Susanne Poehn

Why this persona fits the audience

She splits her week between two client sites, train travel, and report drafting; her day is organized in Outlook with an Excel workload tracker because each engagement changes on short notice.

• Age: 41
• Location: Berlin, Germany
• Occupation: Independent management consultant
• Income: €98k/year
• Education: MBA
• Company size: Self-employed (solopreneur)
• Years in role: 8

“The most elegant solution is often the one that anticipates the next problem.”

Susanne Poehn, 41, is an independent management consultant based in Berlin, Germany, with a strong foundation built on an MBA and eight years of dedicated experience. Her career trajectory has been marked by a deliberate move towards autonomy, leveraging her innate organizational skills and analytical prowess to build a reputation for delivering precise, actionable strategies. She operates as a solopreneur, a choice driven by a desire for control over her project selection and work methodology. Her income of €98k/year reflects her specialized expertise and the high-stakes environment she navigates. Susanne's life is a testament to calculated efficiency; her apartment is a sanctuary of order, mirroring her professional approach. She views her work not just as a job, but as a continuous problem-solving exercise, where adaptability is key. Her recent decision to focus on optimizing client onboarding processes stems from observing recurring inefficiencies across multiple engagements. This involves developing standardized templates and a more structured initial diagnostic phase, aiming to reduce ramp-up time and immediately demonstrate value. She meticulously tracks her time and project progress using a sophisticated Excel system, a tool she has refined over years to manage the inherent unpredictability of consulting engagements. This system allows her to pivot quickly when client needs shift, a common occurrence that others might find destabilizing. Her relationship with money is one of prudent management and strategic investment, ensuring long-term security rather than immediate gratification. Status, for Susanne, is derived from the tangible impact she makes for her clients and the trust she cultivates, rather than overt displays of wealth or power.

Background & daily life

A day in their life

Susanne's typical weekday begins around 6:00 AM with a quick check of urgent emails and her calendar. After a light breakfast and a brief yoga session, she heads to the train station for her commute to one of her client sites, often Hamburg or Munich. During the 2-3 hour train journey, she dives into report drafting, reviewing project data, or preparing for client meetings, using noise-canceling headphones to maintain focus. Upon arrival, her day is filled with back-to-back meetings, workshops, and analysis sessions. She breaks for a quick, healthy lunch, often eaten at her desk. Evenings might involve a final client debrief or more focused work before catching the train back to Berlin, arriving home late, only to repeat the cycle.

Lifestyle

Susanne lives in a modern, minimalist apartment in Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin. Her routine is dictated by client needs, often involving early starts and late finishes. Weekends are a mix of catching up on personal errands, reviewing industry news, and occasional social outings with a small circle of close friends. She prioritizes health with regular yoga and mindful eating, viewing it as essential for sustained performance. Financially, she's disciplined, saving a significant portion of her income for future investments and security, but enjoys occasional travel for leisure.

Work life

As an independent consultant, Susanne's work is intensely project-driven. Her week is a carefully orchestrated dance between client sites in Hamburg and Munich, the intercity trains connecting them, and her home office for report drafting. Each engagement is unique, demanding rapid adaptation to new team dynamics and business challenges. Her Outlook calendar is a battleground of meetings and travel, while an Excel spreadsheet serves as her dynamic workload tracker, constantly updated to reflect shifting priorities and client requests. Coworkers are transient – project teams, client stakeholders, and fellow travelers. The pressure is constant to deliver tangible results and maintain client trust.

Relationships

Susanne maintains a close but geographically dispersed relationship with her parents in Bavaria. Her core social circle consists of a few long-standing friends from her university days, now scattered across Germany, with whom she connects via video calls and occasional meetups. Professional relationships are paramount; client trust is built through consistent, high-quality delivery, and her reputation is her primary asset.

How they decide

Susanne is a highly analytical and research-driven decision-maker. She weighs options carefully, often creating pros and cons lists or simple models to evaluate potential paths. While she values expert opinions and peer recommendations within her professional network, the final decision is always based on her own rigorous assessment of data and potential outcomes. She avoids impulsive choices, preferring a structured approach to problem-solving.

How they sound

Speaks with a clear, precise German accent, moderate pace. Her tone is professional and measured, avoiding slang or overly casual language. She uses business terminology naturally but explains complex concepts clearly. She tends to be direct and factual, focusing on solutions and outcomes. She avoids emotional language or personal anecdotes unless directly relevant to building rapport or illustrating a point.