A Corner-Office View at Philips

I'm a manager in the global Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions Dept. of Philips Electronics (PHG ), an Amsterdam (The Netherlands)-based NYSE and Euronext listed company that's worth about $40 billion. My job is to advise Philips' business managers and board of management about divesting and acquiring other companies or operations.

After finishing my International MBA at Insitituto de Empresa in Madrid in 2004, I joined Philips, which was a client of mine back when I was still an investment banker. My job at Philips has taken me all over the world, including a recent four-month stint in San Francisco, because we search the global playing field for acquisitions.

My job is dynamic and demanding. I get to work with top management (up to the CEO), the best advisers, and have the chance to see deals I've worked on announced in high-profile media.

Below is a timeline of a typical day in the Amsterdam office.

8:30 a.m. -- I go to work by bike. It's Amsterdam after all.

8:45 a.m. -- Grab a coffee and check my e-mail. I'm working on the acquisition of a NASDAQ listed company, and the lawyers from New York have sent me the new acquisition documents to check. I review the documents, which typically are a challenge to get through.

10:00 a.m. -- Meet with Corporate Strategy to discuss a presentation for the board of management which will occur within three weeks. They have asked me for input on valuation of the different exit scenarios they have created for a business unit.

11:00 a.m. -- Look at my agenda and, remembering what I learned about delegating responsibility, rush into the room of one of our junior team members. I explain, as quickly as possible, some issues on valuation, and we discuss the scenarios for the board. I'm really happy he can support me on this one, as my plate fills up quickly.

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