Last night, Lauder Business School hosted a Fireplace Talk that featured Johannes Koller, the Managing Director, Head of Investment Solutions & Services at Unicredit Bank Austria and Schoellerbank, as a guest speaker. The question-and-answer session between Mr. Koller and the LBS students covered our speakerยดs multifaceted career in engineering, the military, banking, and finance, discussing career development, the future of finance in light of digitalization and AI, necessary skills (both hard and soft), and the significance of ESG risks in the financial sector. Mr. Koller highlighted the value of university education as a practice ground and offered perspectives on gender disparities in the workplace.
Koller began by sharing his diverse career journey, starting with a technical and engineering background before serving in the military special forces. He moved into the banking world, initially leveraging his online computer knowledge in the audit division focusing on security for international branches. He described this period as a “dream” with opportunities for education, travel, and financial rewards. Later, as he transitioned to the business side, working in trading and dealing, he educated himself on various asset classes, eventually becoming responsible for complex financial products. He stressed that achieving goals requires vision, power, a little bit of luck, and being brave: “What you didn’t do ends up being your greatest regret,โ so he cautioned our students about missed opportunities.
Addressing student questions about standing out in a competitive environment, Koller advised creating and investing in networks, emphasizing giving rather than taking. He strongly encouraged specialization in finance, particularly through pursuing the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) designation, describing it as a rigorous and quantitative path that offers valuable experience and makes professionals both rare and highly sought after. Regarding the impact of AI and digitalization on professions, he compared the current stage to the early days of cars, suggesting that AI will likely be managed and controlled, much like traffic systems today, rather than causing widespread job obsolescence.
Commenting on the evolving role of investment managers, Mr. Koller stressed the importance of education, noting that language skills and creativity are valuable assets. He highlighted the need for intelligence to manage large volumes of virtual capital and a solid grounding in real-world economics to understand business operations. Drawing from his military experience, he underscored the value of teamwork, citing the saying, “If you like to go fast, go alone; if you like to go continuously fast, go with a community,” and emphasized the importance of caring for oneโs colleagues.
When asked about key hard skills, Mr. Koller highlighted data engineering and mathematics, essential for navigating todayโs data-driven world and for modelling and risk analysis. On personal investment, he saw crises as opportunities and emphasized Europe’s potential in digitalization and ESG. Addressing the soft skills vs. knowledge debate, he stressed the need for bothโespecially in a world where persuasion and openness matter. He described effective networking as building both peer connections and relationships with diverse, senior voices to foster learning and creativity.
Addressing challenges for women in finance, Mr. Koller pointed to cultural mindsets and stereotypes as key obstacles in some regions. He advised all aspiring young leaders to use university as a low-risk environment to build skills and develop self-control under pressure, noting that his own growth came through extra effort in courses and exams. He also expressed his belief that blockchain will shape the future financial infrastructure, enabling digital custody and smart contract-based settlements. In closing, he emphasized adaptability, networking, embracing challenges, and learning by doing as key to success.
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