How would you describe the culture at Allianz compared to the startups you worked in?

Hi Xiaowen!

I find your question interesting as it is quite similar to one posed by a CEO to me a few months after I joined Allianz.

My response was that after the fast-paced life of a startup, I suffered culture shock when I stepped into an MNC and had to deal with the lengthy process of socializing proposals, garnering consensus, and finally formalizing a decision. It was slowing down to a crawl after life in the fast lane.

However, my colleague sitting next to me chimed in to say that he came from one of our entities and the pace at the regional office was blazingly fast in comparison! I guess it comes down to the perspective you are looking at the situation from!

After I adjusted, I am glad to say that I enjoy the culture here at Allianz. The exposure to people from different nations and backgrounds is amazing. I have learned a lot about life in other countries and the worldview my colleagues have. It has taught me to broaden my thinking and to be more open to new ideas. This is quite different to the startup I was in, which was limited in terms of cultural diversity.

I also believe that Allianz has a strong focus on its purpose and values. Our internal purpose is: We secure your future. It sums up very well what we are here to do. There is an emphasis on our four people attributes of Entrepreneurship, Customer & Market Excellence, Trust, and Collaborative Leadership. We try to walk the talk.

I think you would find Allianz a diverse and welcoming place to work at!