Johannes "Johnny" Hauschild got to know Horn & Company through an internship in 2017. Because it was such a good fit, the "Kölner" joined Horn & Company permanently in 2021. Johnny has meanwhile become a manager in our Financial Services team.
'When we work well together as a team, we achieve the best results.'
Johnny Hauschild
You interned at H&C in 2017. How did you find out about H&C back then?
After my apprenticeship at a German bank, I started a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and continued to work as a student trainee at my training company, Kreissparkasse Köln. During my bachelor's degree, I had the opportunity to familiarise myself with the consulting industry through an internship. My professor at that time, Dr Dietmar Fink, recommended the former (and current) "hidden champion of management consultancies in the banking & insurance category" - Horn & Company.
What did you particularly enjoy about the internship back then?
I thought it was great to be able to take on direct responsibility in exciting projects. The first project involved optimising the treasury system application landscape of a banking group together with my team. In the other project, I was able to support the evaluation of a bank as a potential takeover candidate for a private equity fund. In this project, I was on an equal footing with the other team members as of day one.
How come you are now back at Horn & Company? You previously worked on the "other side", in a bank.
That's right, I worked as a product manager at Kreissparkasse Köln during my part-time Master's degree at Leipzig Graduate School of Management and I wanted to make a career change after almost ten years in the industry. Once I had made that decision, I realised pretty quickly that I would rejoin Horn & Company.
And what was it like for you to come back to Horn & Company?
I was very pleased to meet many of my colleagues from my time as a Fellow again - our fluctuation rate is exceptionally low compared to other consultancies. The old bonds with my colleagues still exist and I also received a very warm welcome from colleagues I didn't know yet. Professor Dr Fink was absolutely right in his recommendation at the time when he suggested that a relatively small consultancy might suit me better: at Horn & Company, I appreciate the almost family-like atmosphere and the close internal exchange - and this continues to apply even as Horn & Company continues to grow ambitiously as a top management consultancy.
What do you particularly like about working in a management consultancy, also in comparison to working at a bank?
I really appreciate the fact that all my colleagues who are above me in the hierarchy have also done the same job themselves - in other words, all the partners were previously consultants themselves. I can benefit immensely from that and it creates a very understanding and respectful atmosphere. Here at H&C, a lot of emphasis is placed on personal and professional development. H&C has a really cool culture of promotion and performance. For example, there is a very sophisticated and systematised feedback process that helps me to develop and take the next steps in my career. I can always discuss any questions, suggestions or concerns with my mentor, who has been my contact person outside of project work since day one, providing advice and support.
Talking about careers: How can you reconcile your private life with the rather intensive workload of a top management consultant?
Is there enough time for family and friends?If the atmosphere in the team is good and the projects are exciting, even longer working days are fun. Of course, you shouldn't neglect your private life. I know from my own experience that I work better and more efficiently when I create a balance in my private life and can also take a deep breath. Spending time with my family and friends is very important to me and even when there are stressful phases, I have always managed to balance my private life with being a consultant.
How do you achieve this balance?
I like to cook international dishes for and with my friends and family and also enjoy trying out new dishes. Sport is also a must, of course. I like to go running, e.g. in the StrongmanRun, an obstacle course where you climb a mountain made of car tyres, crawl through the mud or shimmy over pits. It's not primarily about finishing the run as the fastest, but about experiencing something together with your team and overcoming the challenge. Just like at work: when we work well together as a team, we achieve the best results.
