Holding an M.Sc. in Law and Finance and being on my dream career path humbles me when I look back at how I started after my Abitur. Coming from a small town in the alpine region of southern Germany, I realized that I needed new impressions to test and develop my skills. Back then, I did not know what to study, so I decided to start an apprenticeship in a luxury hotel in Austria and explore the world of hospitality. My former CEO encouraged me to study in a metropolitan city like Munich. This environment forced me to establish an entirely new network which helped me enter the world of consulting.

It is fair to say that it was a long journey from being an apprentice in the hospitality sector to a senior consultant and now an investment analyst in a private equity firm. The latter would not have been possible without the support of Trinity.

The MSc. Law and Finance programme was essential to honing my knowledge. The private equity class taught by Kyran McStay was terrific. He gave valuable insights into PE, trained us to take on big tasks, and challenged our work ethic and approach seemingly unsolvable challenges. In addition, learning about sustainable finance and its legal issues further helped me reorient my skills to find opportunities in industries where a significant overhaul is needed.

Besides the lectures, Trinity allowed me to engage with like-minded students through the various societies it hosts. My favourite was the Trinity Student Managed Fund. As a member, one could conduct weekly sessions with fellow members to discuss fund investment opportunities and get training from the more experienced members. Furthermore, one could access the exclusive speaker series consisting of renowned executives.

My time and experience in Dublin transformed me in more than one way. But, importantly, it gave me the confidence and abilities to break into the private equity circle of Munich. Finally, it would be remiss to mention how Felix and Martha, the programme directors, helped open a new chapter for me. Thanks to them, I now have the opportunity to pursue my PhD at Trinity Business School, where I look forward to helping develop new academic theories about employee participation in non-public SMEs.

Tim Schwarzmeier
MSc Law and Finance 2021-22