You joined CNC after completing your doctorate. Did "working life" as a consultant come as a big adjustment? What were your first 100 days at CNC like?
Leaving university and beginning a professional life is a major turning point for everyone. Settling into this new stage of life is an even greater challenge if the chosen profession is consulting. It is important that from the very beginning you get involved and take responsibility for things that extend beyond your own individual project. That being said, during my first days at CNC there was not a single difficulty that I wasn't able to overcome with the help of my colleagues. There is a tradition in CNC that communication with one another is expressly supported, and even forms the basis of a project's success. An open atmosphere that encourages dialogue makes entering the consultancy business a great deal easier.
What experience from your doctorate have you been able to apply so far at CNC?
The ability to familiarise yourself quickly and as thoroughly as possible with new and often complex circumstances is a basic requirement for working at CNC. You don't necessarily need a doctorate for that. Though, I do value my time spent as a doctorate student. Apart from scientific approaches to subjects, I learnt how to structure and organise my work better. This is of great benefit to me at CNC.
You work on many Public Affairs projects. In your opinion, what is the most interesting part of this communications discipline?
In my opinion, Public Affairs is a very complex communications discipline, which essentially is the most appealing thing about it. Public Affairs is not restricted to just the political process and the central political figures involved. All relevant stakeholders - from NGOs, via unions, all the way to the media - must be included in the communications. Developing customised communications strategies tailored to each of these stakeholders is always an exciting challenge.
You’ve been working in Brussels since 2009 and have been actively involved in the development of the office from the beginning. Which challenges were the most exciting for you?
It is naturally very exciting to build up a new office “from scratch”. At the same time, it has needed much more of my personal commitment than at the firmly established office in Berlin. I have never regretted my decision to move to Brussels. The additional responsibility, for example the strategic orientation of new projects, has also come with even more fun at work for me personally.
Before you decided to go to Brussels, you worked in the Berlin office. What are the differences between your tasks in Brussels and your previous tasks?
Since many of my Public Affairs projects in Berlin had a strong connection to the EU, the move to Brussels didn’t actually lead to a fundamental change in my working environment. Even today, my work still has a strong connection to Berlin. After all, national policy plays an important role in the decision making process at the EU level, especially in the big EU member states like Germany. In addition, every legislative process on the EU level has to be transposed into national law after its adoption. When advising our clients on related issues, the CNC office in Brussels works closely with our Berlin colleagues as well as with those in London and Paris.
