In this week’s episode, Nick chats with Stefan Aichbauer, Managing Partner at H&Z. If you’re a regular listener to this podcast, you’ll know that we like to chat with our guests about the various routes their careers have taken, and how their individual journeys have helped to shape their outlook. Having started his career at Siemens, it wasn’t long before Stefan realised that life in a multinational corporation wasn’t for him, and at the age of 24, he made the leap to what was then a small, boutique consulting firm with just eight other people, but which has since grown into H&Z Group, now one of the 100 best employers in Germany. At H&Z, Stefan’s career took a rapid, upward trajectory. He rose through the ranks from Analyst, through to Partner, before being made Managing Partner in 2008. That was fifteen years ago, and since then, the firm has enjoyed phenomenal success, growing significantly since them and forming the leading European wide consulting group, the Transformation Alliance, something Nick and Stefan explore in today’s episode. Nick and Stefan delve into some fascinating areas in this episode, including: -Stefan’s head, heart, hand approach to consulting -What great consulting leaders have in common with movie directors -The importance of knowing when to step back and ‘give up the sugar’ as you progress in to senior leadership -And why passion for the job is the one non-negotiable if you want to build an awesome consulting career If you’re starting out on your own consultancy journey, thinking of making the leap from a big multi-national to a boutique firm, or simply want to learn from someone at the top of our field, you’ll love this episode of Climb in Consulting. We hope you enjoy the show! Reach out to Stefan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefanaichbauer/ Learn more about H&Z Management Consulting: https://hz.group/ Books, magazines, and websites mentioned in the show: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey