Every week, interesting personalities from the world of finance and beyond share their personal preferences in our section Backstage.

What do you do first in the morning?

In the morning, I enjoy my first strong Cappuccino with my husband and am greeted by our little dog Charlotte.

What is the best thing about your job?

I meet lots of exciting people and enjoy the conversations. I also follow developments on the capital markets on a daily basis and position our BNP Paribas investment strategies with our clients according to their solution demands. The constantly changing environment allows me to learn something new every day. I really appreciate working for an international financial company with many locations worldwide.

A moment that changed your life?

Naturally, my life has been filled with many memorable moments. One special moment for me was when I was a young woman working in a Swiss hotel on Lake Constance. I developed a special relationship with the country back then. Nineteen years ago, I had the opportunity to return to Switzerland to live and work, and I didn't hesitate to take over the role of sales representative for my former employer in Zurich.

What cars do you own? Which is your favorite?

It was always my dream to own a convertible and I love the open-air feeling in my Mercedes Cabriolet.

What advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?

Never give up - always believe in yourself. Find your personal path and follow it consistently. Surround yourself with interesting and likeable people and be open to other countries and cultures. Being curious and not being afraid to ask questions.

What are you particularly proud of?

I am proud to have shown the courage to take risks and leave the beaten track several times. For example, after 10 years in vairous positions at a German insurance company, I took the opportunity to build up sales in the DACH region for a British asset manager. I then moved from Frankfurt to Zurich within a short space of time and took over and developed the Swiss sales representation. During that time, I also managed to juggle my family and a demanding job.

What was your biggest defeat?

I always wanted to work in sales and it was my dream to sell cars, either Mercedes or Porsche. I started at Mercedes as a junior sales trainee with the aim of joining the sales force. Thirty-five years ago, this career path was not yet accessible to women, leaving inside sales as the only available option. As a result, I chose not to complete the training and instead continued my career at a German insurance company. In retrospect, I am very happy with how my professional life ultimately turned out.

What is your favorite wine?

I love wines and am fascinated by how wine as a cultural asset has been cultivated for thousands of years. My favorite red wine is the Ribero del Duero from AALTO.

What projects are you currently working on?

We are currently positioning our investment solutions in the private markets sector in Switzerland. Recently, we were represented at the pension fair with a fund that invests directly in forests for timber extraction. I am looking forward to further expanding our relationships with institutional investors such as insurance companies and pension funds.

What is most important to you at the moment?

Over the past 5 years, we have lived in an environment that has been characterized by strong and abrupt changes: Covid, wars and conflicts practically on our doorstep - in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. I believe it's important to cultivate resilience, to develop a deep appreciation for your others, and to practice daily gratitude - for instance, simply being thankful to live in a free and beautiful country.

What would be the biggest surprise for someone who had to take over your job for a day?

I’m referring to the broad spectrum of expertise required across various areas - including regulation, compliance, operational matters, cross-border sales, product structuring, product positioning, and investment solutions in Switzerland. Successfully bringing a strong product to market requires more than just its quality; numerous additional factors must be addressed. On top of that, there's the ongoing challenge of leading and motivating a team on a daily basis.

What is your personal drive?

I am a curious person and want to keep learning and growing. I am also a «people person” and always find it enriching and fulfilling to be able to achieve goals a spart of a team and develop together. It’s also exciting to learn a lot about people, especially with their different backgrounds and cultural influences.

What are you afraid of?

Living in a dictatorship where you no longer have the freedom to travel and speak your mind openly. I also fear isolation, nuclear war, and incurable illnesses.

Your favorite watch brand?

In terms of design, I really like my Bulgari watch.

What do your employees value most about you?

In a team, it is important to work together on the basis of respect and appreciation. My employees appreciate my positive energy and experience as well as my drive to tackle new projects. They also appreciate my straightforwardness and oppenness. The fact that I give individual employees responsibility for projects where they can learn and grow is also often cited as a motivating factor.

Your best investment?

Our vacation home in Gran Canaria – it’s great to have a second home where the sun shines all year round and the climate is pleasant.

Ariane Dehn has worked in the financial sector for over 30 years. She has been Country Head Switzerland at BNP Paribas Asset Management since 2019. Prior to that, she worked for Janus Henderson Investors in various positions in Switzerland and Germany since 2001.