Ariane, Senior Consultant

Which educational/academic background do you have?
B.Sc. in physics with a focus on biophysics.

Why did you decide to go into consulting?
I did experimental research for my thesis and knew pretty soon that I did not want to pursue an academic career like most of my fellow students. Instead, I have always been much more fascinated by the application and use of physical concepts in medical products like an MRI scanner or a hearing aid. However, I was not sure in which direction I wanted to take my career in the broad field of life sciences. Consulting was the ideal choice for me, as you get to know a variety of different topics, companies and markets and, hence, quickly develop a comprehensive understanding of many different subjects. I also really like the fact that you're always surrounded by people, whether it's your own team or the client, and that good teamwork and smart communication are key success factors.

What is or has been the biggest challenge for you in consulting?
Finance-related questions used to be quite challenging for me. I never learned even the basics and I think my project manager was a little shocked when I asked him what a GuV/P&L was. However, my superiors were always aware of my non-business background and were very patient, which made it much easier to quickly acquire the relevant skills during the daily project work.

What did you learn that you will never need here?
I learned how to show mathematically that the shortest point between two dots is a straight line. Trust me, it sounds more straightforward than it is!

Which of your skills from your background makes your consulting life easier?
During my studies I developed a very generic understanding of physical concepts and relations. Especially in my focus industries of pharma and MedTech, projects tend to be quite technical. Thus, a scientific background helps to quickly develop a thorough understanding of new concepts – be it a therapy approach, mechanisms of action of a drug or the functionality of diagnostic devices.

What did you want to be as a child and what would you love to be today if you weren't a consultant?
When I was little, I wanted to become a doctor. One of the therapeutic areas that I have always found most exciting is neurology. Thus, if I wasn't a consultant today, I would love to work for a company that develops medical instruments for applications in radiotherapy or neurosurgery.

How does your team benefit from your skills?
I usually take on the more technical parts within a project, while colleagues with a business background cover parts heavier on finance. This allows us to ideally leverage our existing know-how and, overall, work more efficiently.

What has been your favorite moment/project since you joined Roland Berger as a consultant?
In one project we supported a client in improving and digitizing a medical product that is used to treat patients with chronic kidney disease across the globe. It is now implemented in many clinics in the U.S. and facilitates the daily work of nurses and improves the therapy outcome of the patients.