One of the biggest challenges facing graduates is choosing a professional direction before they truly know what it entails. With limited hands-on experience, defining a career path can feel daunting. An environment that encourages exploration can make all the difference.
Nicolas, Alice, and Ronny completed Julius Baer’s Graduate Programme – an 18-month training that includes three rotational assignments – between 2020 and 2022 each entering with different academic backgrounds and aspirations. Nicolas began on the trading floor before moving into Research and the CIO Investment Analysis team. Alice started in business management before shifting into change management and supporting a team of relationship managers in Dubai. Ronny arrived with a background in quantitative finance, rotating through M&A, the Chief Investment Office (CIO Office), and portfolio management.
In the driving seat from day one
Despite their varied paths, a common thread stands out: from the start, they were empowered to take charge of their development, reflecting Julius Baer’s performance- and ownership-led culture. “I started in Trading during my first rotation,” explains Nicolas, “but after that I was given the opportunity to explore roles across the bank that matched my evolving interests. Our Graduate Programme Manager had a favourite line: ‘You’re in the driving seat!’”
Alice’s experience reinforces this spirit of exploration. “The Graduate Programme gave us a solid grounding in how Julius Baer works,” she says, “but we were expected to build our own network and have the courage to make an impact.” This balance of flexibility and accountability is part of how Julius Baer fosters responsible entrepreneurship, where ideas are encouraged and developed with purpose.
Alice later took initiative on emerging topics, laying the foundation for her current role as Head AI Solutions within Digital Business Transformation, in which she focuses on driving the delivery and adoption of the company’s generative AI platform. “I started working on AI when it wasn’t a project yet – just a topic that needed strategic steering,” she recalls. Her experience shows how valuable it is for future talents to stay open to change – as transformation has become a constant across the industry.
Ronny initially felt he should stay close to his quantitative finance background but soon discovered that the people he met during his early days at Julius Baer became the defining factor in his career decision. “You spend more time with your colleagues than with most other people in your life,” he says. “So you should stay close to people who inspire you and help you grow professionally and personally.”
Today, Ronny and Nicolas work side by side in the CIO Office and, in their respective roles, directly for the Chief Investment Officer, providing them with direct exposure and front-row insight to Julius Baer’s investment strategy.
How international exposure builds confidence
Although all three alumni joined the Graduate Programme at the height of COVID-19, it provided valuable rotational opportunities, both in Switzerland and abroad. Their moves attest to the strength of internal mobility at Julius Baer more broadly, where employees are encouraged to explore roles across teams, functions and, regions. Such pathways not only support continuous professional development, but also enable individuals to grow in terms of responsibility and seniority over time, building deeper expertise while contributing to the bank’s long-term success.
Alice spent her international rotation in Dubai, working directly with relationship managers. Immersing herself in the priorities of the front office offered insights that continue to guide her approach. “To demonstrate a digital solution’s impact, it’s important to show how it supports the Front,” she says. “The perspective I gained there now shapes a lot of what I do in my current role.”
Ronny, too, considered Dubai for his international assignment, but opted instead for London, where he sharpened his client focus and delved more deeply into portfolio management. “It’s a complementary skillset to the CIO Office and confirmed my interest in being close to markets and clients,” he says.
While Nicolas also had the chance to go abroad, a timely opportunity arose in the CIO Office, where he envisaged building his career going forward. “I stepped into Ronny’s role while he was in London. When he came back, we began working together in the same team, so it worked out well in the end!”
Approachability at every level
The move from graduate to permanent employee can feel like a big step, but for Nicolas, Alice, and Ronny, the transition was smooth. Strong networks, visibility across the organisation, and a supportive culture meant moving into a regular role felt like a natural continuation.
Nicolas was impressed by the approachability of senior leaders. “People told us, ‘Reach out to anyone – you’ll get a reply,’ and it was true. When I contacted the Head of Research, he replied personally and arranged for his team to walk me through their work.”
Community at the heart of the programme
A hallmark of the Graduate Programme is the tight-knit community it creates. Of the ten graduates who joined the 2020 cohort, nine remain at Julius Baer today – a testament to the programme’s success and the culture it fosters. The community gives the alumni the confidence to ask questions, seek advice, and navigate the organisation.
Alice notes that this sense of belonging was fostered from the outset. “It was clear that the company chose people who energised one another,” she says. Shared training sessions and even the occasional light-hearted moment – “like the famous business etiquette training,” she laughs – strengthened their bond.
What tomorrow looks like for Julius Baer’s Graduate Programme alumni
Nicolas, Alice, and Ronny each have a clear vision for their future. Nicolas aims to deepen his expertise within the CIO organisation and to specialise after several years as a generalist. Alice hopes to continue scaling AI innovation and digital initiatives, taking greater ownership of strategic product development to unlock the potential of this fast-evolving technology in banking and wealth management. Ronny wants to work more closely with clients in bespoke portfolio management. He believes that while investing “continues to oscillate between an art and a science – wealth management, at its core, will always remain a people business”.
What advice do they have for future applicants to the Graduate Programme? Nicolas encourages curiosity and openness: “Learn as much as possible from those around you and embrace new directions.” Alice urges graduates to be bold and trust in who they are, noting that “personality and mindset matter as much as the academic background”. Ronny suggests questioning the status quo: “Julius Baer is a flexible organisation and receptive to fresh perspectives, especially as technology reshapes our industry.”
Taken together, their stories showcase a programme that nurtures entrepreneurial thinking, long-term development, and a deep sense of belonging. For ambitious graduates seeking a place to make an impact, grow internationally, and be supported by a caring community, the Julius Baer Graduate Programme offers just that – a prime spot for prime talent.