Hi Qi, who are you and what do you do?
I’m Qi Li, and I work at Temasek, the Singapore-headquartered investment company, where I focus on investments across EMEA. I joined Temasek in 2015 after leaving Rothschild & Co, where I began my career in finance.
What was your journey with Rothschild & Co?
I grew up in China and studied French at university before moving to Paris for my master’s degree at Sciences Po. That was where I was first introduced to corporate finance and the broader investment world.
During my année de césure, or gap year, I completed two internships: one at Bank of America and another at Rothschild & Co. I graduated in the summer of 2008, right in the middle of the financial crisis. Many of my classmates returned to China, so I felt very fortunate to have the opportunity to join Rothschild & Co and begin what became a very exciting career in finance. I still remember the day Patricia Dard, then Head of HR, called to tell me I had been selected as one of only two new analysts that year, following a very competitive process.
I joined Rothschild & Co in May 2009 and spent three and a half years in the Paris office before moving to Beijing in September 2012. I left the Beijing office in 2015 to join Temasek.
What was it like working at Rothschild & Co in those early days?
Coming out of the financial crisis, the M&A market became very dynamic. It was also a period when cross-border M&A was particularly active, which gave me the opportunity to work on many different types of transactions across sectors and geographies. I felt I was learning something new every day.
I felt that my perspective was appreciated and that I had the opportunity to contribute meaningfully.
What made you want to join Rothschild & Co?
Rothschild & Co was known as one of the very best places to work, not only in investment banking but in the wider finance world. The people I worked with were intelligent, thoughtful, and held themselves to very high standards. I learned a huge amount from them. I also liked the firm’s boutique culture. People knew one another well, and there was a strong sense of connection across offices and geographies. Coming out of further education, it was the perfect place to start a career in finance.
What skills did you learn at Rothschild & Co that you still use today?
Rothschild & Co gave me many of the foundations I still rely on today: discipline, analytical rigour, attention to detail, and high standards of execution. I also learned resilience, how to manage multiple priorities, how to stay positive under pressure, and how to collaborate effectively with others. Most importantly, the experience helped me build confidence in myself.
Are you still in touch with the people you worked with at Rothschild & Co?
Yes, I’m still in touch with several mentors and former colleagues, many of whom have become friends. One example is Thierry Latran, with whom I worked as an intern and learnt a lot from. We have stayed connected over the years and continue to work closely together where our areas of coverage overlap.
Do you find the Rothschild & Co Alumni Network useful?
Yes. After moving back to Asia, I lost touch with some people, so it has been wonderful to reconnect with former colleagues through the alumni network. Now that I’m on the buy side, I also often come across Rothschild & Co alumni on transactions. It is a strong and valuable network.
What do you miss most about working at Rothschild & Co?
The people, the exceptionally high standards, and the sense of being in such an intellectually stimulating environment.
What are your fondest memories of working at Rothschild & Co?
One of the remarkable things about Rothschild & Co is the access it gives you to truly brilliant people. I had the chance to work with a future president of France when he was at Rothschild & Co in Paris, and to meet David de Rothschild when he visited Beijing, and to work with an intern who later founded an impressive start-up that my current team ultimately invested in. Those moments remind me how special the Rothschild & Co network is, and how many interesting paths begin there.