A DAY IN THE LIFE… LUISA POTTLACHER

Who are you, when did you join UniCredit and what do you do?

My name is Luisa Pottlacher and I am the Deputy Head of Corporates Austria South. I joined UniCredit in 2007 starting with a trainee program. Over the years, I worked as Relationship Manager, Credit Analyst, and PMO for the Head of Department with a focus on Smart Banking Business. The Head of Corporates Austria South, his second deputy head and I are responsible for our corporate customers with a turnover of more than three million euros in the Austria South Sales Region, consisting of Styria and Carinthia.

Can you describe your ideal workday?

On a typical office day, I take my bike to work – no matter what the weather is like. I especially like the days when we have our regular team meeting in the morning – which are unfortunately only online now, due to current circumstances. On the business side, an ideal workday for me includes receiving signed credit contracts, presenting a great pitch to customers and getting a credit approval. I would say that it is characterised by solving a problem together or when one of our team members or myself had a great learning experience.

The ideal workday for me ends with a so called “Business Lounge” or a meeting with the board of the junior department of the Federation of Styrian Industry, connecting with others and developing new ideas and strategies to shape the future.

What do you eat at lunchtime normally?

Near our office is a small vegetarian restaurant called “Tischlein deck dich”, where I absolutely like to grab a take away menu. They serve really healthy food and the desserts are more than delicious.

Can you share an insider-anecdote of a funny moment you’ve experienced at work?

Before I started working as a full-time UniCredit employee, I was an intern at a branch in Graz. One day, I came back from my lunch break and a man wanted to enter the branch with me. I told him that the branch was closed and he was not allowed to enter, except if he had an appointment. He then informed me that he is the “Landesdirektor” (Head of Retail Banking) and so is allowed to enter this branch to visit his employees. One of my colleagues came and opened the door for both of us with a huge smile on his face. It goes without saying that my colleagues couldn’t help but make fun of me for the rest of the day.

From the moment I was responsible for the introduction of new employees or interns, I gave them a chart with names and pictures of our executives and told my story to prevent them from experiencing the same.

Are you a morning or evening person?

I’m the typical evening person, who used to stay up late. However, this routine has changed a little bit since I am pregnant and get very tired in the evenings. I might even become a complete morning person once my baby is born, but hopefully I will adapt easily.

What is your morning ritual before going to work?

The morning starts with a cup of coffee (decaf at the moment) and listening to the radio. Good music in the morning is the perfect way to ease into the day.

Your favourite time of the day?

At work, I enjoy the time after 5 o’clock where daily business is nearly finished and the office (before the COVID-19 crisis) quietens. In my private life, I enjoy sunrises as well as sunsets with a nice drink. Especially during vacations, I love to get up early in the morning and watch the sunrise: When the night ends and a new day begins with all different kinds of noises – either the sounds of animals or of the city.

Do you have a hobby?

In my spare time I like to practice yoga, enjoy city skating as well as gardening in the summer and I like to ski in the winter. To travel and explore new places and the people living there with their unique cultures is what I’m addicted to. My family lives all over the world so I love different languages and the unique cuisine of these countries. I hope that we will soon be able to travel again, to see my friends and family. Since my childhood I’m a girl scout and are still a proud part of the scout movement.