Say It Skillfully® – Dr. Steffen Pauls, Seeing What Others Don’t

Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you to benefit from Molly Tschang’s expert guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive and productive manner. In Episode 154, Dr. Steffen Pauls tells his story of ups and downs, from attending summer school in the U.S.—barely knowing English—to working his way up in the world of fintech and private investing. Steffen grew up in a strict and disciplined home in Wiesbaden, Germany. Expectations were high; he was told he must go to university AND get his PhD. Hear memorable stories from his childhood that shaped who he is today, including his dad opening his eyes to the realism of playing piano professionally. Hear about Steffen’s time at Harvard summer school. He started at age 19, barely knowing any English, and ended up staying for over a year and writing his master’s thesis (you won’t believe what he did to overcome his lack of English… talk about grit). With great gratitude, Steffen talks about how this fueled his dreams of working internationally and enabled him to pursue roles in consulting and investment banking that laid the foundation for him as an entrepreneur. Don’t miss lessons learned from his journey that included leaving roles without knowing what was next, doing a start-up alongside his wife, the loss of their 1st child, and priceless experiences with KKR in the early days of the firm. Hear how Henry Kravis himself imparted how powerful it is to know: you are important. And Steffen shares how it was essential for him to believe in himself while starting Moonfare. Don’t miss this captivating account of what it takes to find your true north and have the courage to find success on your terms. Molly’s thought for the week: When you see something others don’t, that's an opportunity. Do something about it.