Even as a child, Sandra Zahn had a passion for technology. Today the mother of one son is a partner and tech leader at EY-Parthenon.
Ms. Zahn, you are a tech leader – what does that mean?
My team and I help companies with mergers and takeovers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is our job to evaluate the IT landscape of the organization in question. I am responsible for the entire pre-deal phase when buying and selling companies or parts of companies. I also regularly exchange ideas with customers about properties that could be interesting for purchase or provide support in the search for potential buyers.
What makes your work exciting?
That my job is hard to plan and no two days are the same. Every Tuesday we have a call to determine which projects we are working on. But then we often have short-term requests that we have to respond to quickly. This is exciting, but also requires a lot of flexibility.
Where do you find balance from your work?
With my family, which includes my husband and son as well as a dog. He ensures that I leave my PC every now and then and go into the forest.
As a mother of a son, you don't just have to meet the demands of your team. How do you manage that?
It is important to be open about it. My son sometimes appears in a video conference. Flexibility and a functioning network are also prerequisites for this to work.
Are there special support programs for women at EY?
Yes, for example, we have the NextGen Women competition, with which we support young, ambitious women who want to pursue a career with us in the Strategy and Transactions area.
What advice would you like to give to female career starters?
Be brave, stand up and say what you need. Women can choose to have a family and still pursue a career in consulting. EY offers all employees the space to be a dad or mom, look after their parents or play sports semi-professionally. It is important that you speak openly about your wishes. Then there will always be a solution.
Find out more about your entry opportunities at EY now: www.de.ey.com/karriere
