Gain an insight into the life of a consultant
What made you decide on Batten & Company?
I wanted to combine my enthusiasm for marketing with a challenging activity in a strategic consulting firm. At Batten & Company, I exactly found this possibility, and so my wish to join is clear. As you are part of the small and highly motivated team right from the beginning and directly collaborate on exciting marketing projects, I can say retrospectively that my expectations and wishes have been fully met.
What does a “normal” day look like for you? What kind of projects do you work on?
One of my priorities is monetary brand marketing. An increasing number of enterprises want to know their brand’s value, as the brand represents one of their most important competitive advantages. Even if the terms of reference are basically similar, every brand valuation project represents a new challenge. The starting point as well as the way towards the target are never the same. The job at Batten & Company also remains exciting because, needless to say, I collaborate on other projects with different focuses as well. E. g., I recently participated in the development of a sales concept for a big service provider. That is why a typical work day does not exist. My professional everyday life constitutes change, thus the contrary of routine!
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
At the beginning of many projects, you think that the new task is the biggest challenge you ever had to handle. But once you have familiarized yourself with the subject and first partial successes of the project take shape, this “biggest” challenge turns out to be a challenge you can cope with. And at end of the project, you can normally say that without these challenges the job at Batten & Company would surely not be that exciting!
What kind of adventures do you have outside of work?
In my leisure time, I look for recreation through sport – jogging and skiing are my favourites. And if I still feel the need for adventures outside of the job, I am mad about travelling.
Gain an insight into the life of a consultant
What made you decide on Batten & Company?
Before definitely joining Batten & Company, I did a three month internship there. I very quickly became aware of the advantages for me. The many-sided and diversified range of tasks was one of the most important reasons why I decided to join Batten & Company. In addition to this, I experienced the cooperation with my colleagues who shared my enthusiasm for marketing topics as ultimately motivating. Another reason why I decided on Batten & Company is the friendly and very dynamic working environment.
What does a “normal” day look like for you? What kind of projects do you work on?
Thanks to the project work, almost no day resembles any other day at Batten & Company, since the main topical focus, the customer and the business field make you face continuously changing challenges. Conceptional work on the one hand or e.g. the cooperation with agencies on the other hand guarantee a lot of change and enable a corresponding learning curve.
So far, I was busy for different (part) projects in different fields including e.g. projects for enterprises from the telecommunication, the financial services and the logistics spheres.
So far, I was busy for different (part) projects in different fields including e.g. projects for enterprises from the telecommunication, the financial services and the logistics spheres.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
My personal development as well as the ever-changing thrilling tasks is what I experience to be the biggest challenge in my job at Batten & Company. The daily interaction with the customer also includes permanently changing tasks and challenges enabling constantly my personal and professional development.
What kind of adventures do you have outside of work?
I mostly use my weekends to meet friends what I often combine with a more detailed exploration of the Munich environment. In my leisure time, change is also very important to me, that is why you can meet me wearing jogging shoes, on skiing runs or in the theatre as well.
Gain an insight into the life of a Senior Consultant
What made you decide on Batten & Company?
What I considered particularly fascinating about Batten & Company was the opportunity to take care of responsible marketing tasks that went beyond operative issues, immediately. From the first day on, I could work on a variety of strategic tasks – involving different customers in different business fields. Moreover, it was the challenges of the classical project work in mixed teams that appealed to me. And not at least, it was the first-class working atmosphere that made Batten & Company to be such an interesting employer for me.
What does a “normal” day look like for you? What kind of projects do you work on?
I executed my most recent projects at customers from the nearer environment where a permanent presence on the site was not required. That is why, at present and unlike many of my colleagues, there is at least one constant factor in my job, i.e. the same way to work every day. But beyond this, there are quite few “ordinary” weekdays or “routine” in my professional life. Above all, I work on projects from the strategic marketing sphere, i.e. brand positioning, brand architecture, target group segmentation etc. This includes preparing and supporting the implementation within the enterprise. Furthermore, I work on classical marketing management subjects such as the maximising of product development processes, the development of communication strategies etc. Apart from the project work, I deal with the further development of methods and tools and take care of internal tasks like supervision and recruitment of trainees.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
Shortly after having joined Batten & Company, I worked on a project in Switzerland that was very demanding in contents, the time frame and the organisational skills. Although the workload demanded a great deal of myself at the time, it belongs to my best and most fascinating project experiences, as I learned a lot: amongst other things, that – besides contentual excellence – a good working atmosphere in a project team contributes essentially to motivation and project success.
What kind of adventures do you have outside of work?
In my leisure time, I meet friends and go in for sports as often as possible, so that I am able to keep pace with our yearly Batten & Company relay team at the Düsseldorf Marathon. Moreover, I recently started snowboarding, so that I go to the mountains in winter and sometimes can be caught in one of the many near-by skiing centres on weekends – particularly in summer a real adventure!
Gain an insight into the life of a Senior Consultant
What made you decide on Batten & Company?
As to my choice of the employer, several aspects played an important role: On the one hand, I was looking for an environment that is distinguished by a high degree of change and ever-renewing tasks. On the other hand, it was important to me to be involved intensively and amply into projects. Both things in combination with a very tempting marketing focus were offered by Batten & Company. So you deal with topics that are extremely exciting – not only from a strategic point of view but also from the own point of view as an end-user.
Other no less important reasons why I decided on Batten & Company were the staff as well as the friendly-loyal atmosphere.
Other no less important reasons why I decided on Batten & Company were the staff as well as the friendly-loyal atmosphere.
What does a “normal” day look like for you? What kind of projects do you work on?
In the consultancy business, a "normal" day does not really exist, as each project differs distinctly with respect to the business fields, the contents and the customers. Only the often similar but at any rate three-step project approach “Analysis – Development – Implementation” remains valid. The work days are diversified and sometimes require a high degree of timely and spatial flexibility. Very dynamic and interactive customer workshops, partly international meetings and conceptual works guarantee that you never get bored.
As to the contents, I was busy in very different fields mainly focused on the internet, the financial services and the automotive sectors.
As to the contents, I was busy in very different fields mainly focused on the internet, the financial services and the automotive sectors.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
What I still consider a very exciting experience is the own development one passes through while depending on continuously expanding task fields. So, at present, I have to face completely new challenges on my way to project management. This includes above all the double control task – for one thing internally towards the team, and for another thing externally towards the customer.
What kind of adventures do you have outside of work?
Contagioned by my international school and study years, I am enthusiastic about travelling and particularly seek far sites far off the tourist paths, kick-off meetings and milestone planning.
Gain an insight into the life of a manager
What made you decide on Batten & Company?
Key to my decision to join Batten & Company was the prospect of working for a leading management consultancy that belongs to one of the world's largest communications networks.
What does a “normal” day look like for you? What kind of projects do you work on?
I work on projects in the areas of financial services and the automotive industry as well as the field known as "monetary brand evaluation". My working day consists mainly of carrying out project-specific analyses and reconciling them with the project management and the needs of the client respectively. Additionally I have internal responsibilities in the areas of intern supervision and recruitment. I've had several opportunities to work on some exciting projects: when I first started my job here I was able to gain experience working abroad in Spain and Switzerland as part of a brand evaluation project for a large European bank. Other milestones have been the development of a loyalty scheme for a car manufacturer, the development of a multi-brand strategy and the creation of a marketing plan for a client in the second-hand car sector.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
The most interesting projects are those that combine both the development of the strategy and the implementation. A good example of this was when I was called upon to prepare and support the campaign launch for a Germany DAX company. Alongside the development of the value proposition and its implementation into a communications strategy I was also responsible for managing market research companies and weighing up market cultivation scenarios.
What kind of adventures to you have outside of work?
Sport is a big hobby of mine. My aim is to complete a triathlon in the not too distant future.
Gain an insight into the life of a manager
What made you decide on Batten & Company?
There are three reasons in all for my decision to join Batten & Company: firstly, my interest in working with a variety of different clients in the field of marketing; secondly, the opportunity to contribute to methodically challenging projects and thirdly, the positive impression the company and my colleagues gave me during their cooperation with my professorship in marketing.
What does a “normal” day look like for you? What kind of projects do you work on?
What happens on a 'normal' day basically depends on whether I am at the office or with a client. At the office, I'll spend much of the day working on the computer, speaking on the telephone with clients and in meetings with colleagues; it is my time at the client's office that is the most exciting. Normally I am at the train station or airport very early in the morning hoping that Die Bahn or Lufthansa won't let me or my schedule down. I use the journey either to work or as an opportunity for "active regeneration" before meeting with the client to gather information and discuss methods of negotiation and resolution. On the way to my hotel or back home I make notes of the most important things on my BlackBerry.
My main focus is on the automotive and financial service industries, where I generally get involved with questions of brand management and CRM. I also support other projects concerning marketing methods and market research.
My main focus is on the automotive and financial service industries, where I generally get involved with questions of brand management and CRM. I also support other projects concerning marketing methods and market research.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
Consultancy means "the principle of permanent, slightly excessive demands" and is therefore constantly challenging! This includes the ability to respond to exacting clients and new tasks and to learn the ropes fast in unfamiliar areas. This of course also provides the most enjoyment in my job: it is never boring and I feel constantly challenged to do the best I can.
However, there is one particularly big challenge that springs to mind: trying to tell a Chinese taxi driver, who could neither speak English nor read Chinese, that I needed to get to the airport fast and above all, how to get there in the first place. Those are highlights I'll be able to tell my grandchildren about.
However, there is one particularly big challenge that springs to mind: trying to tell a Chinese taxi driver, who could neither speak English nor read Chinese, that I needed to get to the airport fast and above all, how to get there in the first place. Those are highlights I'll be able to tell my grandchildren about.
What kind of adventures to you have outside of work?
The weekend gives me the opportunity to catch up with the things I don't have time for during the working week. My adventures are therefore limited to glorious events such as "Saturday close combat fighting" at the supermarket check-out and at furniture stores.
Gain an insight into the life of a Principal
Experience before joining Batten & Company:
Brand Manager for Unilever (food category); Manager in the strategy practice, PriceWaterhouseCoopers Consulting (consumer goods, retail, telecommunication)
What made you decide on Batten & Company?
The very mixture of drafting and implementation-oriented tasks combined with the opportunity to move in different business fields is unique at Batten & Company. Batten & Company is an integral part of the BBDO Group. This enables me – unlike at classical consulting firms – to communicate with e.g. our sister companies and agencies specialized in public relations, the internet or in classical communication.
What does a “normal” day look like for you? What kind of projects do you work on?
My time is marked by relatively fast changes between the so called New Business generation, i.e. the tailoring of consultancy offers for project requests, and the project delivery, i.e. the working on sometimes several simultaneously running commitments with different customers. In addition to this, I am continuously controlling several contentual topics such as the further development of solution offers on CRM or publications as well as the work in monetary brand valuation bodies.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
One of the biggest challenges is to move surely between quickly changing environments and issues. The consultancy job sometimes requires strong nerves as time pressure and customer expectations are very high. You must be able to cope with this pressure – at the same time, this is one of the biggest advantages: the routine share of my work is minimal. Boredom and phases of monotonous work practically do not exist.
What kind of adventures to you have outside of work?
I fully consciously invest my leisure time in my social environment, i.e. I spent my time with my family and with friends. As a consultant, you are away a lot of time, this is the reason why it is so important to have an environment that has little or nothing in common with your professional environment. So, you can keep your necessary distance in order to work during the week with your customers and your team focused on project questions. As I work in our Munich office, I enjoy the near-by German and Austrian Alps and try to go skiing in winter as often as possible.
Passionate, versatile, consultative: Udo Klein-Bölting gives us an insight into the life of a CEO
Why did you found Batten & Company? What was the idea behind it?
My wish was always to work for myself and have my own company. One other thing was clear to me, however: I wanted to be playing in the Champions League right from the start. And I was of course aware how important and useful a strong brand and professional environment are in order to win clients for an agency that was a purely "greenfield" operation.
The opportunity to develop this idea further came to us in 1999: "us" being Dr. Olaf Goettgens, BBDO Germany and me. BBDO provided the brand and the environment; we brought strategy and entrepreneurship to the table.
The strategy became clear very quickly: there was a gap in the market for a focused consultancy concept that would concentrate on the growth of a business by means of an integrated approach to market-oriented business management. Furthermore, clients need support in converting strategies into manageable processes and systems for long-term implementation. This gap in the market and the perception of the BBDO brand were therefore a perfect match.
The opportunity to develop this idea further came to us in 1999: "us" being Dr. Olaf Goettgens, BBDO Germany and me. BBDO provided the brand and the environment; we brought strategy and entrepreneurship to the table.
The strategy became clear very quickly: there was a gap in the market for a focused consultancy concept that would concentrate on the growth of a business by means of an integrated approach to market-oriented business management. Furthermore, clients need support in converting strategies into manageable processes and systems for long-term implementation. This gap in the market and the perception of the BBDO brand were therefore a perfect match.
How would you describe Batten & Company’s business model?
We concentrate on areas that can be leveraged across different industries. Our business focuses on company growth and we often "brand" these areas in order to give our clients an initial, ready-to-use catchword. Employer branding, for example: the development of employer brands summarised in one expression. Ultimately the priority is always to improve one's position in all relevant markets in order to achieve a sustained improvement of the competitive environment.
The marketplace seems to be saturated by management consultants. How does Batten & Company achieve sustainable growth?
With our clear focus. We are the best in our field in Germany. Traditional consultancies only really touch on the subjects we deal with, using a small number of specialists to do so.
Our growth is based on the development of our knowledge and areas of expertise. The internal development of partners is supported by our own "power partnering" programme. Our international plans continue to grow. We are simply in a very good position.
Our growth is based on the development of our knowledge and areas of expertise. The internal development of partners is supported by our own "power partnering" programme. Our international plans continue to grow. We are simply in a very good position.
How does BBDO differ in relation to the competition?
We provide the best of both worlds: the professionalism and independence of the globally active, leading company that is BBDO and the start-up spirit of a small elite company. We are without doubt the Eldorado for marketing maniacs.
How do you stay so passionate about Batten & Company? How do you motivate yourself?
Interesting topics, great clients, brilliant colleagues who are eager and capable. It is "my" company. I just enjoy it. And every entrepreneur knows that feeling: motivation simply isn't an issue.
Why should job-seekers, in particular university graduates, apply to Batten & Company?
We offer a unique combination of clear marketing orientation, professionalism, unparalleled start-up spirit and a great brand - worldwide.
Where do you see Batten & Company in five years?
By then we will have at least doubled in size.
