Read the inspiring journey of Denis Voldman, Lead Analyst | Private Equity, Venture Capital, Investment Banking, M&A at Venionaire Capital AG, an independent investment firm from Austria specialised in venture capital and private equity.
You began your academic journey as a Bachelor’s student at LBS and are currently pursuing your Master’s degree while also working full-time as one of the youngest Lead Investment Analysts in the Private Equity and Venture Capital sector at Venionaire Capital. Could you share with us how LBS has influenced and shaped your career path?
Denis: I have started working at Venionaire when I was in my third semester of the Bachelors. Throughout my time at LBS, I have met and cooperated with many hard-working students and great professors, who constantly motivated me to kick off my professional journey. The most complicated task for me back then was to understand which business field is of my particular interest. Through multiple subjects taken during the Bachelor’s program (e.g., Finance and Investment, Project Finance, & Corporate Finance and Valuation), I learned about Private Equity and Venture Capital. Not only did I learn some basic information about these fields, but I was also able to learn a lot of useful preparatory information for job interviews in those fields.
Additionally, how did you secure your position at Venionaire Capital company as a Bachelor student, and what do you consider the most rewarding aspect of your work?
Denis: What I find particularly interesting is that despite LBS is a boutique university, it still has a strong and collaborative student and professor’s network. With the help of an LBS alumni who had previously worked at my firm, I received a referral, but I still had to go through two intense rounds of interviews. As a current Master’s student, I particularly appreciate the opportunity to combine full-time work with my studies, something that many firms cannot afford. Although my studies are very intense, I believe that obtaining a Master’s degree from such a prestigious place, and even while working, will help to significantly broaden my professional and academic path.
As an outstanding student frequently listed on the Director’s list for academic excellence, and having recently been promoted to Lead Investment Analyst, where you lead your own team, how do you manage to balance your demanding job with your academic responsibilities? Could you provide some advice to your fellow students on how to achieve this balance?
Denis: During this time, I have learned one of the most important skills to help me cope with an intense workflow – time management. It all comes down to the ability to focus on what is most important at the moment, deal with it and shift my attention to the next most important task. I have all my work and university milestones written down somewhere, so that I can keep it running.
What lessons from LBS have proven valuable in your professional career?
Denis: One of the most important lessons I learned during my time at LBS was, of course, the ability to work in a team and, most importantly, to lead that team on a project. Since LBS is heavily oriented towards working in teams, I found it to be a great opportunity to learn how to communicate with different people in different situations.
Finally, what are your future career goals, and how do you see your current role and education helping you achieve them?
Denis: In the future, I definitely see myself working in Private Equity and Venture Capital, potentially acquiring and leading more independent projects, as this is the best way to learn. From the academic standpoint, I would definitely like to try teaching university students at some point. Since I have tutored many students before, I know it is something I enjoy, and so I hope to return to LBS, perhaps as a professor in some years.
Thank you for your time, Denis. You make Lauder Business School proud and we will continue to cheer you on as you advance in your career.
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