How Making Time for Personal Interests and Role Models in the Early Career Influenced My Trajectory

Samuel Rohr is a Manager with Alvarez & Marsal’s (A&M) Global Transaction Analytics (GTA) team within the Transaction Advisory Group (TAG) in Melbourne, Australia. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Bern and his master’s degree from the Geneva Graduate Institute.

In this Q&A, Samuel discusses the key factors that influenced his decision to return to A&M in May 2024, the skills he gained while at A&M and how they propelled his growth and the vital lessons learned from his closest mentors. He also delves into the profound impact of his extensive overland travel, the advantages of being fluent in four languages and how these experiences have shaped his perspectives and interactions.

What key factors, including aspects of A&M's culture or opportunities, influenced your decision to return to the firm in May 2024?

When I first joined A&M in 2019, the primary motivational driver was the prospect of working in an extremely entrepreneurial setting and helping set up the presence from scratch: A&M had decided to open offices in Switzerland, and I was one of the very first team members in the country. This experience was highly rewarding on a personal and professional level. When I heard about A&M’s ongoing expansion in Australia and the newly created local Global Transaction Analytics team, my fond memories of the build-up stage fostered my decision to return.

Understanding the Importance of Mentorship and Growing Your Network

Reflecting on your time at A&M, which skills have you gained, and how have they propelled your personal growth and success?

The environment at A&M in Switzerland was extremely dynamic, and I was very close to the action—for example, I had interactions with clients’ senior leadership on engagements, was involved in strategic discussions with the team, and had the freedom and encouragement to be proactive about growing my network and connecting with potential future clients. This exposure gave me a better understanding of the advisory business and significantly bolstered my confidence.

Who are your closest mentors, and what vital lessons have you learned from them?

Guidance and role models are crucial in an ever-changing, fast-paced industry like consulting. Early in my career, I met two outstanding leaders who significantly influenced my trajectory. A few noteworthy examples of the many things I learned from them are understanding the bigger picture around our work and some of the not-so-obvious mechanisms, engaging with others effectively and how to build and motivate a winning team. I am in regular contact with both—there is still a lot I can learn from their wealth of experience.

Finding Time to Focus on Personal Passions During Your Career

How has your extensive overland travel across Europe, South America, Central Asia and West Africa influenced your career, perspectives and personal life?

I cannot overstate its impact on my way of seeing the world. Traveling at a relatively slow pace by car and tent allows me to visit remote areas, have unique conversations and get a peek into the lives of people who live profoundly different lives. The remoteness requires good preparation and a certain degree of self-reliance. The challenges I faced led to tremendous personal growth—ultimately shaping my professional life. However, the traveler does not become part of the community, which is one of the reasons why I decided to move overseas and experience living in a different environment.

Based on your experiences of taking career breaks to travel extensively, what advice would you offer someone considering a similar journey to explore the world?

Be careful; I think it is addictive! On a more serious note, I would not only think about the experience I want to have but also with whom I want to share it. A solo trip? A good friend? Partner or family? You will likely spend more time per day with this person than ever before.

Describe the office culture in Melbourne from your perspective.

The office culture in Melbourne has been incredibly welcoming, which aligns with my overall experience in the almost two months I have lived in Australia. Like in the early days in Switzerland, the team is growing rapidly, and these are exciting times! There are so many opportunities to help shape the future of the business.

How has the ability to fluently converse in four languages (i.e., German, French, English and Spanish) shaped your perspectives, experiences and interactions throughout your personal and professional life?

I have a strong passion for languages and try to set aside time to keep learning more. I am convinced that the choice of language influences the setting and effectiveness of a conversation. Barriers can be removed, and trust can be gained more rapidly. Language skills have been extremely helpful on travels and in connecting with people: my friends’ Russian skills allowed us to converse and share a cup of vodka with farmers in the mountains of Tajikistan. They have also opened doors to very interesting client work that required specific language skills.

How has your passion for playing the guitar and music influenced your personal and professional life?

Playing the guitar helps me relax and is something I do for fun. The creativity and coordination between the brain and fingers make it the perfect counterbalance to a numbers-heavy job!