Timo Maronna

Describe your role and what it is that you do overall and on a day-to-day basis.

Overall, what I do as a consultant is working together with my team and our clients to help them create a positive impact for their organization. At McKinsey, there is no limit as to where this happens: From businesses, to governments, NGOs, and multilateral organization - the next project could take you anywhere. During my journey with McKinsey, I have mostly specialized in working with advanced industry clients - from machinery conglomerates in Germany to automotive players in China. However, the common denominator is always that we work together with the client to help them solve their most pressing problems, which could be the design of a new operating model, the optimization of capacity allocation across different plants or the development of a business case for a new product generation. Naturally, such challenges are always tackled in diverse teams, which does not only increase the impact of our work but also the fun during the week.

What interested you about the field/company/role you are currently in?

I decided to move into consulting after SSE because it is near impossible to “stand still” in the industry. From the first day on you are exploring new topic areas and get exposure to any industry of function you could think of. Moreover, you can go to work with the certainty that what you do matters and will have an impact. Another nice perk of the work as a consultant is that you have the chance to work across borders, meet other cultures and very early on in your career work with senior management teams. Finally, the job lets you round-off the toolkit you start developing at SSE - from analytical thinking to communication and personal development - There is an incredible learning curve in every aspect of the day-to-day work.

Why did you choose to study your subject area at SSE?

The Master in International Business offers everything one could ask for as a student. Not only does it offer an excellent education but also puts great focus on personal development of the students. Ultimately, it was this combination that convinced me to join the program. Also reflecting on the experience after graduation, I am certain that the academic curriculum, the international opportunities (e.g., through CEMS) and the people you meet during the program are second to none when it comes to preparing you for what comes after university. 

How did your time/education at SSE help guide you to the career journey you have embarked on?

SSE helped me immensely in guiding me in my career so far. While I believe the numerous corporate events are greatly beneficial for students to get an idea of how it is working for a certain organization, it was the time spent actively reflecting on what you really want to do in your life, which helped me find my way (luckily, in the MiB program, personal leadership is in fact part of the curriculum, so you can’t really escape it). Needless to say, sessions with the career counselling service at SSE, the mentorship program and a mandatory internship help find your way as well.

Following the time at SSE, do you have any words of wisdom or advice you would like to share with our current students?

Take it all in. The time at SSE is extremely special and the experience you have will stay with you for the rest of your life. Moreover, find a balance between spending time studying and getting to know Stockholm and your peers. You will always find something to study and go deeper on but don’t forget that you also have a life beside the lectures and exams. Lastly, take your time to figure out what is important to you and what you want to do after graduation. Chances are, if you made it this far, everything else will turn out just fine as well.

What are three words that sum up your time at SSE?

Memorable. International. Ambitious.