“I keep learning and growing every day"

Today, Jonathan Lorenz is a senior consultant at 4flow. After participating in the 4flow challenge, the supply chain case study competition for students, in 2019, he originally started out as a working student. In this interview, Jonathan tells us about his highlights and biggest challenges at 4flow so far, what advice he’d give other young consultants, and why he loves the Atlantic coast of France.

How did you get your start at 4flow?
I participated in the 4flow challenge in 2019. In the competition, I worked together with other master’s students on a supply chain case study. As a team, we made it to the finals. The project and the 4flow challenge days were a great experience that led to a close friendship with my team and future colleagues. I got to know 4flow and then started first as a working student, and later as a consultant.

Before you started as a consultant, you already had a student job at 4flow. How did your time as a working student at 4flow affect the start of your career?
As a working student, I had already met lots of people on the 4flow team and could build a network that later helped me find the right people to contact about any kind of topic. And I had already worked on lots of projects as a student, which meant I already had valuable experience and a good idea of what being a consultant at 4flow is like.

And what does your work look like now?
So far, I’ve worked on several projects in the automotive industry, as well as other industries like machinery manufacturing, retail or FMCG. The focus of each project was different, so I had the chance to try lots of new things, from operative tasks to developing a business strategy. And I’m involved in internal processes, like recruiting, sales and marketing. On the whole, I always have new tasks, which I really enjoy. It’s often challenging, but I like that I always learn something new. I keep learning and growing every day.

What are you especially proud of when you look back at your first years at 4flow?
I got to take on responsibility in customer projects quickly. Thanks to that experience, I learned a lot, and I’m proud of what I achieved. It was a really great feeling to have so much trust put in me after such a short amount of time.

What advice would you give other young consultants?
Just go for it! Especially when you’re facing something you’ve never done before, things might not go 100% smoothly. But that’s completely normal, and you learn something new each time. That’s the only way to move forward and keep growing.

Do you have a personal highlight at 4flow?
Absolutely – my team. I’ve met lots of kind and interesting people at 4flow. I really enjoy working in such a young-spirited company with so many like-minded people. I’ve made friends here, and we get together on weekends and go on bike rides. That always helps me clear my head and get to know coworkers outside of work and away from our desks. It’s important to take time for that.

Is there a spot you especially like to go to clear your head?
My favorite place is the Atlantic coast in France. As a kid, that’s where we always spent our vacation. So I know it like the back of my hand, and I can spend all day at the beach, being active and eating good food. For me, that’s the perfect atmosphere to just unplug for a while.