Starting Out
In the summer of 2007, when I was still a student, I became a trainee in the Treasury Sales Department of Raiffeisenlandesbank NÖ-Wien. A little more than a year later, in October 2008, the phrase “too big to fail” had to be reconsidered. With the fall of the Lehman Brothers’ investment bank, the financial world was deeply shaken. At the time, we didn’t know the topic would preoccupy our collective attention for the next 10 years.
The time I spent at the bank was exciting. I was almost always the first one in the morning. I enjoyed the work and the respect we garnered among our colleagues. Those of us on the 13th floor wore suits, ties, and of course cufflinks, even on Casual Fridays. The treasury was a cash cow and we were earning a significant part of the bank’s profits.
At that time I was more than happy with the job—the learning curve was steep and success was immediate. I was ambitious, just as I am today. But the attitude of some colleagues and superiors bothered me. After three years, I had learned all I could and my work was flawless. There was no opportunity to gain more responsibility, so I realized that it was time for a change.
I got a job at another bank with a different approach but again reached a ceiling after three years. A third bank was the same… and so on.
The Turning Point
As my career continued to be unsatisfying, an experience in my personal life brought me to a breaking point. My uncle, who was my role model and mentor, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Within a year, the cancer killed him. My world was profoundly shaken. For the first time, I really began to question what I was doing both professionally and personally. This experience led me to start the process of change that I had already been craving.
On May 13, 2013, I quit my job, ending my career as a banker. I have never looked back. It has been the best decision of my professional life so far.