Hi, Clara! Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Clara Fain and I’m the Chief Financial Officer of Via, which provides software and services to help power public transportation systems in over 700 cities in more than 30 countries. I'm also on the board of Iveco, one of the largest truck and defence manufacturing companies in Europe, and I'm a mother of four boys!
When did you join Rothschild & Co?
I joined during my last year of school in early 2009 – first as an intern then as an analyst. I studied engineering in Paris and was passionate about Finance.
What was it like joining Rothschild & Co so early in your career?
I have the best memories! It really was wonderful. It was a bit like how I imagine joining the army would be, where you're all together in the trenches, working hard on super interesting deals, and have this unique experience that nobody else can quite understand.
What are your fondest memories of working at Rothschild & Co?
I became so close to my analyst friends It was great being part of the Rothschild & Co family and getting close to all these talented people. We worked on some milestone deals, such as the GDF purchase of International Power (led by Gregoire Heuze), and the Vivendi - SFR deal (with Guillaume Vignéras). So I built great memories, both on a personal level and on a professional level.
Did anything funny happen or go wrong?
I don't know if this still happens at Rothschild & Co, but if you were an analyst, you’d go downstairs to physically bind the books that you would present to the clients. I remember when we’d finish the work, transform into little printing worker bees and go downstairs to print the books. I have lots of memories of that little print room – it was such a rite of passage.
Are you a member of the Rothschild & Co Alumni Network?
Yes! Of course! I love the alumni stories so I am so glad to contribute to one!
Have you kept in contact with the people who you used to work with at Rothschild & Co?
Yes, I’ve kept in contact with lots of my Rothschild & Co friends. I've had some professional interactions with the company as well.
What skills did you learn at Rothschild & Co that you still use today?
Everything I learned at Rothschild & Co applies today: the work ethic, client focus, attention to detail, telling a story, and building relationships that are truthful and authentic with clients and teammates. These are all values the firm is well known for.
What do you miss most about working at Rothschild & Co?
The people and the culture. The office in Paris is a beautiful office, with these comfortable carpeted floors. I miss the smell of the office, the people, the culture, and the sense of humour of that group.
If you could go back in time to your days at Rothschild & Co, what advice would you give yourself?
I would tell myself: “Be confident. Hard work, humility, and consistency pay off. And make sure you surround yourself with bright minds that are also good people, it makes the journey far more enjoyable!”