From kicking off new client projects to managing the junior talent pipeline for Strategy, Risk & Transactions Advisory (SR&TA), a week in the life of Kathrin, Manager in the Strategy & Business Design (S&BD) team, is both varied and fast paced. Learn more about the responsibilities and opportunities that come with a more senior role below.
Hi there! My name is Kathrin, and I am a Manager in the S&BD team, part of the SR&TA service line, based in Zurich.
In my role, I support Commercial and Market Access teams within Life Sciences companies on key strategic business questions related to their operating models, go-to-market strategies and capabilities. Over the past two years, I have also been involved in building up a new offering called 27pilots. Through this initiative, we support corporations across all industries to adopt leading startup technologies at scale to gain a strategic edge (Have you ever heard about the BMW startup garage? It is a great example of corporate-startup collaboration).
On Monday we started a new project with a Life Sciences client focused on designing a refreshed governance and operating model for their Market Access Team. Our strategy projects tend to be fast paced, offering a steep learning curve that is both rewarding and challenging at the same time.
My day began with a kick-off meeting with our client to recap project objectives, align on key milestones and agree on how we’ll work together throughout the engagement. After that, I planned out my week on a day-by-day basis, using my trusted OneNote template and began setting up client touchpoints.
What makes this project particularly exciting is the scope—we’ll be conducting a wide-ranging interview series across Asia, Europe, and South America, and hosting two interactive workshops with the client. One of the things I really love about the work we do in S&BD is how closely we collaborate and co-create with our clients. It’s exciting to develop solutions that are truly tailored to their needs, while also bringing in fresh external insights and benchmarks.
My next day began with an onboarding session for a new team member who joined Deloitte this September. During our meeting, I introduced him to our project and the key client stakeholders involved. We also took a moment to reflect on our individual working styles and preferences, and set personal objectives for what we each want to achieve throughout this project. One of the best aspects of consulting is the diversity of people you meet along the way - my colleagues come from a wide range of backgrounds, including engineering, business and medicine.
Afterwards, we switched gears to prepare for our first client workshop scheduled later in the week. The starting point for a lot of the work we do in strategy is indeed the classic whiteboard, which I used to sketch out the workshop storyline and plan the engagement formats we’ll use - everything from quizzes and breakout sessions to guided discussions. These interactive elements are essential for engaging diverse stakeholders, bringing our strategic work to life and having fun along the way.
Later that evening, I joined the September edition of our S&BD drinks — They are hosted on a rolling basis by one of our Partners, and are a great opportunity to regroup and connect with colleagues working on other projects in a relaxed and fun environment.
In addition to my client work, I also contribute to internal initiatives in my role as junior recruitment lead. My Wednesday began with a meeting with our HR Business Partner to review our current candidate pipeline and recruitment needs. We also discussed upcoming university events that our team will participate in during the next semester, including our S&BD-hosted flagship events — such as the Women in Strategy Challenge, which, funnily enough, is where I first got hired myself, so you could say it’s a bit of a tradition for me.
Similarly, we launched our project interview series by engaging with local market representatives from China, Japan, and Germany. It was interesting to observe how the regulatory and reimbursement processes across these markets differ and consider how these variations will inform the design of our operating model. The rest of the day was dedicated to continuing preparations for the upcoming workshop. In the evening, I attended a Deloitte Alumni event at the ‘Landesmuseum’. I love reconnecting with former colleagues and hearing about the diverse paths their careers have taken.
On Thursday, we facilitated our first client workshop, bringing together a cross-functional team with diverse perspectives, including both country-level and international representatives. Although our clients are usually spread across the globe, we as the Deloitte team make an active effort to meet in person at the office whenever possible, as it really helps foster collaboration - Plus we have a great barista!
Later, I connected with our country head of 27pilots to discuss an upcoming event we’re planning for leading Swiss MedTech companies. The focus will be on the Venture Client Model and how it can create strategic value for them. Then, I start to head home because I have a special evening activity planned: My colleague is away for a long weekend, so I'm enjoying dog sitting their adorable labradoodle (see picture below). He’s still a lively puppy with plenty of energy, so we enjoyed a long stroll after work, taking in the beautiful views of Lake Zurich.
On Friday, we began incorporating our client’s feedback into the workshop materials and continued the interview series with representatives from France. Over lunch, I took time for my weekly tennis session as a great way to recharge. While I’m no Roger Federer on the court, I am working on my backhand - one swing at a time.
One of the great things that Deloitte offers is Personal Development opportunities; this Friday I had my monthly check-in with my coach to discuss my objectives for the next financial year. I also try to pay it forward and host bi-weekly feedback calls with my team members - to celebrate the wins and identify how we can further make an impact. And with that, my week comes to a close - looking forward to what’s next!