Munich
The early start for the airport run was not helped by the rain but nevertheless it dampened no one’s spirts. The airport was packed mainly with confused looking entrepreneurs having been hauled out of bed so early. We arrived to a brief lunch in the Bayerischer Hof Hotel Munich and then went straight into the afternoon’s line up. While the team scrambled around behind the scenes organising check-ins and luggage, Sinead Browne revitalised the group, as chief operating officer of Allianz GCS she was able to give an insight into her working world. The groups were then broken down for the EY exit readiness sessions held by our very own EY partners. The sessions were put together to help guide people’s thinking about the strength and sustainability of their businesses, looking primarily at how to adapt financials and tax plans in anticipation of a range of possible exit strategies. It was definitely information over load by five o’clock when the group broke to retreat to their rooms to get dressed up for a relaxing evening in Seehaus Restaurant, positioned in the heart of Munich’s English Gardens.
The next day was the one everyone had been eagerly waiting for, BMW was a name that defiantly stood out on the itinerary. The group spent the morning wandering around the manufacturing plant in astonishment at the level of organisation and coordination that went into making BMW cars which echoed BMW’s slogan ‘BMW – The ultimate driving machine.’ Michele Fuhs, Head of Premium Retail Experience at BMW kicked off the afternoon that emphasised that customers have changed a lot and trends are constantly changing as a result of the information available at the touch of a button.
The recurring theme of the future was raised yet again in Peter Fuss’ presentation on the future of mobility and how people will travel in generations to come. Armed with insightful videos of self-driving cars, he pin pointed how the smartphone was a game changer – Fuss was certainly a crowd pleaser.
There was a certain buzz about the group as we departed BMW to head back to Bayerischer Hof Hotel to quickly turn around for the Big Top Night. The room overlooked the city of Munich and was the ideal venue to host our concluding night of what was an amazing trip. Dinner was an indulgent affair and the Bayerischer Hof pulled out all the stops; it was accompanied by speeches from Alumni and finalists. As the networking and merriness went on into the night, the team took the opportunity to relax and go out and wander around the vibrant city that is Munich – a night to remember.
The final day of the trip was spent in the EY office in Munich, where our German colleagues looked after us in every way possible. That morning’s focus was on family business, led by EY’s Peter Englisch. This topic was relevant to all of our entrepreneurs not just our family business owners and judging by the high level of engagement from the audience they all took a lot form the session.
Finally, as our trip was drawing to a close, the final stop was around the corner to Augustiner-Keller for some moments of refection in a more casual nature.
This past couple of weeks were very challenging and without doubt tested my abilities and stamina. EY has certainly given me the opportunity of a life time. Teamwork played a crucial role in putting the CEO Retreat together and I have learned so much from the amazing people around me already on this placement. To work alongside such an incredible team has shown me anything is possible.
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