From Study Buddies to Teammates at zeb: Adam’s and Enzo’s zeb.referral journey
Published on: 22 April 2026
Referrer: Adam Ustjanowski
Why did you participate in the zeb.referral program and recommend zeb as an employer?
After just under a year at zeb, I was so impressed by the values in action and the special team spirit that I wanted to share this environment with people with whom I had already had an excellent co-working experience in the past. Knowing how well we complement each other, it was a logical step for me to talk to Enzo.
Who did you recommend and how did you get to know each other?
Enzo and I worked closely together during our studies, when we spent countless nights fine-tuning complex DCF models and presentations, etc. We share the same professional standards as well as our sense of humor, which is what makes us such an efficient team where one intuitively trusts the other.
How did you manage to convince Enzo of zeb, was there a decisive factor?
Our tried-and-tested teamwork was the door opener for Enzo; I was able to convince him to switch from the stock market to the world of consulting, and today I am very proud of the strong development he has shown.
What added value do you see for yourself by taking part in the referral program?
The greatest added value for me is the motivation to be able to actively help shape my team with top talent whose working methods and strengths I already know very well. This results in well-oiled processes and enormous efficiency from day one, which benefits both the company and the personal working atmosphere.
Do you have a good tip for colleagues who would like to become active as a “recruiter” themselves?
My tip is this: only recommend people with whom you really enjoy working together and to whom you can offer a real perspective with zeb. It should never be about the referral for its own sake, but about the added value for both sides.
Referred candidate: Enzo Trovato
Referred candidate: Enzo Trovato
How was the referral process for you and did Adam have to do a lot of persuading? And did you know zeb before?
I met Adam during my Master’s degree at Goethe Business School, where we worked together successfully. Before zeb, I held a line position and found consulting work as Adam presented it to me extremely interesting and appealing for my professional development. When it turned out that his company collaborated with my employer at the time, we had more intense discussions on site about career prospects, which ultimately led to me switching to consulting.
Why did you choose zeb as your employer?
The decision to join zeb was based on several factors that distinguish the company from traditional consultancies. I was particularly impressed by the combination of entrepreneurial freedom and flat hierarchies. At zeb, you don’t just do project work, you are actively encouraged to pursue your own initiatives, be it by acquiring sales leads, participating in company-wide working groups or developing thought leadership content such as articles for the BankingHub. Adam and I are continuing the efficient collaboration from our studying days in an entrepreneurial way. Last year, we set up a working group, followed up our own sales leads and also drove a lot of topics internally.
What was it like to start at zeb and what has been your highlight so far?
Starting out at zeb was impressively dynamic. On the very first day, I was integrated into a joint acquisition team with zeb and findic colleagues and given the chance to participate in an ongoing tender. It was particularly motivating that I got to actively design one of the service packages and that I was suggested to the client as a consultant. And we won the tender! This early involvement in business-critical processes showed me right from the start that responsibility at zeb is not tied to hierarchical levels.
What topics or aspects at zeb did you experience differently after joining than you had previously imagined?
In fact, I have to say that Adam presented the overall package to me very realistically. The expectations he raised in advance regarding working methods, corporate culture, creative freedom as well as the challenges were quickly met and fully confirmed when I joined the company.
