Anna Bilfeld’s trajectory, from M&A analyst to Undiz Export Director is a case study in how banking international ambition into your career can accelerate leadership advancement. In just under three years, she rose from consulting at KPMG to a key executive role responsible for expansion across 15 countries. Her path demonstrates why embracing international roles, cross-functional exposure, and strategic initiative can propel your career forward.

After earning her Master in Management at EMLyon, Anna began her career at Wizvi (a health-tech startup) before moving into KPMG’s corporate finance and M&A practice. That experience gave her a rigorous foundation in strategy, financial modeling, and deal execution. Then, in early 2022, she joined the Etam Group and quickly became Chief of Staff to Undiz’s CEO, Isolde Andouard.

Working as chief of staff allowed Anna to operate at the intersection of operations, strategy, and leadership. She supported cross-departmental projects, learned the inner workings of retail, and built relationships across the organization. That exposure positioned her to take on a global mandate and in October 2023 she was named Undiz’s Export Director and member of the executive committee, overseeing 50 stores across 15 markets, including Chile, Cyprus, and the Middle East.

This ascent underscores several principles for rapid growth in a corporate environment, especially for international roles.

1. Start with strong analytical grounding

Anna’s background in M&A at KPMG developed critical thinking, financial analysis, and strategic planning skills. These analytic competencies are highly transferable and make you a standout candidate for roles that combine commercial and operational responsibilities.

2. Seek high-visibility, cross-functional roles

Serving as Chief of Staff provided Anna with broad exposure to leadership, key metrics, and company vision beyond a narrow functional remit. That role fast-tracked her understanding of business fundamentals and positioned her for strategic leadership, not just function-specific leadership.

3. Embrace international responsibility early

Being entrusted with global P&L for 15 countries and dozens of stores is rare for someone so early in their career. Anna took on those responsibilities and turned them into tangible performance. International roles teach adaptability, cultural intelligence, and strategic humility: exactly the traits modern executives need.

Undiz’s identity as a digitally native, youth-oriented brand targeting Gen Z was ideal terrain for Anna’s mix of strategic maturity and operational agility. The company’s use of AI in campaigns and pop-up retail experiences created additional layers of innovation where she could flex her cross-functional skills.

4. Leverage mentorship and internal sponsorship

From joining the company as an operations contributor to becoming CEO’s chief of staff, Anna benefited from the guidance of Isolde Andouard and fast-track visibility into strategic decision-making. Building close relationships with senior leaders can open doors when key roles become available.

5. Combine ambition with measurable results

Undiz’s international footprint, 45 stores in Europe and 55 across other markets as of late 2023, had grown rapidly under her export remit. Executives take notice when goals are clear, tracked, and delivered. Showing demonstrable impact across new markets is a powerful accelerant.

Why follow a similar route ?

Global EQ and agility become premiums, executives who can operate across cultures, negotiate cross-border partnerships, and scale models internationally become invaluable.

Cross-functional exposure accelerates strategic thinking, a holistic view of retail, marketing, supply chain, digital, operations creates a business leader, not just a function-specific operator.

Visibility compound interest, strategic roles close to leadership accelerate trust, investment, and promotion readiness.

Anna Bilfeld’s story proves a career designed with international ambition, strategic proximity to decision-makers, and a track record of impact accelerates faster than a traditional siloed path. In today’s globalized business world, the ability to navigate multiple cultures, markets, and strategic imperatives is no longer optional. It is the fast lane.