Thierry Girardier, Business Manager, UBS, Zürich

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Alumni Service

5 August 2019

In order to help current students and recent graduates to find their way in the working world, many of our alumni shared their career story. Here the story of Thierry Girardier,  Business Manager, UBS, Zürich. USI Degree:Bachelor in Scienze economiche, 2009, Master in Finance, 2012.

How did you start your career? 

I did a 6-months internship at UBS in Lugano during my Master program. After this, I entered the UBS graduate training program (GTP) which is designed to give fresh graduates a way to explore different areas of the bank thanks to 4-6 month job rotations over 1.5 – 2 years.

Why did you choose a career at UBS?

I chose to work at UBS because of its international relevance as a universal bank with a solid wealth management franchise, and its strong presence in Switzerland.

What is your current role/duties?

My job is to coordinate stakeholders across business divisions, support the management in the decision making process, address operational challenges and ensure an efficient flow of information between management, client facing staff and support functions.

In your opinion, what are the qualities necessary for a successful career at UBS?

UBS is a large, complex company with a multitude of roles and responsibilities. There is not such thing as a single skill set required to succeed, however there are some commonalities found among successful individuals: dedication to your job, ability to understand and disentangle complex situations, flexibility to adapt to new situations. Last but not least, the ability to work as a team.

What are USI’s positive featuresand qualities?

USI is still a relatively small university and therefore allows quality "air time" that students can benefit from when interacting with professors. The breadth of the programs is also certainly a plus and allows students to tailor their studies based on their professional aspirations.

What competences and/or skills acquired in your USI Study Program have been useful/are useful to your professional career?

First and foremost the ability to understand and solve complex issues; getting used to deal with multiple tasks simultaneously; prioritization.

What is your advice to USI students entering the job market?

Choose a sector that interests you, do some research to identify companies with high ethical standards, learn about them and their value chain. Take the time to understand why you want to work in that company and how you can add value. When interviewing: be honest and show confidence but don't try to sell someone you are not – it rarely pays off in the long run. My best advice? Show commitment, stay humble and be passionate about what you do!