for example: Everyone has facilitated their first meeting at some point. In new situations, you shouldn’t let yourself get flustered.
Ask lots of questions. As a consultant, you need to be eager to understand everything thoroughly and ask questions, whether you’re a junior, a senior, or a partner.
This is what major projects looked like from the 14th to the 17th century: Oliver on the Great Wall of China
I really wanted to take advantage of the opportunity during my studies to live abroad for an extended period and get to know a different culture. One friend raved about his time in Beijing, another about Shanghai. And since I’d been to Asia several times myself but had never been to China, I applied to go to Shanghai. For us Europeans, the country is something of a mystery, so it was an exciting experience. Especially seeing just how far ahead China is of us in terms of technology.
So, for example, I didn’t see a single key for six months. Everything is done via smartphone. Cash is practically nonexistent: you pay for everything through Alipay or WeChat. At the hotel, a robot brings your food to your table. And you can have anything delivered in minutes using an app. The streets are full of delivery drivers on electric scooters bringing food and drinks. And it’s not just like that in Shanghai. I’ve seen quite a bit of the country, including Chongqing, for example. In China, you get a sense of what’s technically possible.
I enjoy doing sports. Most of all, I play soccer, up to four times a week at our local club, S. V. Altendorf Ulfkotte in Dorsten, which is in the northern Ruhr region. I’m also a huge fan of FC Schalke 04. Ever since I was three years old, I’ve been to almost every home game at the stadium. Next season is going to be great again, now that we’ve been promoted to the first division!
Our colleague Oliver is an optimist through and through, both at work and as a soccer fan. He lived in China for six months and was fascinated by the technological progress in the megacities. As a consultant on an IT project, he sees himself as an enabler.
Imagine you need to catch the right bus, but the schedule is in Korean. Our colleague Thilo loves to embrace new situations and different cultures. His experience shows that if you reach out to people at the right moment, you can ensure that projects reach their destination successfully.
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