The collaboration between Michel Zumstein and the bank Lombard Odier is a story, which has been several years in the making. After different jobs at strategic level in various banking institutions in Geneva, Michel assumed his functions as Executive Vice President in 2007. Here is the portrait of a passionate man.
What is the best moment you can remember in your career?
I started my career as a product sales specialist and then in human resources and training. I spent several years teaching finance and banking evening classes to young people, something I found hugely rewarding. I had a reputation for being harsh but fair and my ultimate aim in all those years was to ensure that every young person I taught succeeded. I never gave up.
If you had to give just one piece of advice to a junior starting his/her career, what would it be?
Above all, I would say be motivated. Opportunities only arise when we create them. You need enthusiasm to turn your dreams into a reality.
Do you have a Motto or lucky charm?
One plus one equals three. I am a firm believer in teamwork. As a private banker, I always find that people who do things on their own are concentrating more on their own success instead of being focused on their “client‘s needs”. The best examples of successes I have achieved in my career have nearly all been the result of team projects.
“The best examples of successes I have achieved in my career have nearly all been the result of team projects.”
What do you enjoy the most in your day-to-day job?
At Lombard Odier, we have a very special relationship with our clients and they often confide in us. I would say that, in this job, you have the opportunity to meet passionate people from all walks of life. My clients range from sportspeople to traders, entrepreneurs and the descendants of illustrious families. What makes my job fascinating and exciting is the challenge to answer to different needs depending on objective, expectation and time in life.
If you had to do it again would you chose the same career path?
I like my job and the relationship I have with my clients. If I had to do it again, I would perhaps go for a job that also involved a combination of tangible creativity and contact with people like an architect or a watch designer. What I do know for certain is that I would choose a career that offered plenty of opportunities to live for a period of time in another country. It very nearly happened – a few years ago there was an opportunity in Abu Dhabi, but it didn’t work out in the end. When I was younger, I dreamed of working in the hotel sector for the contact with customers, the service element and the international opportunities. These are somewhere element of my current job.
Where is your favorite place on earth and why?
I don’t have a favourite place. It’s not the place that’s important but the people who are with me. As long as I have my family and friends close by, I would be happy anywhere.
How would you qualify your relationship with Ampersand World?
I like the trust and dynamism that Ampersand World employees inspire. They are real pioneers who know how to surprise their community through the different services they offer. AW has an established brand image and is well-known on the market. We have built up a strong working relationship that we hope will continue in the long term.
