“The hierarchies at EPAM are very flat; we have fast decision-making processes and therefore more freedom. This suits me very well.”
ETH alumnus Andy Wyss studied electrical engineering at ETH Zurich and has worked for IT consultancy firms for more than 30 years. Two years ago, just before the start of the coronavirus pandemic, he accepted a position at EPAM Systems, Inc. in business development. We spoke to Andy Wyss about his career and what advice he would give ETH graduates for their professional development.
Why did you decide to study electrical engineering? And why did you opt for ETH Zurich?
I spent a lot of time weighing whether to study Electrical Engineering or Computer Science. If I remember correctly, the Computer Science course was only in its second year. The course just felt too new for me and perhaps not yet well enough established, so I decided on Electrical Engineering instead. But I was not a typical Electrical Engineer—from the outset, I was interested in software and my coursework and Master's thesis focused on programming. My Master's thesis was about computer-aided pattern recognition in images.
I always wanted to study a technical subject and to become an engineer. Since I was from Zurich, ETH was an obvious choice. I was able to study practically outside my doorstep. ETH’s reputation as one of the world’s leading universities, both then and now, was also important to me. I knew that studying at ETH would push me, too, and I liked the idea of that.
How did you get onto the career ladder?
Even when I was at university, I knew that I wanted to work as a consultant. I did not want to become a specialist. I found being an ETH graduate very helpful at the start of my career. Leading consultancy firms attached great value in employing ETH graduates. During my time at university, I worked as a consultant and wrote programs for various companies. I have always been hugely fascinated by programming and analysing IT tasks. I was also excited by the fact that my knowledge gave companies a very specific benefit. From the beginning, I enjoyed having this practical focus to all my work.
I found it very easy to get onto the career ladder. My extensive knowledge of programming and my analytical approach certainly have helped me a lot. After graduating, I started at Andersen Consulting, now known as Accenture. I was a programmer for the first few years, then I took on more responsibility as a team leader and ultimately managed entire projects. After almost 20 years of project work, I moved to account management and have spent 10 years managing major clients in the life science sector.
What is your current role at EPAM?
For the last two years I have been working in business development at external pageEPAM. I am responsible for acquiring new projects, mainly in the life science sector.
““I think it is important to remain receptive to new things and to continue to develop your specialist and technical knowledge in every job you have. Lifelong learning has always been essential for me.””Andy Wyss
Why did you move to EPAM?
To be honest, I had not even heard of EPAM before. A client who worked with EPAM introduced them to me. Moving to EPAM also meant a change in my work. In business development, I am now much further removed from the implementation of IT projects. Once I have acquired projects, I pass them on to my colleagues. There are positive aspects to this. For example, an IT system is often launched on 1 January, so I am now free on that date.
Why do you like working for this company? Or in other words: What do you appreciate most from your employer?
Despite having more than 58,000 staff members and a history spanning nearly 30 years, EPAM still feels a bit like a start-up to me. The hierarchies are very flat; we have fast decision-making processes and therefore more freedom. This suits me very well. As a huge fan of technology, I love the fact that EPAM is an engineering and digital transformation services company. All the staff are very curious and willing to learn. Everyone is receptive to new technologies and wants to manage projects successfully and to the satisfaction of our clients. This also drives me in my job.
What particular abilities and skills did you learn during your time at ETH that you have been able to use during your career?
During my time at university, I honed my analytical approach and continually improved my knowledge of programming. I believe that I am also very good at finding practical solutions to IT issues and thereby in helping customers. I also learned how to work out a lot of things for myself, like for tasks where there was no theoretical basis in our textbooks. I have always been attracted to that.
What was your first project at EPAM?
My first project at EPAM where I was responsible for an acquisition came in early 2020. It was hugely exciting and, most importantly, it is still very relevant today. The project was around automated testing of software on large analysis instruments, which are used for PCR tests. The regulatory requirements of this software are vast, which means the tests must be very precise.
What do you find most interesting about your work at EPAM?
I very much enjoy the contact with clients. I find constantly having to re-adjust to new situations and tasks very exciting. My work is very diverse. I am still learning to come to terms with this. I also very much like immersing myself into new topics.
How would you describe a typical working day for you?
I spend a lot of time talking to clients, producing presentations and interacting with my team and various other departments. I joined EPAM in February 2020; a very peculiar time as the pandemic lockdown happened just six weeks later. Of course, I usually visit my clients, but this has been virtually impossible over the last two years. I can do all the other aspects of my job very well working from home since everything can be done remotely.
How would you describe the “company culture” at EPAM?
Since I joined EPAM soon before the pandemic started, I only recently met my team in-person for the first time. Last year, we had a virtual Christmas party and were all sent a small table-top grill and vouchers to buy ingredients. The celebration gave us a great sense of belonging.
How does your employer help you to develop your skills and knowledge?
We have a huge range of internal training programs and LinkedIn courses. One of things I am interested in is compliance issues. There are internal chat forums where we can discuss problems and view responses from people throughout the company. EPAM also organises hackathons.
What advice would you give to ETH graduates about to embark on their first job?
I think it is important to remain receptive to new things and to continue to develop your specialist and technical knowledge in every job you have. Life-long learning has always been essential to me. Some ETH graduates, especially those working in consultancy, climb the career ladder too fast and soon find themselves managers. They miss out on vital “grounding” and are at risk of losing their own specialist core skills because they are not using them on a daily basis. They no longer have their fingers on the pulse of technology. If they encounter a setback in their career, they may well find it hard to refocus. In other words, it is well worth sticking with a job that relates to your specialist abilities and practical experience.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
On a yacht, sailing across the ocean. Sailing is one of my passions. I have also founded a start-up company and developed an app for finding spaces for vessels in marinas. I guess I have not said goodbye to programming quite yet.