Lazard

Question 1

Key leadership topics faced in investment banking

6 aspects

Answer 1

1. Pyramid vs. hourglass hierarchy structure
2. Execution vs. Marketing
3. Age gap
4. Intrinsic motivation
5. Work-life balance
6. Remote work management

Question 2

e-Financial-Careers believes in 12 habits opf successful investment bankers

Answer 2

1. Successful investment bankers are adaptable
   
   • Requirements change throughout the career
2. You must be dogged and persistent
   
   • Clear focus and determination on bringing in new business
3. You must always be more informed than the competition
   
   • Information is crucial for business generation and execution
4. Senior investment bankers must know how to delegate
   
   • Learning when and which tasks to delegate
5. You need to take career risks
   
   • Career opportunities rarely knock twice
6. You must have an outlet from work
   
   • Time off should be used wisely
7. Successful investment bankers are relentless
   
   • There is always room for improvement
8. Successful investment bankers are consistent
   
   • Consistently deliver results
9. Successful investment bankers mix work with pleasure
   
   • Certain client meetings can be pleasurable
10. Successful investment bankers will be ruthless
    
    • Discipline and thick skin are important
11. Successful investment bankers will be detached
    
    • Emotional distance is recommendable
12. Successful investment bankers will always be impeccably dressed
    
    • Clothes make people

Question 3

How do you create a sustainable team spirit?

Answer 3

• Build an environment where people of the junior team see each other as colleagues and not as competitors
• Team events
• Develop the people - give them the ability to make process

Question 4

Can you give us an idea of the skills an employee should develop to reach the next position/ rank?

Answer 4

• Need to have a package of hard skills in e.g. finance
• Try to always give your best
• Focus on exceptional quality in what you are doing -> gain trust of your colleagues so that they can give you further challenging task to grow and reach a new rank/position

Question 5

What is your favorite leadership style?

Answer 5

• Depends on project type
• Directive style does not work today anymore, employees demand more from a leader nowadays
• Restructurings are getting more important
• directive leadership is important to show what needs to be done
• Delegating is important to handle the workload