Post by Horst Hagemann

Long ago, I left my home to follow my passion for finance and banking. But why did I choose this life? Simply put, I love numbers and people. I like putting one foot in front of the other, staying close to the details and staying close to the person. It started earlier than I expected. At twelve years old, my mother pushed me to get a summer job, so I became a cashier at a petrol station. I learned to handle money and count change, even when things got busy. That’s when I realised I had a natural comfort with numbers. The real lesson, though, was talking to people. If someone asked for engine oil, it was never only about oil. It usually came with a concern, a complaint, or a story about a strange sound that somehow had to be the petrol. Today, I still believe service delivery is the same everywhere. You listen, put yourself in the customer's shoes, and then deliver what they actually need. Whether it’s a till at a petrol station or a balance sheet today, numbers only work when they’re paired with attention and care.