Sebastian Z. - Product Strategist / Specialist Lead (until 06/2022: Subject Matter Expert)

Wiesbaden, Germany

Experience

Jul 2021 - Dec 2024

3 years 6 months

Kornwestheim, Germany

Product Strategist / Specialist Lead (until 06/2022: Subject Matter Expert)

Württembergische Life Insurance AG

Enhanced the product strategy process to cover the entire customer and intermediary journey and the full product lifecycle with a focus on boosting sales
Led strategy projects, including a compensation systems workshop in light of a potential commission ban and a beauty contest for an innovative AKS advisory tool, and evaluated the introduction of internal insurance funds and certificate-linked policies
Collaborated with the W&W brand pool to identify innovative and digital business models for cooperation or investment, and on POG development measures (e.g., Rezi2021, ESG, conduct supervision), including coordinating the BaFin review

Mar 2019 - Jun 2021

2 years 4 months

Stuttgart, Germany

Deputy Head of Department – Market Analysis & Strategy

Württembergische Life Insurance AG

Acted as deputy department head and mentored individual team members
Managed the product strategy process, including designing a new all-in-one pension product to meet all customer needs and proposing an innovative AKS offering (fully online, low entry price with automatic needs adjustment), and carried out a feasibility study
Oversaw the POG guidelines and company ratings (including preparation and reporting) and served on the Corona task force

Jul 2018 - Feb 2019

8 months

Stuttgart, Germany

Product Manager

Württembergische Life Insurance AG

Co-managed a subproject for an occupational pension product development program, including developing a genuine mixed financing option in a single contract and pension commitments under the new classic plan
Proposed a product idea for a basic ability module in occupational disability insurance (later named 'Insurance Product of the Year')
Facilitated sales committees, especially all product development committees

Apr 2016 - Jun 2018

2 years 3 months

Stuttgart, Germany

Project Manager – Personal Insurance

Württembergische Life Insurance AG

Managed strategy, product development, process, regulatory, and technology projects, including the fastest product launch in msg Life Factory with the ParkKonto reinvestment product, a feasibility study for automated risk assessment at the point of sale, an interest rate project with a capital market-linked lapse charge for classic and index products, and the launch of a product offering lifetime death benefit
Established and improved project management standards and processes

Feb 2015 - Jul 2015

6 months

Bonn, Germany

Sales Coordinator

GLOBAL-FINANZ AG

Managed around 300 sales partners, providing training and coaching
Led sales projects, especially designing a new reinvestment process

Dec 2013 - Present

12 years 1 month

Wiesbaden, Germany

Owner

Finanz- und Wirtschaftsberatung Sebastian Zosel

Self-employed management consultant for the finance and insurance industry, covering business development, strategy development, change/innovation management, digitalization/process optimization, sales management, training, and coaching
Independent financial advisor (e.g., as an insurance broker, financial, loan, and mortgage broker, and generational consultant)

Sep 2012 - Dec 2013

1 year 4 months

Wiesbaden, Germany

Executive Board Advisor - Group Development

Aragon AG

Leading projects within the group, including building the largest fee-based brokerage platform by number of entities and developing Germany's first multi-asset policy (alternative investments)
Implementing a new junior model (including training and compensation) for FiNUM.Private Finance AG
Providing in-house consulting to group subsidiaries, cost and process optimization, investor relations, and risk reporting for the supervisory board

Nov 2010 - Aug 2012

1 year 10 months

Wiesbaden, Germany

Executive Board Assistant

Jung, DMS & Cie. AG

Supporting the Operations & Finance board member in all board projects, including the post-merger integration of former MLP Austria (now FiNUM.Private Finance AG) and onboarding additional investment fund platforms, with contract drafting
Product review and competitor monitoring, preparing and following up on meetings, business organization and quality assurance, servicing key clients, and sales controlling

Sep 2007 - Sep 2010

3 years 1 month

Wiesloch, Germany

Dual study program student

MLP Finanzdienstleistungen AG

Rotated through various departments, especially sales support units

Apr 2007 - Sep 2007

6 months

Wiesbaden, Germany

Recruiting Assistant

Goetzfried AG

Assisted with the recruiting process at an IT and personnel services provider

Jul 2006 - Mar 2007

9 months

Bad Schwalbach, Germany

Civilian Service Volunteer

Rheingau-Taunus-Klinik Pitzer GmbH & Co. KG

Civilian service in a spa and rehab clinic

Summary

I support the financial and insurance industry in developing their business models, products, and processes – from the initial idea to a successful launch.