ALUMNI STORIES & MORE: GET TO KNOW.....

What is your current job title and can you describe your job responsibilities?

I am currently a Supervisor at the European Central Bank in the Enforcement and Sanctions Division of the SSM Governance and Operations Directorate General. I am responsible for investigating breaches of prudential requirements committed by Supervised Entities (banks) and preparing proposals for the imposition of penalties and/or enforcement measures by the ECB or national competent authorities within their respective fields of competence.

Additionally, my division operates the so-called “SSM whistleblowing mechanism” which enables any person with knowledge of breaches of prudential requirements committed by a Supervised Entity or a competent authority to report it by providing a safe harbor for whistleblowers, as they do not need to reveal their identities.

What motivated you to apply for the LL.M. Finance program at the ILF?

The diversity of the program, both in terms of modules (combination of legal and finance classes) and in terms of nationality of the students, was fundamental when considering my LL.M. options. The latter was fundamental for settling in Frankfurt - but also for the overall experience - which was very smooth and fun!

On top of this, the mandatory internship in combination with the proximity to renowned law and consulting firms as well as the European Central Bank (my current employer) had an unparalleled appeal for me as I was able to build my network and have very rewarding professional experiences in Frankfurt.  

How easy was it to network yourself in Frankfurt during your studies here at the ILF?

Networking was never my strength but the ILF makes it easier by mingling students with highly esteemed professionals who are also leaders in their respective fields. This was made possible, for instance, by the organization of several (sometimes annually occurring) events on law and current trends in the corporate and banking fields, whereby students had the opportunity to get exposure and chat with experts and seasoned professionals. Moreover, there is the ILF alumni event, where students can get acquainted with alumni and exchange information on their career opportunities and sometimes even get a tip for potential vacancies in the alumni’s companies.

What advice would you offer ILF applicants or prospective students?

The LL.M. in Finance is useful for students with a legal background to get acquainted with topics of finance and other relevant fields (e.g. economics, accounting) while also sharpening their soft skills (e.g. I deeply enjoyed the class on Effective Negotiations). Regarding hard skills, the students can expect to become more versatile by the end of the LL.M program, but they need to bear in mind that a change of career path will probably request more than an LL.M. degree.

I would advise them to reach out to alumni first and ask as many questions as they can and to be realistic about the career path they wish to follow (so talking to alumni who are already where the student wants to be is key). Moreover, be flexible and do not always expect that your career path is a straight one with more successes than failures (as it is usually the opposite). Finally, accept that sometimes you also need to have luck and good timing in order to attain your goals.