Simon got to know Batten & Company through an internship that he completed during his Master's degree in Business Administration. The aim was to gain a deeper insight into the world of management consultancy. During the internship, he gained valuable experience by working on strategic projects in various sectors and experienced a working atmosphere characterised by helpfulness and friendliness. Motivated by these positive experiences, Simon decided to continue his career as a consultant at Batten & Company after completing his Master's degree.
‘At Batten & Company, all employees can choose a practice to specialise in a particular area of expertise.’
– Simon Freudenberg
First points of contact - experiences from the internship
Right at the beginning of my bachelor's degree, I realised that I was particularly interested in marketing. For this reason, I focussed on marketing early on in my studies and through various internships. During my career, I also realised that I prefer to deal with the strategic components of marketing. I was therefore looking for an opportunity to focus on strategic marketing and came across Batten & Company. Right from the start, Batten gave me the opportunity to work on exciting and varied projects and to develop quickly in my area of interest. During my internship, it was not only confirmed that Batten offered exactly what I was looking for in terms of subject matter, but also that the project-based work in management consulting suited me very well and that I felt perfectly at home in the team. I made the decision to join Batten as a consultant after my studies at the end of my internship.
Career entry - responsibility right from the start
I started at Batten a year after my internship, after completing my Master's degree in Münster. Starting my career was made pretty easy for me as I basically knew what to expect. Nevertheless, I wondered whether the new role would fulfil my expectations. However, I quickly realised that the experience was a seamless continuation of the internship. At Batten, you are given a lot of responsibility right from the start and an optimal mix of support and room for your own ideas is found. The cooperation is organised in such a way that as a consultant you are not a purely operational force, but your own opinion is in demand and you are also at the forefront with the customer. In addition to the projects, you also have the opportunity to develop further and hone your own area of expertise through training and so-called practice work.
Specialising - the ‘Marketing & Sales Organisation’ pratice
At Batten & Company, all employees can choose a practice in order to specialise in a particular area of expertise. The practice comprises a team that meets regularly to develop further in the specific area of expertise. The focus is on discussing current developments and developing possible approaches that can serve as a basis for customer projects. As I find it particularly exciting to see how companies set themselves up organisationally in order to meet the challenges in the area of Marketing & Sales, I opted for the Marketing & Sales Organisation practice. Organisation may sound a bit dry at first, especially for people with an affinity for marketing. For me, however, it is the basis for companies to optimally implement marketing & sales and the projects often have a high priority with our customers.
More than just colleagues - a unique work culture
I have always found the working atmosphere at Batten & Company to be very positive. Values such as helpfulness, respect and humour are paramount here. This not only encourages the exchange of ideas and experiences between colleagues, but also contributes to a strong team spirit. The company actively supports this culture through joint trips to Mallorca, Barcelona or Lisbon, weekly Eat & Greets, etc. The predominantly young workforce also ensures good socialising outside of working hours, which often leads to the development of genuine friendships.
Taking stock - my conclusion on management consulting
If you have a broad interest in strategic issues and don't want to commit yourself to a specific area or industry, I can highly recommend starting in consulting. The dynamism and versatility make it possible to quickly build up expertise in various subject areas and sectors. You also get the chance to take on responsibility in projects early on and work independently.
If you are particularly interested in marketing and sales, I can highly recommend Batten & Company. For me, this company represents much more than a ‘classic’ management consultancy. Here you will find professional excellence and highly motivated employees in an exceptional working environment characterised by a unique sense of community. In my opinion, these qualities are essential for an attractive employer and create ideal conditions for personal development.
