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Working at S&B Strategy – personal insights from our current and former employees
How did you find out about S&B Strategy?
I was actively looking for strategy boutiques and came across S&B quite quickly.
How did the application process go?
The invitation to the first interview was super quick. After that, I had three very pleasant conversations with the team and partners, who convinced me immediately.
What position did you start in and what are your responsibilities?
I started as an associate and am involved in the projects from start to finish. My main tasks include research (e.g. through expert interviews), data analysis (alone or in brainstorming sessions with colleagues) and the preparation of the report (final document that goes to the client). I also work on topics like business development or studies on the side.
What have you found particularly challenging at S&B so far?
The main challenge is to familiarise yourself with a complex subject area every time. But as soon as you’ve got to grips with the crux of a problem, it’s always a sense of achievement and you’ve learned an enormous amount.
What do you like best about S&B Strategy?
I particularly like the fact that you are an important part of the team from day 1, that you can make an enormous contribution and that you do it with great colleagues. The fast pace, driven by the relatively short strategy and M&A projects, is also extremely fun, so you don’t get bored.
In your opinion, what makes S&B different from other consultancies?
What makes S&B different and what I really appreciate is, on the one hand, the clear industry focus to build up sound expertise and, on the other hand, the open and direct interaction at eye level. This is true both in our day-to-day dealings with each other and with our clients.
How did you find out about S&B Strategy?
I know the two founders Patrick and Christoph from my first professional position at a strategy boutique. The contact also continued at PwC in the Deals Strategy department.
What was the application process like?
Several bilateral meetings with Christoph and Patrick, who convinced me of S&B and the overall project.
In which position did you start and what are your responsibilities?
As manager/project leader. This mainly includes the internal control and management of the project team, partly the customer communication together with the responsible partner, as well as business development topics such as the preparation of studies, acquisition talks with customers and the training and further education of the team.
What have you found particularly challenging at S&B so far?
The central goal at S&B is to create real added value for our customers with our consulting services and to further develop S&B and our products every day. Accordingly, we have very high standards for ourselves and for the quality of our work results. I find it challenging and motivating to meet these high goals every day, without exception and at the same high level.
What do you like best about S&B Strategy?
The team spirit, flat hierarchies and above all the mix of projects from strategy and M&A. I also enjoy being able to help develop the S&B project as a whole.
In your opinion, what makes S&B different from other consultancies?
Our clear focus on the sectors of smart cities, infrastructure, buildings and construction technology as well as our product focus on strategy and M&A topics are unique on the market. This enables us to create real added value for clients consisting of financial investors as well as traditional corporates. As part of the S&B team, we can actively contribute to the transformation of the construction industry into the 21st century.
How did you find out about S&B Strategy?
I met Maximilian and Patrick at the Oktoberfest and we stayed in touch. Since I liked them both personally and liked the idea of a focused strategy and M&A consultancy, I applied to S&B Strategy after graduating.
What was the application process like?
First, I had the opportunity to get to know the company and the idea behind it better over a casual lunch. I was also able to explain my background in more detail and express my ideas. Then I got to know the other members of S&B and was able to demonstrate my skills in two analytical cases. The pleasant atmosphere and the professionalism of the team convinced me right away, which is why I was very happy to be accepted.
What position did you start in and what are your responsibilities?
I initially joined as a Fellow Analyst and now work full-time as an Analyst. I work on various strategy and M&A projects and also on bankable reports by conducting research and analyses and presenting them to the team. In addition, I create final reports that incorporate the information gathered.
What have you found particularly challenging at S&B so far?
As each project member tries to get to the bottom of the respective topic as much as possible, brainstorming sessions often take place in which you present your findings and arguments. For me, building clear and steadfast chains of argumentation to answer complex questions is particularly challenging. As I am confronted with this on a daily basis, it has significantly strengthened my analytical thinking.
What do you like best about S&B Strategy?
What I like best about S&B is the balance between relaxedness and professionalism, the honest and open communication from Partner to Fellow Analyst, the variety of projects and the team spirit.
In your opinion, what makes S&B different from other consultancies?
There is no unnecessary bureaucracy and fast communication channels. The partners always have an open ear for the issues of the team members, which is why new ideas are often put into practice and the best solution is applied. This gives you the feeling that you can make a difference. Apart from that, S&B’s clear industry focus distinguishes it from other consultancies, which creates real added value for the client due to deep analyses and many years of expertise.
How did you find out about S&B Strategy?
I met Christoph and Patrick at my first job in consulting and we got on well right from the start. We stayed in touch despite one or two job changes and I was completely convinced by the idea that the two of them wanted to found a company – so it was only a matter of time before I joined S&B.
How did the application process go?
As we had worked together many times before, both sides knew what they were getting into and we were able to streamline the process.
What position did you start in and what are your responsibilities?
I joined S&B as a manager. Before that I was a senior associate at another consultancy. At S&B, I am responsible for project management in the area of strategy and commercial due diligence, i.e. I coordinate the internal work streams, coordinate with the client’s internal sub-project managers and answer the client’s central questions with the team, e.g. through in-depth analyses, workshops, expert interviews, etc. I am also in charge of the project management.
What have you found particularly challenging at S&B so far?
Shortly after we were founded, Corona hit us of course, which was a challenge for such a young company – but we coped well.
What do you like best about S&B Strategy?
The working atmosphere and the team spirit are simply unique. It is a lot of fun and motivating to work in such an environment.
In your opinion, what makes S&B different from other consultancies?
From my point of view, it’s clearly the pleasant working atmosphere and the open communication from partner to fellow analyst. In addition, there are no rigid structures as is the case with other, conservative consultancies. This helps immensely to find the best solution for the client and to keep the motivation in the team high. In addition, you can quickly take on responsibility and move up to the next career level.
How did you find out about S&B Strategy?
After I had completed all the exams for my Master’s degree, I really wanted to get a taste of a management consultancy as part of an internship. While researching for jobs, I finally found the job advertisement for Fellow Analyst at S&B via LinkedIn, which immediately appealed to me due to the diverse areas of responsibility and the interesting company description. After reading up on S&B again on the company website, it was clear to me that I would send in an application.
What was the application process like?
The application process was a two-stage procedure: First, I got to know Max, one of the project managers, in a first interview, and shortly afterwards, in the second round, Patrick, one of the founding partners. In both interviews, there was an open and uncomplicated exchange about my career to date, the working atmosphere and activities at S&B, as well as my potential areas of responsibility. In addition, I was given a small case for each interview, which was easily solved through analytical thinking. In both interviews, the focus was on the personal fit, so we evaluated together whether I could fit in with S&B’s corporate culture. After the interviews, my very positive first impression of S&B was confirmed and reinforced, which is why I was all the more pleased to receive an acceptance by phone a few days after the second interview. All in all, the application process went very quickly: from my application to the acceptance was only about 2 weeks.
What position did you start in and what are your responsibilities?
In my role as Fellow Analyst, I support the project managers and partners in the implementation of various strategy and M&A projects. My tasks are very diverse and vary depending on the project phase: At the beginning of the project, the focus is usually on research, which includes classic desk research, for example on competitors and the market, but also primary market research, e.g. by means of interviews, which I am allowed to coordinate and conduct independently. As the project progresses, the research tasks increasingly turn into the preparation of the report. In this phase of the project, the tasks include creating and filling in the content of slides in PowerPoint and carrying out market and competition analyses in Excel. During the entire duration of the project, the project team is in permanent exchange with each other and meets regularly to present new findings and discuss strategic issues. Due to the relatively short average duration of the project, it is always necessary to familiarise oneself with new tasks and company profiles, which is why the work never becomes monotonous.
What have you found particularly challenging at S&B so far?
As a Fellow Analyst at S&B, you are already counted as a full-fledged project member after a short time, so it was challenging for me at the beginning of the internship to meet the high quality standards in the preparation of reports. Through internal workshops, active questioning and helpful suggestions for improvement on the part of my colleagues, I was able to progressively improve and thus gradually take on tasks independently.
What do you like best about S&B Strategy?
What I like best about S&B is the family atmosphere and the authentic and open interaction with each other. Whenever possible, lunch breaks are spent together, where people usually joke with each other and chat about everyday topics. The work itself is never boring because of the good mix of different projects and tasks. In addition, as an intern it is extremely exciting to experience the growth and development of S&B as a relatively young consultancy.
In your opinion, what makes S&B different from other consultancies?
For me, a big difference and at the same time an advantage of S&B compared to other, larger consultancies is definitely the particularly flat hierarchies and thus short communication channels to the project managers and partners. This makes enquiries and agreements very uncomplicated and possible at short notice. Furthermore, S&B is characterised by its clear industry focus and has comprehensive expertise and networks, whereas many other consultancies try to play a role in many industries but are not absolute experts in any of them.
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