Can you complete a PhD while in Top-Tier Consulting and Pivoting to Middle Market PE CFO? Yes! - Dr Raphael Ruess

https://youtu.be/5S3eMLK8LAw A new episode of Business Unbound is out now! 🔥 This time, I'm joined by Dr. Raphael Ruess, Group CFO at FARADEA and CFO at SWIBOX AG, backed by EOS Partners, and a former management consultant at AlixPartners and EY. Raphael did what most would call 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞: he completed a PhD while working full-time in high-pressure M&A advisory. He later made the leap from advising boards to owning the outcome as a middle market PE-backed CFO. In our conversation, we talk about what it really takes to pursue ambitious goals in parallel: finishing a #PhD without a plan B, performing at the highest level in #consulting, and then successfully transitioning into an operational #CFO role. We dive into how to manage your time and energy, what you need to unlearn when moving from consultant to operator, and why people skills often matter more than technical perfection in a CFO role. ​ 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨: ⚫ How to structure your week to make real progress on ambitious goals (e.g., a PhD) while working in a high-performance environment ⚫ Which consulting skills truly transfer into operational leadership (and which ones can get in your way) ⚫ How #privateequity creates value through buy-and-build, digitization, and synergies across portfolio companies ⚫ What it really looks like to lead finance and operations in an SME and PE-backed environment ⚫ The “Sunday evening test” and what it tells you about whether you’re on the right career path #BusinessUnbound #Podcast #NewEpisode #Leadership #Consulting #PrivateEquity #CFO #CareerAdvice #PhD #AlixPartners #ValueCreation