Christoph, Senior Consultant

Tell us about your path to Roland Berger!

Growing up in a rural area in a small town in southern Germany, I was the first in my family to attend university and earn an academic degree. After graduating from high school, I studied industrial engineering with a focus on mechanical engineering at the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen/Nuremberg. Driven by my passion for automobiles, I completed several internships in the automotive industry. Combined with additional internships in both inhouse and external consulting, my path almost naturally led me to Roland Berger as one of the leading consultancies in the automotive industry.

What motivated you to be the first in your family to start studying?

For me there was no specific reason to be the first one in my family to earn an academic degree. I was always fascinated by challenging tasks and driven to learn to be the best version of myself, which motivated me to start my studies.

What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

As a first-generation student, my biggest challenge was the lower level of access to information and guidance about potential academic, educational, and professional career paths within my direct environment. Despite attending numerous information events and company workshops, I remained uncertain about which role to pursue even into my Master's degree. When I first came into contact with consultancy and my interest in it was sparked, neither my academic nor professional background was geared towards it at that time. Consequently, I had to go quite some extra miles to tailor my profile and skills to meet the standards of the top management consulting firms.

What would you have liked to know earlier?

I wish I had been exposed to the field of consulting earlier. Looking back, I don't regret the extra miles I had to go, as they provided me with valuable learning experiences. However, earlier exposure to the consulting field would have allowed me to better align my academic and professional background with my current career, enabling me to develop my skills more effectively from the start.

Why did you decide to pursue a career at Roland Berger?

Among other top consultancies, Roland Berger was on my list of favorites right from the beginning. To decide on one of them, I attended events and workshops from most of the top consultancies. What ultimately tipped the scales in favor of Roland Berger were the positive personal encounters. For example, one of the global Managing Partners at the time agreed to take a cold call from me for an interview for my Master's thesis. Not only did I find the fact that I was able to conduct this interview with him remarkable, but I was also struck by his down-to-earth, open, and friendly manner. This impression of a collegial and professional environment was reinforced after I joined the company and it encourages me to continue my path here in the future.

What advice would you like to give to FirstGen students?

While the journey as a FirstGen student can be more challenging and demanding at times, you should view it not as an obstacle but as an opportunity. The lessons you learn along the way will contribute to your growth and better prepare you for your future professional life, which will also have its own set of detours.